-9- 



somewhat from local market prices in dollars and cents, but on a propor- 

 tional basis they reflect the price chan^^es during the v;ar years." 



YJar-time Supplies for Beekeeper s ' . . 



In order to provide sufficient bees for pollination of the expected 

 increased amounts of fruits and vegetables, and to meet the demands for honey 

 as a sugar substitute, beekeepers are urged to increase both the number of 

 colonies and the amount of honey produced. In Kew York, plans are being made 

 todnuble the 1941 honey crop. Massachusetts beekeepers must do their share. 

 In this connection beekeepers will be interested in the following information 

 just received concerning commodities needed in the industry: 



Sugar. Bee producers and apiarists can secure 80^ j of the sugar 

 they used last year' on a month by month basis. This is according to General 

 Preference Order M-55 as amended. ^ In addition, if this does not take care 

 of present needs or if the beekeeper did not feed sugar last year but needs 

 some this year, he should v;rite or wire. Ilr. A. E. Bowman, Chief, Sugar Sec- 

 tion, War Production Board, Vj'ashington, D. C. Included should be the, follow- 

 ing: Amount o-f, sugar already obtained under General Preference Ruling 1,1-55. 

 Number of colonies under production. Amount of sugar needed in terms of 

 100-pound bags.' The specific urgency (in number of days) as to when the 

 sugar must be delivered. The name of the dealer from v;-hom purchase is to 

 be made. Beekeepers should not abuse this privilege v;hic'h has been granted 

 on the basis that a beekeeper uses a small amount of sugar to produce a 

 larger amount of honey. 



Tin. The War Production Board has made provision for the beekeeping 

 industry to obtain all the tin cans it will need in sizes of 5-pound and 

 larger. Tin containers in unlimited quantities in the sizes stated will 

 be made available as long as the supply lasts. Every effort should be made 

 to use glass and other types of containers as much as possible notwithstand- 

 ing the above. 



Ti res . Beekeepers will be treated the same as other farmers as 

 regards tires. It should be explained to the local tire rationing board 

 that the V'lar Production Board recognizes the importance of the industry and 

 this is well attested by the fact that provisions have been made for the in- 

 dustry to obtain restricted materials such as sugar, tin, and other metals. 



F. R. Shaw 



Appl e Tree Census 



Apple acreage in tlie United States has been decreasing rather stead- 

 ily for about 30 years, according to a. recent study by Scoville and Cairipbell 

 of Cornell University. The decrease intJie last decade was especially high, 

 ajnounting to about 38;;^. In millions of trees, the numbers reported in 1920, 

 1930, and 1940 were 151.5, 115.3, and 71.7 respectively. In Nev; England 

 alone, comparable figures vrere 8.5, 6.6, and 3,6. For comparison, in 1939 

 Massachusetts reported 1,408,872 trees of all ages. 



Production has not declined to tlie same extent as tree numbers, due 

 to increased yields per tree. The average annual production, in millions of 

 bushels, v;as reported as follows: 1910-1919, 190; 1920-1929, 163; 1930-1939, 

 157, 



