1907 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



625 



There is no doubt in my mind but that, if 

 we could hold together as a company, we 

 might secure one or two cents per lb. more 

 than many do, and still sell at a reasonable 

 price. This would mean thousands of dollars 

 to those who sell cheap, and in doing so they 

 spoil the market price for others. We, as 

 pi-oducers, are too indifferent to this part of 

 our business, and it is certainly high time 

 that we awoke to the importance of this sub- 

 ject. If some of the valuable time that is 

 usually spent over minor matters at our con- 

 ventions could be spent on this subject it 

 would be much better for us all. Now that 

 the wintering problem is quite well solved, I 

 know of nothing connected with bee-keeping 

 of so much importance as that of organizing 

 for the purpose of securing a more uniform 

 price for our honey. So long as we continue 

 to sell as we have done in the past for at 

 almost any pi'ice that is offex'ed. we are doing 

 an injustice, not only to ourselves, but to all 

 other producers. Like the drifting derelicts 

 at sea, which cause loss and trouble wherever 

 they go, so we, in disposing of our honey, 

 sell for this and that price until we have 

 spoiled the market and caused trouble to 

 come to those who otherwise would be able 

 to sell at a fair price. 



For a long time I have been in hopes that 

 this subject would receive special attention; 

 but we don't seem to have any man who has 

 the natural ability to organize us on this 

 particular line. I have never taken any in- 

 terest in organizing for the purpose of pay- 

 ing each other's lawsuits, for I never had a 

 lawsuit in my life; neither do I take any in- 

 terest in organizing for the purpose of get- 

 ting supplies cheap, for I think the supply- 

 dealer should have a fair profit on his busi- 

 ness, especially the men who are spending 

 both time and money in testing new methods, 

 and are working with us to advance modern 

 bee-keeping. 



Some may think me inconsistent in advis- 

 ing organization in selling our honey, and 

 discouraging organization in buying supplies. 

 In regard to this I discourage it only so far 

 as it has an injurious effect on the business 

 of those that are continually helping us; and 

 then when we take into consideration how 

 much valuable information we are monthly 

 receiving from our bee journals, some of 

 them pablishing information that 1 know 

 from experience costs them hundreds of dol- 

 lars annually, which they give us for the 

 small sum of $1.00 a yeai", I for one can not 

 feel that it is right to join in a movement to 

 cut them down on their prices, even though 

 I may gain a small amount a year on the 

 supplies I use. 



I hope that, before another summer's sur- 

 plus is ready for market, some man with a 

 natural ability to organize will take hold of 

 this subject and bring order out of chaos, so 

 that we may be a mutual benefit to each 

 other; then when this is done we can let the 

 subject rest. 



Delanson, N. Y. 



[We regret that bee-keepers all over the 

 country have not recognized that there would 



be a decided advantage in codperative selling 

 of honey. But no successful attempts have 

 thus far been made except in Colorado and 

 California, and in one or two small sections 

 of a couple of States. The Colorado organi- 

 zation has been quite unique in the natui'e of 

 the work it has accomplished; but this result 

 is due very largely to the fact that it has an 

 honest, efficient business man to manage the 

 enterprise. If there could be a national or- 

 ganization along the same lines, and if bee- 

 keepers would have confidence enough in it 

 to stand by it, very much better prices might 

 be secured. But when one or two jump the 

 fence, and sell dii'ect, it greatly handicaps 

 all organized effort. — Ed.] 



BEE KEEPING IN COLORADO. 



A Report from M. A. Gill. 



BY. DR. O. EWERS. 



The development of bee culture along cer- 

 tain evolutionary lines has existed until the 

 culture and the production of honey have be- 

 come extensive here in Colorado. Bee cul- 

 turists have advanced along this line, study- 

 ing the bee scientifically, and applying the 

 benefits derived therefrom, until the business 

 has been crowned with success. The busi- 

 ness has a fascination for those who invest 

 and labor along that line, from the fact that 

 they are producing one of the most health- 

 ful foods, and from the fact that the business 

 is remunerative. Much sunshine and the 

 mildness of the climate, no doubt, contribute 

 largely to the success in this line of business 

 here in Colorado: 



The following is a report of Millard A. 

 Gill, of Longmont, for 1906. 



"1 had under my supervision 1000 colonies 

 of bees, situated in several different locali- 

 ties in the surrounding country, or divided 

 into several yards. Myself and wife did most 

 of the work in attending to these bees; The 

 work was laborious but healthful, being in 

 the open air and sunshine, which made it 

 pleasant. 



" I drove about 100 miles per week attend- 

 ing to them. The roads were comparatively 

 level, mostly dry, and but little mud. Hon- 

 ey in this locality is made from alfalfa and 

 sweet clover, except what the bees obtain 

 from fruit-bloom and various desert plants 

 in the spring of the year. 



"I sold this year, 2400 twenty- four pound 

 shipping-cases at, for No. 1, $2.70 per case; 

 for No. 2, $2.35 per case. Sum total, $6100. 

 The probable expense of supplies and ship- 

 ping was $1000. The year was not consid- 

 ered the best, but was fair." 



Bees are in good condition for the begin- 

 ning of winter. Longmont alone produced 

 eight carloads of honey this year. Some of 

 my best colonies produced $20 worth of hon- 

 ey each this year. Colorado produced 42 

 carloads of honey in 1906. Bees winter out- 

 doors here, and do not have to be housed, 



Longmont, Col. 



