170 ,; THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER September 



up space which might better be devoted tion which we frequently hear. The 

 to the weightier questions, in which fact is, taken as a whole, American 

 direction their interest lies. We would bee-keepers are falling behind other 

 kindly ask all such to bear in mind that honey producing countries in the mat- 

 the current year has been ordinarily ter of developing the market. The 

 productive of young bee-keepers, hun- same haphazzard, unbusinesslike man- 

 dreds of whom have subscribed .^ince ner of honey selling which prevailed in 

 the beginning of the year for The Bee- our grandfathers' day, still prevails in 

 Keeper. In the selection ot material the United States. There are a few 

 for these pages we strive to meet, as isolated exceptions, of course, where 

 nearly as may be, the' wishes of the honey exchanges have taken in hand 

 diversified tastes, or needs of our pat- the local case, and strive agamst great 

 rons. Have those who fail to appre- odds to better the financial condition 

 ciate the varied demands made upon of its patrons, through a system which 

 such a publication, so soon forgotten ig capable of eflfecting much benefit to 

 the first year of their own bee-keeping the fraternity if it were but national 

 experience; when these unimportant instead of local in its scope. "" 

 items were so eagerly read and relish- , -pj^g market problem is today the par- 

 ed? Sometimes one who is just learn- amount question which confronts the 

 ing to take his first step in apiculture honey producer of the United States^ 

 is inclined to think his case is neglected. Large hives, small hives, when to put 

 and complains that there is too much qj-j supers, how to clip queens, the win- 

 that he cannot understand. He, also, ^^^ problem, etc, etc., all lose their in- 

 should bear in mind that there terest if there is no demand awaiting 

 ard those who have been glean- the product. If the bee-keepers of the 

 ers in the field of apicultural United States would throw one-half the 

 knowledge for many years, and energy and pluck into this question that 

 that in addition to the visible sheaves ig displayed by the honey producers of 

 of the present, in years long since past the little Island of Jamaica, the Na- 

 a wealth of the golden grain has been tional Bee-Keepers' Association would 

 garnered. So, even in the same lati- j^qj^j ;„ its treasury many thousands of 

 tude, it should not be expected any one dollars, and maintain permanently upon 

 article or item will gratify the wishes ^j:^^ j.^^^ ^^ least two expert salesmen 

 of all. That which is commended by ^^hose business it would be to see to a 

 one will be condemned by his neighbor, pj-^per distribution of our honey crops. 



~ — ^ Fraudulent goods exposed for sale 



^a^j^j^_^ g^-^^ja WtT A H-A^-H ^I? throughout the country would fall un- 



A writer in the Australasian Bee- der their official eye, and the perpetra- 



Keeper bewails the fact that while tons tors of the fraud traced and brought to 



upon tons of nectar are wasted annual- the attention of the Associations at- 



ly in that country, for the want of bees torney. 



to gather it, there are those who seek A Rational association with ware- 

 to discourage others from embarking housed and permanent officers advan- 

 in the business of honey production, tageously located, to whom every mem- 

 This condition of affairs is by no ber may ship his product with a feeling 

 means confined to the Island Conti- of assurance that it will be so placed 

 nent. A quite general misconception as to yield the best returns, is what is 

 of the situation in our own country is needed. A system of management in 

 responsible for the cry of overproduc- the distribution of the nation's honey 



