770 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Many topics of interest were discussed, 

 and as losses were often alluded to, each 

 was requested to give their loss per 

 cent, during the past Winter. The 

 result of this canvass made the average 

 loss appear to be 273^ per cent. The 

 losses were largely attributed to lack of 

 stores, 



R. H. Holmes, of Shoreham, presented 

 the following resolution, which was 

 heartily seconded by all concerned : 



Resolved, That we, as bee-keepers, 

 here assembled, feel that we have richly 

 enjoyed this informal gathering, and 

 hope this is the beginning of better times 

 to follow in the future ; that we hereby 

 express our gratitude to our President 

 and his family for the bountiful hospi- 

 tality we have received, and wish them 

 many years of prosperity, joy and 

 usefulness. 



About 5 o'clock the good-bys were 

 spoken, company dispersed, and wended 

 their several ways homeward, having 

 spent a pleasant day. 



Shoreham, Vt., May 25, 1891. 



Discouragements Of Bee-KeepiiiE. 



I. FREEBOKX. 



As the bright side of bee-keeping is 

 the one generally presented to the 

 public, some items from the other, or 

 discouraging side, ought to be in order. 

 When I commenced keeping bees 34 

 years ago, we had no bee-literature of 

 any account to aid us, but we had 

 plenty of pasturage, any amount of 

 of basswood timber, wild flowers, buck- 

 wheat, and but few bee-keepers, and 

 nearly every season seemed to be a good 

 one for honey. Honey bore a good 

 price, foul-brood was unknown, and 

 even the moth-miller had not found us 

 out. 



The prejudice against bee-keepers by 

 farmers, fruit-growers, and others, of 

 late years existing, was then never 

 mentioned ; but those good old times are 

 past, and the favorable conditions then 

 existing cannot again be enjoyed. This 

 thought discourages one. 



The improvements and the advance 

 made in bee-keeping since I began have 

 been marvelous. The movable frame, 

 the extractor, comb-foundation mills, 

 sections, cases, smokers, veils, different 

 races of bees, large factories for the 

 manufacture of supplies, and the excel- 

 lent literature pertaining to apiculture, 

 now available, have boomed bee-keeping. 



All items relating to big honey-yields 



and rapid increase have been given and 

 copied in agricultural and other papers. 

 These have advertised the business till 

 the result has been that we harvested a 

 countless throng of bee-keepers. As the 

 saying is, "the woods are fulTof them," 

 and, we might also add, the open ground, 

 too. 



Of the thousands who have commenced 

 bee-keeping in the last few years, I am 

 satisfied that, had they known fully the 

 chances and the actual conditions as 

 they existed, half would have turned 

 their attention to something else ; but, 

 being captivated by the big reports of 

 some of the few most favorably situated, 

 to achieve success, they embarked in the 

 venture, not considering the much 

 larger number who have made a failue 

 of the business. 



This big crop of bee-keepers is dis- 

 couraging to me. It may speak well for 

 the advancement of the pursuit and the 

 cheapening of honey for the masses ; but 

 every accession to our ranks is one more 

 rival in the field to lower prices, and 

 share with us the pasturage. A large 

 part of the beginners are inclined to cut 

 prices, which are already low enough. 



Another discouraging feature : While 

 bee-keepers are increasing, pasturage is 

 not. Basswood is fast disappearing, 

 buckwheat is not raised nearly as much 

 as formerly ; wild flowers are disappear- 

 ing before the plow, sheep and cattle. 

 One honey source — white clover — is on 

 the increase, but it is an uncertain 

 honey plant in our climate. 



Fifteen years ago I had, including the 

 home apiary, bees in six places, the 

 farthest being ten miles from home,' with 

 scarcely a rival that would lessen my 

 crop; but for several years past bee- 

 keepers have increased to such an 

 extent that last season I occupied only 

 the home apiary, and that was badly 

 trenched upon by surrounding apiaries. 

 The rest of my bees — 200 colonies, 

 outside of those kept at home — I moved 

 28 miles, attempting to get them where 

 there was a reasonable chance to make 

 them pay expenses. 



Another cause for discouragement is 

 the appearance of foul-brood at several 

 places in our State. 



The price of honey is also discourag- 

 ing. This year, of all others, it would 

 seem that honey ought to sell on sight ; 

 but many have found it hard to dispose 

 of the little crop that they did have at 

 anything like a fair price. 



Honey is not like the staple farm 

 products that have a fixed market value, 

 and that will sell any day when taken to 

 market. You have to look for your 



