THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 55 



records of the census l)ureau in 1900 and 1910 and the figures tliat have been 

 compiled for the industry for 1913. In 1900 Colorado ranked twenty-first among 

 the states in production of honey. In 1910 the census bureau found that it had 

 advanced to fourteenth place, its annual output having increased from 1,835,000 

 pounds to 2,306,492 pounds. In 1913 the output was approximately 4,150.000 pounds, 

 as shown l)y the records of the various railroads and express companies handling 

 shipments. Indications are that the state now ranks not lower than tenth as a 

 producer of honey, having advanced to that position from twenty-first in thirteen 

 years. 



About 7 per cent of the farmers in the state were keeping bees in 1910. 

 The percentage has increased slightly in that period, but the number of colonies 

 of bees has increased from 71.434 then to about 92,150 now. The increase has 

 been confined largely to persons who have been keeping bees for years and who 

 have added new colonies. 



Extensive growing of alfalfa is one of the principal reasons for the im- 

 portance of the bee keeping industry in Colorado, the bloom furnishing honey in 

 abundance. Fruit growing also aids the industry materially, since the fruit blos- 

 soms are also rich in honey. 



The Western slope leads in the production of honey, with the Arkansas and 

 South Platte valleys both following closely in its wake. Otero county holds the 

 lead, with an annual production of about 400,000 pounds, valued at about $44,000. 

 Delta county ranks second, producing annually about 335,000 pounds, with Mon- 

 trose a close third. Larimer county, which ranked fifth in 1910, has advanced 

 to fourth place. 



The keeping of bees in the irrigated districts of the state is certain to con- 

 tinue to increase in importance as an industry with each year, for the reason 

 that the revenue is considerable and the farmer who raises alfalfa finds it pos- 

 sible to maintain several stands of bees with very little additional work. Better 

 methods of hiving and caring for the bees and of handling young colonies are 

 being put into practice each year, with the result that bee-keepers have increased 

 their output for each colony to a marked extent in the past ten years. An 

 association of bee-keepers of the state holds meetings at frequent intervals and 

 develops many excellent methods for making bee-keeping a more pleasant and 

 profitable industry. 



Some Things That Were Said and Done at the Michigan State Meet 



at Detroit in December. 



After reading the minutes of the last meeting by Secretary Schmidt, 

 President Morse's address was listened to. He said in part: Gen- 

 erally speaking, the crop of surplus in Michigan for the season of 1913 

 had been satisfactory. Some few locations, usually caused by the 

 drouth toward the latter part of the clover flow, had a short crop. 

 This feature suggests the practice of not "putting one's eggs all in 

 one basket," but scatter out one's bee yards in different locations and 

 by so doing secure a crop in some favorably located yard each year. 



A A'Ct JVeit^Jit Package Rccouimcndcd 



According to late laws and usage, it is now advisable to use a net 

 weight package for extracted honey. The fact is, the time is fast 

 arriving when all packages put upon the market will be required by 

 law to be marked plainly just what, and how much they contain. 



"The Production of Comb Honey," by L. S. Griggs, flint. Mich., 



was listened to ^■ery closely and was likely as valuable a talk as 

 was on the program. He said in part : that bees must be wintered 



