MARCH 13, 1916 



noting also that the Manatee Fruit Co., of 

 Palmetto, has established three beeyards in 

 or near their groves, and still wish more. 

 They declare that, the nearer the bees are to 

 their groves, the more fruit they have, and 

 the better the quality. . . . For not only 

 does cross- fertilization increase the amount 

 of fruit, but it also betters the quality, en- 

 couraging a heartier gi-owth and develop- 

 ment wherever the pollen of one tree is 

 mixed with the blossoms on another tree — 

 just as, for example, a mixture of races 

 produces the hardiest types of mankind." 



Not less than five colonies to an acre are 

 necessary for best results, says the writer, 

 but more are bettei*. 



Professor Baldwin's discussion is elemen- 

 tary, but written not so much to convince 

 the layman as to relieve the lamentable lack 

 of information among the growers of citrus 

 fruits. 



The National Convention at Denver ; 

 AU is WeU that Ends Well 



Since our last report of the proceedings 

 of the National convention there developed 

 toward the last a " little flurry " that prom- 

 ised at one time to develop into something 

 serious; but no sooner had it started than 

 a movement toward peace was under way. 

 The differences and misunderstandings were 

 speedily adjusted. All is well that ends 

 well, and so in this case. We believe the 

 National Beekeepers' Association has a 

 bright future befoi'e it. The " bone of con- 

 tention " for the last two or three years 

 has been over the official organ, the Bee- 

 keepers' Revieiv, the manner of receiving 

 and disbursing the funds, and the " debt " 

 that has been staring some of the members 

 in the face. No one has questioned the 

 absolute integrity of any of the officials, 

 who have worked faithfully and hard for 

 the best interests of the organization for 

 little or no compensation. A resolution was 

 unanimously adopted, tendering the thanks 

 of the delegates for the faithful and con- 

 scientious service of Mr. E. D. Townsend in 

 the conduct of the Beview; and those of us 

 who have ever had any thing to do with 

 the running of a bee-journal know what 

 that means. 



The real question at issue was over the 

 wisdom or policy of handicapping the Na- 

 tional by loading on to it the burden and 

 financial responsibility of an oflicial organ 

 and the additional burden of business and 

 finance. 



As stated in our last issue, the whole 

 matter was most amicably adjusted by mak- 

 ing the function of the National Beekeep- 

 ers' Association purely educational and 



217 



social, with no legal connection with any 

 bee-paper or any matters of business. An 

 auxiliary organization duly incorporated 

 with sufficient capital stock to do business 

 is expected to take over the Beekeepers' 

 Beview, assume its indebtedness, continue 

 its publication, and transact any matters of 

 business its stockholders may elect. It is 

 expected, also, that the two organizations 

 will be very closely allied, although legally 

 entirely separate. The Beview, to all in- 

 tents and purposes, will be the official organ 

 of the old National; but the latter, as ex- 

 plained, will have no financial responsibility 

 for its management. 



This, in brief, is the solution of a prob- 

 lem that has sorely vexed the delegates for 

 the last two years. Whether the auxiliary 

 succeeds or not, the result will in no way 

 involve the success of the old National Bee- 

 keepers' Association (formerly the North 

 American Beekeepers' Association) that has 

 been in existence for over forty years, and 

 which has been such a power for good. 

 With the " bone of contention " removed, 

 and with no legal or financial responsibility, 

 there is no reason why it cannot be. in the 

 future what it has been in the past. 



The success of the auxiliary or business 

 organization will depend on how well bee- 

 keepers subscribe for its stock and the kind 

 of business manager they select. The Col- 

 orado Honey-producers' Association has 

 succeeded because the beekeepers of Colo- 

 rado organized a stock company, subscribed 

 for the stock, and selected a business man- 

 ager, who, in the language of the day, has 

 '• made good." If the proposed auxiliary 

 " makes good " it Avillbe largely because of 

 its manager. Many a time a capital has 

 been dissipated by a poor manager, or be- 

 cause the directors failed to support the 

 policies of a good manager. 



CONVENTION ECHOES. 



Many valuable papers and addresses were 

 given at this convention — perhaps more 

 than were ever given at any previous meet- 

 ing of the Association. As these will doubt- 

 less be given in full in the Beview, no 

 attempt wull be made here to give even a 

 digest of the general papers. As our space 

 is limited we will attempt to cover very 

 briefly those discussions that relate to pol- 

 icies of the National. 



INCREASING THE DEMAND FOR HONEY. 



The deplorable condition of the extraeted- 

 honey market at the present time, as an 

 indirect result of the Great War, received 

 its fair share of attention. Dr. Phillips, of 

 the Department of Agi-iculture, made the 

 stalement, in this connection, thai the Gov- 

 ernment reports showed that as much honey 



