THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



219 



pies twenty or more years ago. Yet 

 since that time millions of apple 

 trees have been planted and come 

 to bearing yet apples bring better 

 prices in the world's markets than 

 ever before. Why? Because the 

 newspapers have been full of news 

 about apples. There have been apple 

 shows in every city of importance 

 in the apple producing regions and 

 apples are constantly kept before 

 the consuming public. Do you often 

 buy things for your table that are 

 not advertised or otherwise brought 

 to your attention? I think not. The 

 apple men are not afraid to tell 

 what profits they make from their 

 orchards. What if a lot of new or- 

 chards are planted? A large por- 

 tion of them will not be properly 

 cared for to bring them into pro- 

 fitable bearing and the increased 

 publicity will create a market that 

 will more than care for the in- 

 increased production. 



The first thing to undertake is 

 to establish a good organization 

 among bee-keepers of the United 

 States as a whole. Our National 

 Association has but few, if any, 

 more members than some of the 

 State associations. There is no 

 reason apparent why it should not 

 have an active membership of five 

 thousand members. How will we get 

 them? To get them we must offer 

 some inducements for membership, 

 give them something for their 

 money. 



When I urge men to join the Na- 

 tional they tell me that they get 

 nothing for the dollar but the Re- 

 view and that they can buy a big- 

 ger and better journal privately 

 published for the money. Our Iowa 

 association is but two y-ears of age 

 yet it has more actual accomplish- 

 ment to its credit than any associa- 

 tion twice its age and I believe 

 that none can show better results 

 regardless of age. In about eighteen 

 months the Iowa Association has 

 secured the passage of the desired 

 legislation. Our foul brood laws are 

 good and we have a permanent fund 

 for inspection equal that of most 

 states and better far than all but 

 a very few. We are not compelled 

 to go back to the legislature at 

 the next session and take this mat- 

 ter up again for it is provided for 

 until the legislature shall see fit to 

 repeal the law. The society under- 

 took to get every county fair in 



the state to offer a creditable pre- 

 mium list on hive products. Many 

 of the county fairs have already 

 responded by offering from twelve 

 to twenty times as much as they 

 had offered previously. The State 

 fair also increased their premiums 

 forty per cent at the society's solic- 

 itation. 



The association asked for a 

 course in apiculture at the State 

 college of agriculture and extension 

 lectures on bee-keeping in farm- 

 ers' institutes and short courses. 

 The extension lecturer was provided 

 almost immediately after the re-- 

 quest was made and the course in 

 apiculture is now in course of pre- 

 paration and will begin at once. 



Bee-keepers who were members 

 of the association have been 

 threatened by ordinances of town 

 councils who would compelthem to 

 remove beyond the limits of the 

 town. The society has employed an 

 attorney and offers free legal ad- 

 vice to any member of the associa- 

 tion on any subject relating to bee 

 keeping. 



A series of six bee-keepers' pic- 

 nics are planned for next summer 

 in different parts of the state in 

 order that the members shall meet 

 in groups between conventions and 

 keep up interest and enthusiasm. 



At our next annual convention 

 we expect to hold a combined con- 

 vention, short course and hive pro- 

 ducts show. At the conventions the 

 experienced members get a feast but 

 there is not much of value for the 

 beginner. The short course with de- 

 monstrations of every phase of 

 practical methods will give the be- 

 ginner the help he needs. The show 

 with suitable premiums will offer 

 an inducement for every member to 

 bring a sample of his product and 

 compete for a prize. Tlie last feature 

 will enable us to get much valuable 

 publicity. 



The question has often been ask- 

 ed, "What shall the National do to 

 be saved?" In my opinion the thing 

 to do is to select some central city 

 for our next convention and to 

 hold a National Hive Products 

 show in connection with it. If prop- 

 erly managed such an institution 

 can be made to mean as much to 

 the bee-keeping fraternity as the 

 International Live Stock show 

 means to the live stock industry. 

 The exhibits should be divided in- 



