THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



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wide difference of view, as to house apiar- 

 ies, artificial swarming, artificial foiuida- 

 tion, wintering, kind of honey to work for, 

 etc., etc. Now where, I ask, is the word to 

 be spoken, the thouiiht uttered or the hint 

 dropped, which shall lead to these dis- 

 coveries or settle these yet mooted ques- 

 tions, unless forsooth it be right here in 

 these conventions. In fact it should be our 

 constant aim to stimulate to the utmost in 

 our power, thought, study, observation, and 

 experiment, wiiich should have for its ulti- 

 matum the complete elucidation of apiarian 

 science and the full perfection of apiarian 

 practice. 



Again the tendency of these gatherings 

 must be to impel each of us individually to 

 better work and brighter success. As we 

 listen to those who have far outstripped us, 

 in their escape from reverses, and in their 

 pecuniary gains, we resolve that we shall 

 do as much as they. We know that luck is 

 no factor in this problem, and we are bound 

 that we will accinire that skill and know- 

 ledge that shall know no superior. We sit 

 at the feet of these Gamaliels, most attentive 

 to gain and assimilate their every thought, 

 reach out to grasp their better methods, and 

 if we do not at once advance to the front we 

 are conscious of substantial progress, and 

 thus take courage. 



The last point which I shall urge is the 

 opportunity afforded by conventions to in- 

 duce concerted action towards the accom- 

 plishment of that which cannot be gained 

 by individual effort. The subject of adul- 

 teration, proper grading of honey, and 

 whatever has to do with the general mar- 

 ket; these and all kindred subjects which 

 concern the general welfare of our business 

 can only receive that attention which shall 

 point toward efficient remedy of existing 

 evils through the aid of organization. If it 

 proves true, for instance that we are to sus- 

 tain our markets, by the high character of 

 the goods we offer, how nuich sooner may 

 we hope, through our conventions, to 

 persuade all to put nothing in the market 

 but what shall charm the eye and captivate 

 the taste of the consumer. By wise co- 

 operation in these directions, we may soon 

 hope to change the burdened song of "What 

 shall we do with our honey?" to the more 

 cheerful strain of "How shall we supply 

 the demand ?" 



But it hiis been asked among us: why ad- 

 vance our pursuit and broaden our field, and 

 thus increase the supply of our products, 

 till there is no demand, when our markets 

 shall be stagnated and we bankrupt ? This 

 is the old sordid — selfish view which has 

 never yet done honor either to the head or 

 heart of him who advanced it. All nature 

 and experience proclaim against him wlio 

 by word or action declares that he has a 

 good thing which he wishes to monopolize. 

 AH past history denounces his wisdom no 

 less than his morality. How much more 

 noble and attractive that spirit which thus 

 reasons: My vocation brings me profit, 

 pleasure and health; oh, that others might 

 share with me its enjoyments. Nor is such 

 a one less wise than generous. Let us 

 study the effect of an increase in our pro- 

 duction. A temporary decrease in price of 

 honey would doubtless follow; but this de- 

 crease in price would stimulate demand, 

 which in turn would lead to a just appreci- 

 ation of its merits as a luxury, and with the 

 uewly-developed taste would come a de- 



mand which would raise the price far 

 above its former status. Pres. Abbot tells 

 me that in Switzerland honey is served at 

 every meal. I have traveled a good many 

 thousand miles in America, and so far as I 

 remember, I was never yet offered honey at 

 a hotel or restaurant. No, gentlemen, 

 America does not consume a tithe of the 

 honey which she might and should, and i 

 believe that the reason is the slight produc- 

 tion. This not only looks reasonable, but 

 is in accordance with analogy through all 

 the past, the workl over. 



But should not an increase in the produc- 

 tion act as did Whitney's cotton gin in the 

 price and consumption of the great staple 

 of the South, as 1 verily believe it would; 

 there are still other good and valid reasons 

 why we should labor for this consumation. 



1st. We shall thus add largely— nuiy add 

 immensely— to the productive capital of the 

 country. There are townships in this coun- 

 ty which sell annually from ;$1,000 to $3,000 

 worth of honey. Nor are these stocketl to 

 their utmost. Call it $1,000 and multiply by 

 10, and we have flO.OOOasa mild estimate 

 of the possibilities of our county; multii)ly 

 this by 40— we certainly have that number 

 of counties in the State that would stand 

 peers to Ingham County— and we have 

 1(540,000, an amount which might be realized 

 were our resources fully developed. An 

 amount which in two years would pay the 

 cost of that nuignificent structure, within 

 stone-throw of this place, which is so rapid- 

 ly nearing competition, and which is to be 

 an ornament to this city and State. Multi- 

 ply the above amount by 37, and the esti- 

 mate is still low, and we have a grand total 

 of more than .'S>2:3,500,000; which shows the 

 possibilities of our country. This may 

 sound big; yet when we remember that one 

 man in Southern California shipped 13 car 

 loads of honey East, last autumn, the sound 

 is somewhat mellowed. How little reason 

 have we to look with forboding spirit upon 

 our country's future, notwithstanding 

 financial panic and national debt, when 

 such undeveloped resources lie thickly 

 about us. 



Again, bee-keeping affords most whole- 

 some recreation, especially to any who love 

 to look in upon the book of nature and 

 study the marvelous pages she is ever wait- 

 ing to present. To such there is a fascina- 

 tion about the apiary, which of itself is a 

 rich reward for the time and labor expend- 

 ed. I doubt if there is any class of maiiual 

 laborers who engage in their business and 

 dwell upon it with the same fondness as 

 bee-keepers. Were there no profits, I 

 should be slow to part with those models of 

 industry whose marvelous instincfs and 

 wondrous life-habils are ever ministering 

 to my delight and astonishment. And like 

 tnose who wear the red ribbons, we desire 

 that others should share the pleasures 

 which makes us glad. And so it is good to 

 induce others to engage in what has been 

 very properly styled the " poetry of rural 

 pursuits.'' 



Again, the profits of bee-keeping, as com- 

 pared with the expenses and labor involved, 

 offer very cogent reasons why we sliould 

 work to advance its interests. Our granger 

 friends think 10 per cent, usurious, and ask 

 our law makers to legislate against such 

 exorbitant rates. But what would they say 

 to bee-keeping which offers from 100 to 300 

 percent.? 1 am sure that the profits of in- 



