1896. 



^, 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



377 



article. Again, without being justified in using the term over- 

 production, there is in almost every business " the survival of 

 the fittest," and in that management and locality plays an 

 important part. 



What has brought diminished prices to-day is the fact 

 that $1.00 will go further to-day than it would in 1874. 

 Take that very American Bee Journal — in those days it cost, 

 monthly, !§1.00 or $2.00, where to-day you can get it weekly 

 for $1.00. You can get a much better suit of clothes for 

 $10.00 to-day than you could in 1874 ; bee-supplies are less, 

 and so on. Again, every one admits there was big money in 

 bee-keeping in those days. Those who engage in a new busi- 

 ness at that stage say it is a reward for shrewdness and quick- 

 ness to perceive an opening for business. The same man, if 

 another man engages in the business, and he is the buyer, 

 calls it " highway robbery prices," and so on, but as more 

 engage in it, prices come down to something like a living 

 profit. 



As a study was made of bee-keeping, increase was kept 

 down, comb foundation was used more freely, the value of 

 shade and ventilation was, by some at least, known ; we were 

 able to produce for much less money, and yet make the,same 

 profit. As men learned better methods of wintering, and 

 were more certain to bring their bees out strong in the spring 

 they could produce for less money. These are only directions 

 in which every business must go without arriving at the stage 

 of over-production. 



But there is still another point to which we must draw 

 attention : Can we say that we have over-production before 

 we have developed and cultivated our markets to the fullest 

 extent? We think not. Bee-keepers have gone on, and on, 

 producing, yet they have made little or no efforts to increase 

 the demand for honey. Here and there, true, an individual 

 has made the effort, but he has become discouraged through 

 lack of assistance from those who benefit as much as himself. 

 He has done it without remuneration beyond what all other 

 bee-keepers would receive through his efforts, and the neces- 

 sity of winning bread for himself has prevented continuing 

 that work. 



United States bee-keepers could well combine, and engage 

 the services of not one man, but several men, whose duty it 

 would be through press and tongue to put the advantages to 

 be derived from the use of honey before the public. We know 

 of extensive manufacturers who guard the fact they use houey 

 in the preparation of their products as a trade secret, and 

 they will, and have been known to, purchase jao more from 

 those who mentioned the fact to rival manufacturers to secure 

 further trade. Amongst such men are confectioners, bakers, 

 vinegar makers, liquor and beverage manufacturers, tobac- 

 conists, and makers of printers' rollers. Here is a vast field 

 to work on, as yet almost untouched. 



Again, Jew are using as a table article honey — one of 

 the most wholesome and pleasant of foods. The people could 

 be educated and induced to use 1,000 pounds where they use 

 one to-day. This can be done by judicious items constantly 

 supplied to the press ; it is a case of "keeping everlastingly 

 at it brings success." Keep honey before the people, in the 

 paper, in the stores, and at the table, and success is as cer- 

 tain as it is sure that daylight follows darkness. 



We have before spoken of educating and inducing the 

 public to use honey. Honey at present prices is an economic 

 and valuable food — one which has a right to appear on the 

 poor man's table, but during and since the days of ancient 

 history it has been looked upon in the light which honey is, 

 will suffer very much from the suspicion of adulteration. 

 Much of that suspicion is unjust ; it Is in part owing to the 

 finish and perfection of comb and extracted honey, the quan- 

 tity produced, and Ignorance about bee-keeping, that the idea 

 is gaining ground. We can get nothing more powerful and 

 quicker in action in returning confidence than Legislatures 

 making adulteration a severe offence. A copy of such an Act 

 upon the package, to spread the fact abroad that such an Act 

 exists, will give confidence as nothing else can ; and if needed, 

 will apply the blister which will correct any evil tendency. 



No, Mr. Doolittle, we do not think any one is justified lu 

 throwing the blame on over-production. Take action, or get 

 your Government to take action, along the above lines, and 

 bee-keeping will have a new era of prosperity. Let the de- 

 velopment of markets go hand in hand with the development 

 of bee-keeping. R. F. Holtermann. 



