GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



October, 1921 



ffi; FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



In Northern California, ^^t ^^ ''''''I 



a pleasant 

 task to (lopk't unfavorable conditions. We 

 liave now practically pre-war honey prices 

 and, if there be any difference, it is be- 

 tween the amber and white gradets. The 

 amber grades are just about where they 

 were six or seven years ago, namely, around 

 fi cents per pound; but the white grades, 

 principally sage, are somewhat higher in 

 value. The widening of the gap between 

 these two grades is i)robably due, on the 

 one hand, to the increased consumption of 

 white honey put up in various-sized small 

 containers; and, on other hand, to the part 

 in which low^-priced sugar can play as a 

 substitute for the amber grades. A good 

 quality of sage honey is selling for 9% to 

 13 cents per pound wliolesale Sept. 5. 



When we consider what it costs us to pro- 

 duce lioney it would appear, other things 

 being equal, that we must produce approxi- 

 mately twice as much of the amber as of 

 tlie white-graded honeys.- The producers of 

 sage honey might tell us that, in order to 

 break even this season, their bees must 

 yield 120 pounds per colony. The alfalfa 

 producers would then demand two cases to 

 the colony; but, as a matter of fact, the 

 yield is going to be about one-fourth that 

 amount. The alfalfa producers have lost 

 money. What are they going to do? Sell 

 their bees? No, they are not going to do 

 tliis. In the first place, there is no market 

 for bees, and yet most of the beekeepers have 

 confidence in the future. Some believe that 

 by means of a co-operative honey exchange, 

 l)roperly handled, they will get a better 

 valiie for their product. (They are certainly 

 light in this belief, and it is to be hoped 

 that concerted action will be brought about 

 in this respect.) Others have the feeling 

 that migratory beekeeping will better their 

 conditions; while still others feel that they 

 will do better by practicing better beekeep 

 ing generally. 



Our best beekeepers know that honey can- 

 not be produced this year for a cost of six 

 cents per pound. The market and the sea 

 son are variable factors. Good beekeeping 

 practices mean a very great deal — they may 

 mean a doubling of the crop; and, as im- 

 jiortant as they are, the beekeepers must 

 also know what their honey is costing them 

 to produce. 



Altho the honey market is variable, due 

 to supply and demand, etc., beekeepers 

 nevertheless can exercise a very beneficial 

 influence thereon. The logical method is for 

 a co-operative honey exchange to market 

 the hone}-, as by this means a better method 

 of distribution is brought about and the cost 

 of marketing is much more economically 

 handled. The worth of a co-operative or- 

 ganization to beekeepers is dependent on 



the board of diicetors, and it is the duty of 

 each and every jnember to see to it that five 

 or seven of the best men among them, re- 

 gardless of popularity, are selected to the 

 directorate. It is likewise necessary for the 

 members so selected to serve to the best of 

 their ability, and not plead that they are 

 preoccupied along other lines. Te recapitu- 

 late, we must ever attempt to improve our 

 beekeeping j^i'actices, keeping a close watch 

 all the while on our maintenance and oper- 

 ating costs. Increased production, a lower- 

 ing of cost, and marketing co-operatively 

 are three serious considerations pertaining 

 to our industry. Let us give them a very 

 large part of our time. M. C. Eichter. 

 Modesto, Calif. 



In Southern California, ^^s^^}' ^ ^"^ 



spending a 

 month in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 

 miles away from the sound of automobile 

 horn or telephone bell. Tlie fishing is still 

 good in many of the mountain streams, and 

 the many-colored leaves on the mountain 

 sides make a most beautiful picture. 



We came by what is known as the Coast 

 Route, which brought us thru some of Cali- 

 fornia's most productive honey territory. It 

 is only in a very few localities that any- 

 thing like a satisfactory crop was produced. 



The Imperial Valley did not get as good 

 a crop as w-as at first supposed, unfavorable 

 weather being one of the principal rea- 

 sons. 



Prices are firmer, and considerable honey 

 has been moving, but there is nothing in 

 particular to get excited about. 



The bees are in only fair condition, and 

 many beekeepers will find it to their advan- 

 tage to feed some of the lighter colonies. 



Riverside County is putting on quite an 

 exhibit at the State Fair. Among the in- 

 teresting features will be a date tree with 

 1,000 pounds of dates on it. The beekeep- 

 ers are also putting up quite a fine display. 

 C. B. Baxter of Corona has been sent by the 

 Riverside County Club to place the exhibit, 

 and also to talk bees and honey to the visit- 

 ors of the Fair. I.. T,. Andrews. 



Corona, Calif. 



Jj^ Texas '^''^' pr*?sent condition of 



bees in Texa- is just about 

 normal, and the bee plants are in practic- 

 ally the same condition. While it is ex- 

 tremely hot and dry, it is" the normal con- 

 dition of this part of the world at this time 

 of year. The majority of the colonies 

 stored a fine supply of honey early in the 

 summer, and where they were not extracted 

 too closely are yet in fine shape. One of 

 the things which is feared is that too many 

 of the colonies have crowded brood-nests 



