1896. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEErER. 



127 



The Smeriean Bee-Keeper, 



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EDITORIAL, 



In another column will be found 

 some very sound suggestions in regard 

 to the organization of a representa- 

 tive National Bee Keepers" Associa- 

 tion. Such an organization is much 

 needed. There are numerous local 

 societies of more or less prominence 

 throughout the countr}- whose com- 

 bined efforts in any one direction 

 would almost invariably be rewarded 

 by success. These societies represent 

 thousands of bee keepers. If a Nati- 

 onal organization could be formed on 

 a plan of one representative for each 

 certain number of local members, 

 such representatives being sent by 

 each society and his expenses paid by 

 the society represented, an organiza- 

 tion would exist which would be rep- 



resentative and whose deliberations 

 and actions would be of unquestioned 

 weight. The present so-called organ- 

 ization which meets annually under 

 the name of the North-Arnerican Bee 

 Keepers' Association is of the utmost 

 uselessness to anyone outside of those 

 who attend. A few whp can afford to 

 stand the expense for the sake of the 

 "good time" they have, and the 

 direct and indirect pecuniary benefits 

 derived, attend these meetings, read' 

 and hear read a few old ideas in new 

 guises, "hobnob" with each other 

 for a day or two, then go home and 

 dream over the " nice time " ail win- 

 ter. But as we have said before, no 

 benefit is derived by the bee keepers 

 generally who do not attend. This is 

 all right as far as it goes. The mem- 

 bers ' ' pay their money and take 

 their choice," and those who do not 

 go or belong have no reason to grum- 

 ble, for it costs them nothing, but 

 what we want is something represen- 

 tative, an organization of such a size 

 and make up that it will count among 

 its members many men of brains, who 

 will act for the general sood and have 

 the authority and backing to enforce 

 their acts. Let us organize a National 

 Bee Keepers Association that is Na- 

 tional. Further suggestions are in 

 order. Let us hear them. 



Elsewhere we reprint an article by 

 G. M. Doolittle, (from the Am. Bee 

 Journal), on "The Past and Present 

 of Bee Keeping,"" wherein he brings 

 up the question of the prevailing low 

 prices of honey during the past few 

 years. Up to 1875 the market price 

 of comb honey seldom fell below 22c 

 a pound. Since then the price has 



