THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 307 



would further suggest that three alternates also be appointed by- 

 each of the parties. 



There is so little time bet^veen now and our February meeting', 

 and so much to do in the line of discussion on this subject, I would 

 suggest that the secretary of the National, Mr. Tyrrell, appoint three 

 honey dealers of influence, the first one mentioned being chairman, 

 as is customary, as a committee to take this matter up with the 

 dealers, and determine who shall be their representatives. 



It will be unnecessary for me to say that the pages of the Re- 

 view will be open for this discussion ; it is open, and has been for 

 some time, as the readers know. 



At least one bee journal has offered its service in this matter, 

 and it is to be hoped all the journals will lend a helping hand in the 

 matter of uniform grading rules for comb honey. 



E. D. TowxsFND^ Chairman. 



Co-operative Bee-Keeping Among Farmers. 



It is a well-known fact that there are hundreds of farmers who 

 are attempting to keep a few colonies of bees, giving them no care 

 and securing but little, if any, surplus. These colonies are also a 

 damage to the man who wishes to make bee-keeping a business, be- 

 cause they are a source of spreading bee diseases in many cases. 

 There are still other hundreds of farmers who would like to keep 

 bees, but are afraid of the stings or have not the time or inclination 

 to give them the proper attention. Again there are many bee-keepers 

 who are anxious "to keep more bees,'" but who lack the means for 

 doing this. 



Xo one will question the advantage of having bees in the neigh- 

 borhood where fruits and seeds are grown. Many will question the 

 advantage of having them scattered around a few colonies in a place 

 in inefficient hands. 



What would prevent one, then, from starting a Co-operative 

 Farmers' Apiary? Suppose you call a meeting of the farmers in 

 your neighborhood at some central point, say in a public school- 

 house. Talk to them regarding the advantages of the bee to the 

 fruit and seed crops, the disadvantage of each farmer trying to han- 

 dle a few colonies, and get as many interested as possible. You 

 will no doubt find many who would like to keep bees, and then 

 suggest that an apiary of fifty to a hundred colonies be formed in a 

 central portion of the neighborhood. Let the farmers either con- 

 tribute the bees or else furnish money to buy them. Figure out how 

 much it would cost to establish an apiary including the bees, 

 surplus receptacles, honey-house and extractor if they are used. 

 Divide this total cost into as many parts as you will have hives of 

 l)ees in the vara. Let each farmer take from one to not more than 



