68 



Gleanings in Bee Culture 



116,408 in the number of farms reporting 

 bees, and of 795,710 in the number of colo- 

 nies reported. The valuations put on col- 

 onies of bees by many bee-keepers are of 

 little significance; but it is interesting to 

 note that these valuations show an increase 

 of $198,139. The only States showing any 

 increase in bee-keepers, worthy of serious 

 consideration, are Minnesota, Oklahoma, 

 South Dakota, Washington, Montana, Wy- 

 oming, and North Dakota — all western 

 States. . The greatest reported loss is in 

 Utah, where a decrease of 49.5 per cent is 

 shown in the number of farms reporting 

 bees. It is worthy of consideration that the 

 loss in number of farms reporting bees is 

 usually greater than in the number of col- 

 onies, indicating that those now in the 

 business are keeping more bees. 



Bee-keepers should not take any of these 

 figures too seriously, for they certainly are 

 not an accurate representation of the indus- 

 try. Apiculture was never in so good con- 

 dition as it is now. As an indication of 

 this, it may be stated that the demand for 



supplies during the last decade exceeds 

 that of any previous period, and the mar- 

 kets for honey are continually improving. 

 Honey production is fast becoming the 

 business of the specialist, and, as a result, 

 hohey is being marketed in better shape 

 and in larger quantities. 



While it is true that these figures are not 

 to be taken as seriously as the Census Bu- 

 reau might wish them to be, yet it is a 

 good thing for us to realize that there has 

 been a falling-olT in one part of the indus- 

 try. If, as suggested, the brood diseases are 

 a factor in this decrease, it emphasizes the 

 nece-isity for spreading information on this 

 su)).)ect so that those bee-keepers who have 

 it in them to lie good bee-keepers may be 

 informed on this subject. Nothing will 

 save a careless bee-keeper when disease 

 reaches him. 



In spite of these figures, there is no rea- 

 son to doubt that there will be more colo- 

 nies of bees in the United States in 1912 

 than ever before, and that the industry is 

 on the increase. 



A dash (— ) before a number indicates a loss: a plus-mark (+) shows a gain. 



