1917 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



241 



ment from the specialist in beekeeping. 

 Another letter-head reads, 

 Sweet Clover Farms, 

 Mr. ami Mrs. Sam Wilhiytson, 

 Proprietors. 

 Although Mr . Wilkinson's name 

 comes first, it would not be at all sur- 

 prising if he should saythat "Mrs. Sam" 

 is the more important member of the 

 firm. 



Another heading leaves the two 

 members of the firm on exactly equal 

 footing, for it reads : 



Sires e" Sires, 

 Producers and Dealers in 



PURE HONEY 



All this is as it should be, and shows 

 that "the female of the species" is com- 

 ing to the front to take her proper 

 place in beekeeping. It forms also a 

 good text to urge in this great time of 

 need, when Uncle Sam is insisting that 

 every available inch of ground should 

 be used to add to the world's store of 

 food, and that women should do their 

 bit, that in not many ways could that 

 bit be better done than by taking care 

 of bees. Let it not be forgotten that 

 honey is a food, not only the most de- 

 lightful sweet in existence, but a 

 nourishing and sustaining article of 

 diet that, pound for pound has few 

 competitors. In Europe they are 

 learning that it is an excellent army 

 ration. At the same time the war has 

 sadly interfered with the supply in that 

 region, and the demand for honey to 

 be exported from this country has al- 

 ready begun. Largely on this account 

 it is predicted that prices will be on an 

 ascending scale such as we have not 

 heretofore known. So for the sake of 

 the pay, as well as for the sake of help- 

 ing to keep the world from starvation, 

 it is well for some women who are 

 thinking of raising potatoes to con- 

 sider whether they may not be adapted 

 to the business of beekeeping. Not 

 every one is so adapted, but those who 

 are should not miss their opportunity. 



The foregoing appeals particularly 

 to women who are dependent upon 

 their own resources. Another class of 

 women to which the present crisis ap- 

 peals is the wives of beekeepers. In 

 Europe thousands of colonies of bees 

 have been destroyed by the direct 

 ravages of war, and a still larger num- 

 ber, probably, have been practically 

 lost because the men who cared for 

 them were called to the front, leaving 

 no one behind competent to manage 

 bees. 



Some woman may say, "That doesn't 

 appeal to me. My husband manages 

 the bees, and I have enough to do with 

 my household cares without troubling 

 myself with his business. Only those 

 between the ages of 21 and 'i\ are to 

 be called to the army, and my husband 

 is over that by ten years or more, so 

 why should I bother my head to learn 

 how to run the bees ?" Good woman, 

 don't be sure. There are those whose 

 judgment is worth minding who say 

 the present war is likely to continue 

 five years, possibly ten; that as more 

 and more men are called out it will be 

 necessary to call out older men ; so 

 that you are not altogether certain how 

 long it will be before you are left with 

 an apiary on your hands. Nowadays 

 "preparedness" is a good motto, and if 

 you are wise you will make yourself 

 ready to do your "bit" by going into 

 the apiary this summer. 



Miscellaneous ^ News Items 



The Iowa Short Course The first 



summer short course in beekeeping 

 at the Iowa College of Agriculture 

 was held at Ames May 28 to June 2. 

 The course was hurriedly prepared and 

 offered with little advertising, owing 

 to the fact that it was not finally de- 

 cided that it should be held until near 

 the close of the school year. How- 

 ever, about thirty beekeepers aside 

 from the regular college students en- 

 rolled and the course was a genuine 

 success. A number of well known 

 beekeepers from various parts of the 

 state came to spend a day or two to 

 lend their encouragement and to get 

 new ideas. Mr. G. Jaqua of Traer, 

 Iowa, was the oldest student in at- 

 tendance. He is 89 years old and has 

 been a beekeeper for forty years. He 

 announced his intention of coming 

 again next year. 



The beekeeping work has been mak- 

 ing real headway at Ames but a few 

 months and is showing surprising in- 

 terest. Before the final close of the 

 school year more than 100 girls, stu- 

 dents at the college, weie taking the 

 course in beekeeping. There is much 

 enthusiasm among the students as well 

 as among the faculty concerning the 

 work and the next school year bids 

 fair to see it firmly established as part 

 of the regular work of this institution. 



Prof. F. E. Millen, formerly of the 

 Michigan College is in charge of the 

 work. E. W. Atkins formerly assist- 

 ant to Mr. F. W. L. Sladen, Dominion 



Apiarist of Canada is in charge of 

 experimental work in Apiculture. With 

 Dr. L. H. Pammel, at work on the 

 honey plants, Iowa is starting in to ac- 

 complish results. The new law also 

 places the inspection work under direc- 

 tion of the college and provides for 

 regular extension work as well. 

 . Both Millen and .Atkins were trained 

 under Morley Pettit at Guelph, Ontario 

 and are among the first men specially 

 trained in regular apicultural courses 

 to be placed in such positions. This is 

 a striking indication of how new this 

 work is in our colleges. 



Massachusetts Beekeeping School. — 



It has been arranged to hold the an- 

 nual lieekeepers' School under the 

 auspices of this Institution, in Dal- 

 ton, Massachusetts, in the heart of the 

 Berkshires. Dalton is a beautiful sum- 

 mer place. There are a number of 

 large apiaries in the vicinity as well as 

 apiaries on estates. A detailed pro- 

 gram is being compiled. 



The school will be held July 11, 12, 

 1.3 and 14th. All persons interested are 

 invited to attend. Copies of the pro- 

 gram will be mailed upon request. 

 There is no fee or expense attached to 

 attending the school other than per- 

 haps the purchase of a bee-veil. 



The program will cover the follow- 

 ing points, as well as other subjects. 

 The first day is beginners' day, and will 

 include a full understanding of the 

 necessary materials for beekeeping, of 



ONE DIVISION OF THE CLASS OF MORE THAN loo GIRLS TAKING THE 



BEEKEEPING COURSE AT THE IOWA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 



UNDER PROF. MILLEN 



