632 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 15 



MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH IDAHO AND EAST OREGON BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. 



for split sections, in that they eliminate partially 

 one objection — namely, the unfinished and man 

 made look of the foundation projecting up 

 through the wood at the top of the section. Has 

 any one else any experience to offer on this 

 point? — Ed.] 



SOUTH IDAHO AND EAST OREGON 

 BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. 



The Problem of Educating the Farmers 



Concerning the Proper Time for 



Cutting Alfalfa. 



BY A. E. GIPSON. 



The South Idaho and East Oregon Bee-keep- 

 ers' Association was organized four years ago at 

 Parma, Ida., and is composed of representative 

 bee-keepers of the sections of the two States named. 

 The objects of the association are to bring about 

 a cooperation among the honey-producers in all 

 matters pertaining to that industry, and especial- 

 ly in buying supplies and in marketing the prod- 

 ucts of the apiaries. 



In view of the high quality of the honey of 

 this region, members of the association are com- 

 ing to realize more fully each year the importance 

 of placing it on the market in the best possible 

 shape and so the matter of marketing is receiving 

 a good deal of attention. This fact was shown 

 at the last annual meeting of the organization, 

 when the discussion of this subject was given so 

 much prominence. 



The great strides that are being made in irri- 

 gation enterprise in Southern Idaho, by means 

 of which hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile 

 land are being opened up, with alfalfa as a lead- 

 er in crop rotation, reflects the future of bee-keep- 



ing here. This great forage-plant is the main re- 

 liance of the honey-gatherers, and bee-men are 

 directing their efforts toward securing as long a 

 blooming season as possible for the benefit of the 

 little workers. To this end they are trying to 

 educate the farmers up to the point of not cutting 

 the alfalfa crop too soon after it begins to bloom. 

 The contention is that it is not only better for 

 the bees, but for the nutritive value of the plant 

 as a stockj-ation, to permit a pretty full blossom- 

 ing before each cutting is made. 



Fortunately the association has a membership 

 composed largely of men of wide experience in 

 the apiary. Some of them, furthermore, have 

 national reputations. 



E. F. Atwater, for example, is not only a suc- 

 cessful man as a commercial bee-keeper, but is 

 widely known as a writer and expert on matters 

 pertaining to the industry. 



G. j. Yoder is another careful and exceedingly 

 well-informed man, and likewise a veteran in the 

 business. Both of these men are known to many 

 readers of Gleanings by reason of their demon- 

 strations and valuable observations. 



Other prominent members are F. A. Powers, 

 F. R. Fouch, J. E. Lyon, Will Pennington, Ben 

 Paine, H. C. Dudley, A. I. McClanahan, R. D. 

 Bradshaw, T. A. Waale, John A. West, and Mrs. 

 A. J. Mitchell. These, and others who could 

 be named, are making local history for the bee 

 industry that must count in the development of 

 that industry in all this region of country. 



The lastannual meeting was well attended, and 

 was of exceptional interest. The Gem State Rural 

 says that from 3500 to 4000 colonies of bees were 

 represented, and that the Boise Valley, Ida., alone 

 marketed about seven cars of honey during the 

 year 1907. 



A committee was appointed, consisting of E. 



