JULY 15, 1912 



451 



a worse menace than the almost universally 

 neglected farm apiary, and almost as bad 

 as that of the enthusiastic amateur. This 

 is well illustrated in Massachusetts, where 

 bees are used extensively in greenhouses to 

 pollinate cucumbers. The practice offers a 

 sale for colonies; but the discarding of 

 weakened colonies is often blamed for the 

 spread of disease. At the same time the 

 awakening of interest in bees among fruit- 

 growers will result is good beekeeping, 

 especially in getting support in asking for 

 new laws. 



In most cases, when the loss of colonies 

 due to the spraying of fruit trees is re- 

 IDorted, it is safe to suspect that the bee- 

 keeper is mistaken. In the majority of 

 such cases the trouble is probably a brood 

 disease, and European foul brood is a safe 

 guess. When such cases are reported, it is 

 our practice to write for brood which may 

 be affected, and it is usually easy to deter- 

 mine the cause of the trouble. However, 

 several cases were reported in Colorado in 

 which rather serious results to bees have 

 followed spraying fruit trees in bloom. 

 There is a State law prohibiting such prac- 

 tice, and in several cases it has been found 

 profitable to use it as a club. 



PURE MATINGS. 



Apiaries are quite close together in the 

 alfalfa section of Colorado, and pure mat- 

 ings are at least as difficult as in the East. 

 However, there are, not far from the irri- 

 gating regions, places in the mountains 

 where there are no honeybees. Mr. Foster 

 informs me that he has seen white clover 

 in jjrofusion with nothing to work on it ex- 

 cept wild bees. Such locations in the moun- 

 tains are usually too inaccessible, and too 

 limited for honey-producing apiaries; but 

 they would make ideal situations for mat- 

 ing queens. This is an idea that belongs to 

 Mr. Foster; but it may have occurred to 

 many another beekeeper near the moun- 

 tains. If queens can be mated without too 

 great an expenditure of time and money 

 per queen it would be a great thing for Col- 

 orado beekeeiDers if Mr. Foster can carry 

 out his own suggestion in his capacity as 

 State Inspector. The difficulty is that mat- 

 ing is the most expensive part of queen 

 rearing, and many a man who has had vis- 

 ions of wealth from queen rearing has later 

 found him selling queens for less than 

 they have cost him. But we never know 

 how a plan will work if we merely sit by 

 and speculate. It is to be hoped that the 

 plan may be tried. 



THE COLORADO HONEY-PRODUCERS' 

 ASSOCIATION. 



Probably no phase of Colorado beekeep- 

 ing has attracted more attention among the 



beekeepers of the country than this co-op- 

 erative association. Not having had much 

 opportunity personally to study the work- 

 ings of the organization, and not being par- 

 ticularly familiar with the methods of suc- 

 cessful co-operative organizations, it would 

 not be wise to discuss the merits of the 

 various phases of the work. However, 

 judging from the sentiments expressed by 

 various beekeepers, and by the satisfaction 

 which seems to prevail among the members, 

 one is forced to the conclusion that it is a 

 good thing, and that beekeepers in other 

 localities would be benefited by a study of 

 the plans of the association. So far as 

 could be seen, there is no peculiarity in the 

 conditions in Colorado wliich makes success 

 in such an enterprise more probable than 

 in other States. With the largest markets 

 in the East there is the advantage in car- 

 load shipments of a lower freight rate, but 

 this apiolies equally to other localities. 



The organization and enthusiastic man- 

 agement is doubtless largely due to the 

 manager, Mr. Frank Rauchfuss. A ques- 

 tion which loromjitly and naturally comes 

 to mind is, whether the success depends 

 solely on Mr. Rauchfuss or whether the or- 

 ganization would continue in as satisfac- 

 tory a manner if he were to retire. This 

 question is not of such vital importance to 

 the Colorado beekeepers as long as Mr. 

 Rauchfuss remains on the job; but it is of 

 vital importance to beekeepers in other 

 States contemplating a similar organiza- 

 tion. Is it necessar}^ to have a man of ex- 

 ceptional ability, or can any organization 

 of beekeepers expect to find a man of suffi- 

 cient ability and honesty to make a success 

 of such a movement? Naturally we can 

 not expect Mr. Rauchfuss to volunteer to 

 retire, nor the association to retire him for 

 the sake of answering this important ques- 

 tion; but there is such great opportunity 

 for the advancement of the interests of bee- 

 keepers by co-operation that the beekeepers 

 in the several States should attempt to de- 

 cide the question, and this subject should 

 receive careful consideration in all parts of 

 the country. 



The association has very materially in- 

 creased the price obtained by the producer 

 for honey, especially comb honey, and has 

 been instrumental in bringing about great- 

 er uniformity in the product and its gi-ad- 

 ing. Sections containing bottom starters 

 of foundation, and with full separators, 

 have the sanction of the association, and 

 the association's gi-ading rules are carefully 

 enforced. Bee supplies are sold at a re- 

 duction to all beekeepers, and other com- 

 modities are often obtained at a material 

 reduction for members. Wax is sent to be 