_ <« ■ » 



criThe mcEvoy Foul Brood Xreattuent is 



given in Dr. Howard's pamphlet on " Foul Brood ; Its Natural 

 History and Rational Treatment." It is the latest publication 

 on the subject, and should be in the hands of every bee-keeper. 

 Price, 25 cents ; or clubbed with the Bee Journal for one year 

 —both for $1.10. 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



Mr. B. Taylor, of .^Forestville, Minn., is very sick. So 

 reported his son, Jewell Taylor, on June 1. We trust he may 

 soon recover, as he has under way some interesting experi- 

 ments that he had hoped would decide some important apicul- 

 tural questions. 



Dr. C. C. Miller, of Marengo, III., called on us for an 

 hour on Tuesday, June 2, when on his way home from the 

 Presbyterian Assembly which had just closed its meeting at 

 Saratoga Springs, N. Y. The Doctor was feeling well, and 

 ready to pitch into the neglected bee-work, as soon as he 

 should reach home. 



Mr. Thos. Pierrepont, of Rochester, N. Y., wrote us on 

 Dec. 30, 1895 : " I consider the American Bee Journal the 

 best bee-paper^in the world ;J one reason being that it is all 

 bees." 



Mr. Vernon Burt, of Mallett Creek, 0., was " pictered " 

 in last Gleanings. He has about 250 colonies of bees, and 

 bears the unusual "distinction of securing a crop of honey 

 every year." Yet, he's too modest to come out and tell how he 

 does it. Editor Root says, " although he's within a year of 

 40, he has not yet taken^unto himself a wife." Also, that he 

 feels sorry for Mr. Burt, " and for the nice girl that — that — 

 well, ought to have him." There's a chance for Rambler to 

 get some sympathy ! 



Mrs. B. J. Livingston, of Center Chain, Minn., wrote us 

 as follows. May 30 : 



I send you to-day a sprig of basswood, showing the ad- 

 vanced state of buds, considering the date, also the " promise 

 of plenty." From July 1 to the 10 is the usual time of blos- 

 soming in southern Minnesota. I am glad to say the bees are 

 doing well. I am sorry to say it Is on mustard. 



Mrs. Livingston. 



The sprig of basswood was duly received. It is the same 

 way in this locality — being two weeks or more in advance of 

 ordinary years. 



Mr. Paul Whitebread, of Hobble, Pa., said recently: 

 " I have all of my 1895 copies of the Bee Journal, and would 

 not part with them for a five-dollar bill. The index in the last 

 number for December is as well put up as I ever saw anything 

 of its kind. I am very much pleased with the Bee Journal, 

 and trust it may live long." 



Secretary Dr. A. B. Mason, of the North American, has 

 been accidentally trying the bee-sting remedy for rheumatism, 

 and in a letter dated June 1, wrote as follows : 



" For nearly a week previous to last Wednesday, nearly 

 all the pain I suffered was in my instep. On that day I was 

 sitting in a neighbor's apiary (he has my bees on shares this 

 season) to watch for swarms while he was absent. As a 

 swarm was issuing I hobbled along to secure the queen. I 

 put my " game " (lame) foot, on which I had a black sock and 

 a low slipper, close to the entrance of an adjoining hive. In 

 a jiffy three or four bees had given my painful instep as many 

 hypodermic injections. On the instant I thought of what 

 some one had recently said about his sciatica and bee-stings, 

 and I let the stingers alone until I had secured the queen. I 

 was almost immediately relieved of the pain in my instep, and 

 in a few minutes I could stamp my foot quite firmly on the 

 ground without pain, which I had not been able to do before 

 tor several weeks. Last night, pain in the same instep was a 

 little annoying, and if it doesn't behave itself in good style in 

 the future, more bees will have to be sacrificed for 'suffering 

 humanity.' " 



We hope the Doctor will let the bees " keep at him " until 

 they have effected a complete cure. 



See " Bee-Keeper's Guide" offer on page 380. 



