1907.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



207 



How the advocates can follow them 

 and continue in the business is a puz- 

 zle. From the indefiniteness and am- 

 'biguity of some of the insitructions 

 we surmise that they do not do all 

 that they advocate. The perusal of 

 two or ithree recent articles written 

 for specialists and by men who make 

 honey raising more or less of a busi- 

 ness contained a noticeable number 

 of such instructions. The amount of 

 shaking, brushing, queen hunting, 

 lifting, shifting, etc., is beyond all 

 reason, furthermore most of it is un- 

 necessary. If the laws of bee life 

 were better understood much of 

 such work would be avoided. But 

 hunxanity is slow to learn and so the 

 old, old ways continue with slight 

 and slow modifications and men 

 grumble and quibble, argue and de- 

 bate going over the same old ground 

 year after year. As we have often 

 said in these columns the text books 

 as often rhislead as guide and much 

 that appears in the periodical press is 

 inspired in the supply dealers' inter- 

 est. Man cannot serve two masters 

 and it is impossible for a supply man- 

 ufacturer or for those dependent more 

 or less on his largess to give an 

 unbiased and fair opinion where their 

 interests are concerned. Recently 

 there appeared an article advocating 

 telescope covers for winter protec- 

 tion. It was plausible and well fitted 

 to make sales of such covers but it 

 was not written by or in the interests 

 of the plain bee-keeper. No one de- 

 vice, be it hive, cover, bottom-board 

 or what not, will ensure safe winter- 

 ing. The telescope cover is all right 

 as far as it goes but it is expensive 

 and is noit as good as cheaper and 

 more simple devices. A -watertight 

 cover, a hive through which drafts 

 cannot pa:ss, a wide entrance, which 

 is to say one by one-half inches, 

 floors a foot above the ground, and a 

 sheltered location are the chief exter- 

 nal essentials which we can supply to 

 protect the bees. The covering of 

 the hives with black tarred-paper (or 

 felt, some call it), is a great help 

 though some persons object to it, 

 but the objectors seldom have given 

 it a proper test. 



•But let the novice bear in mind 

 that no combination he can devise 

 will ensure safe and profitable winter- 



ing to worn out, run down colonies 

 and poor queens. (M). 



THE SEASON IN COLORADO- 

 COLORADO STATE FAIR. 



Erie, Colo., July lo, 1907. 



I want to urge upon all Colorado 

 bee-keepers again the importance of 

 making an exhibit of some of their 

 products at the next annual State fair 

 to be held at Pueblo. 



Mr. Paul Wilson, president of the 

 State fair says the old premium list 

 will remain in force, and requests that 

 bee-keepers make as large an exhib- 

 it as possible, assuring that he will 

 give us sufficient room. He has also 

 promised to secure suitable silk rib- 

 bons for premiums in the apiary de- 

 partment. 



If you can not attend the State fair 

 be sure to reserve some of your best 

 products for e.xhibition at the Col- 

 orado State Bee-Keepers' Association 

 next fall. You will find the premium 

 list elsewhere in this journal. 



Any bee-keeper who is thoroughly 

 interested in his business will surely 

 take pride in making an exhibit of his 

 products, thus showing what he has 

 done or can accomplish by skillful 

 manipiilation of the hive, and it will 

 also give him publicity as an up-to-date 

 bee-keeper, and a man that has "real 

 honey" to sell, if he keeps reminding 

 the public, regarding the purity and 

 wholesomeness of his products, by ex- 

 hibition, advertising, etc. 



If you have not paid your dues to 

 the State Bee-Keepers' Asssociation, 

 attend to the matter at once, and have 

 your name enrolled as a member, and 

 enter the contest for the premiums. 

 You will also receive The American 

 Bee-Keeper free of charge, as it is 

 the official organ of the Colorado Bee- 

 Keepers' Association. 



At present it seems as though there 

 will be an unusual scarcity of honey 

 this season, but doubtless there will 

 be many small bee-keepers who will 

 trade or sell their honey for consid- 

 erable less than you care to sell 

 yours, nevertheless they will set the 

 price on your honey in many instanc- 

 es by so doing. 



I think the up-to-date bee-keeper 

 would profit if he would purchase all 

 the small lots of honey in his vicinity 



