GLEANINGS IK BEE C V L T U R E 



.Taxuarv. 1920 



FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



papers of this program will appear in the 

 proceedings, which are expected to be ready 

 for distribution early next year in the re- 

 port of the State apiarist. Several new 

 names were added to the list of membership 

 of the association at this meeting. Bj^ vote 

 of the meeting the action taken two years 

 ago to raise the dues was put in force. 

 Therefore the dues of the association for 

 1920 are one dollar and are payable at any 

 time to the secretary-treasurer, the State 

 apiarist, at Ames. 



A very important step was taken by the 

 meeting when it voted to seek affiliation 

 with the State Horticultural Societ3^ Such 

 a co-operation will certainly result in bene- 

 fit to both organizations. Another matter 

 of much interest to all beekeepers was the 

 appointment of a committee to co-operate 

 with the State apiarist to determine the fair 

 price for honey. This will be arrived at 

 from the prevailing prices in the several 

 sections of the State. This price will then 

 be given wide distribution among the bee- 

 keepers. It is expected that the price will 

 change from month to month but by co- 

 operation the information can be secured. 

 It is not expected that this work will in 

 any way tend to fix the price on honey, for 

 such is not the aim. Today a little honey 

 is selling for 15 cents, more is selling for 

 30 cents, and considerable is selling for 

 25 cents. It would be a very great improve- 

 ment for all concerned if a more uniform 

 price could be maintained for this staple 

 article of food. 



In trying to arrive at a fair price for 

 honey, how many know what it costs to 

 produce a pound of extracted honey or a 

 section? Beekeepers invest their money in 

 bees, equipment, and supplies; they put in 

 a certain amount of time to produce their 

 crop. Are they getting fair returns of 

 their investment? The time may not be so 

 far distant when these questions must be 

 answered. 



At the Des Moines convention many of 

 those present signified their desire to see a 

 county beekeepers' association organized in 

 their home county. There is now available 

 a letter of suggestions for those interested 

 in this important work. The State apiarist 

 will be glad to send this letter and suggested 

 constitutions to all who will write for them. 

 Personal assistance will be given wherever 

 possible. In every county where there are 

 five or ten beekeepers interested in mutual 

 welfare there should be an organization. A 

 few counties have already realized the ad- 

 vantages of an association and have perfect- 

 ed an organization. These counties are now 

 in a position to do much more effective work 

 in any phase of the problems of the indus- 

 try. An association is the final step in the 

 "get together;" it is proof that your in- 

 dustry commands your respect. A few of 

 the advantages of local associations are: 



larger quantities of supplies can be ordered, 

 and the association discount is available; 

 concerted action can be taken on bee-dis- 

 ease control; the honey market can be sta- 

 bilized, and underselling, the suicide of mar- 

 keting, can be largely eliminated; and large 

 lots of honey can be prepared for the out- 

 side market. Organization is the foundation 

 of industry, and beekeeping is an industry. 

 The value of county associations is appro 

 ciated by the county agricultural agents, as 

 in their last meeting this resolution was 

 passed: "That county beekeepers' associa- 

 tions be promoted by the county agents 

 where conditions justify, with the idea that 

 a stronger State organization be formed 

 thru which beekeepers may at a later date 

 do collective buying. ' ' 



The extension beekeepers' short course 

 will be held at Ames during the week of 

 Feb. 9, 1920. This course is designed pri- 

 marily for those who have had some experi- 

 ence with bees. The Bureau of Entomology 

 of the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture is co-operating in the conducting of 

 this short course. The work given will be of 

 great A-alue to anyone who expects to con- 

 tinue to keep bees. With the importance of 

 the industry in this State, there is every 

 reason to expect that more beekeepers will 

 be in attendance than in any other State. 

 Details and a program may be secured ujjon 

 application to the State apiarist. 



During the coming j^ear the Extension 

 Department of the Iowa State College will 

 organize boys ' and girls ' bee clubs. This 

 work will only be undertaken during the 

 first year in five counties. There is already 

 much interest manifested in this line of 

 work and the calls for the work will exceed 

 what can be done. 



A new and revised Beginner's Corresnond 

 ence Course in Beekeej^ing is to be offered 

 by the Extension Department of the State 

 College during the coming year. The work 

 given in such a course has proved very bene- 

 ficial during the past two years, and the ad- 

 vanced requests for this course indicate 

 that it is needed by the people of the State. 



Ames, la. F. B. Paddock. 



* « * ' 



In North Carolina, ^i^^: ^'^"'t'' «"^ 



nual meeting ot 

 the North Carolina State Beekeepers ' Asso- 

 ciation will be held at Greensboro, Jan. 8, 

 and there is every indication that it will be 

 the most largely attended and really profit- 

 able convention of beekeepers ever held in 

 this State. The officers are Franklin Sher- 

 m.an, Jr., of Ealeigh, State IJntomologist, 

 president, and James M. Gibbs of Reidsville. 

 .'secretary-treasurer. The ])rograin for the 

 approaching convention is beiug arranged 

 with the assistance of C. L. Sams of the 

 beekeeping co-operative service of tlie State 

 and Federal agricultural departments, and 

 will include a number of well-known author- 



