28 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



only about one-half as much honey is 

 produced in these two divisions as in 

 the others. Many of the bees in the 

 first two sections are barely self-sup- 

 porting and their only value is in 

 pollenizing the fruit blossoms. The 

 surplus gained from the more thrifty 

 colonies is generally small. The large 

 number in these sections is due to the 

 number of small farms with from one 

 to thirty colonies. 



Taking the state as a whole, indi- 

 vidual apiaries produce from a few 

 pounds to a carload (figured at about 

 40,000 pounds). The number of col- 

 onies owned by individual beekeepers 

 varies from a few to six or seven hun- 

 dred. In addition to the honey pro- 

 ducing apiaries, there are situated at 

 diflferent points in the state, queen 

 and bee-raising apiaries. 



Discussing each region separately, 

 we find that, in the coast division, 

 some of the finest honey produced 

 anywhere is secured from wild plants 

 such as vine maple (Acer circinatum) 

 and a plant known as fireweed (Ep- 

 ilobium spicatum). No large apiaries 

 are found in this section and the av- 

 erage surplus is small. Section honey 

 only is produced and only a small 

 amount reaches outside markets, as 

 the local demand is greater than the 

 supply. In this section climatic con- 

 ditions regulate to a great extent the 

 amount of honey produced. Contin- 

 ued rains in the spring, during the 

 blossoming period of fruit trees and 

 other plants, often result in a de- 

 creased surplus. 



In the Williamette Valley section, 

 conditions are extremely variable. In 

 the valley proper there are no com- 

 mercial apiaries of any size, and in 

 bad years many bees starve in the 

 fall, for lack of stores. Several men 

 in this section have found that it is 

 more desirable to produce extracted 

 honey, as the bees seem to gather 

 more honey in this way, under ad- 

 verse conditions. Alfalfa cannot be 

 grown with success, and since there 

 are not many flowering plants to be 

 found after July first, except back in 

 the hills, the surplus must be gath- 

 ered in the spring. Continued spring 

 rains are also a factor here and often- 

 times the blossoming period of the 

 principal honey-producing plants 

 passes without the bees being able 

 to spend more than a few days in 

 gathering honey. Getting back onto 

 the slopes of the Coast Range and 

 the Cascade Mountains, more favor- 

 able conditions are found and a fair 



surplus can usually be secured from 

 the more variable honey-producing 

 plants in the later blooming season. 



The division known as Southern Ore- 

 gon, and compi'ising only three coun- 

 ties, is different from the other sec- 

 tions of the state in that the region, 

 while not arid, does not have as much 

 rain as the Williamette Valley and 

 Coast divisions. In addition to sev- 

 eral wild honey plants, which grow 

 abundantly in this section, alfalfa is 

 grown successfully and fruit bloom 

 offers a fine pasturage while it lasts. 



The other three divisions. Central 

 Oregon, the Blue Mountain District, 

 and the Columbia Basin, have condi- 

 tions which are practically the same 

 so far as beekeeping is concerned. 

 That the beekeeping industry of these 

 sections is in its infancy can hardly 

 be doubted by one taking a trip 

 through those sections where alfalfa 

 can be grown successfully. Here is 

 also found a vast territory which at 

 present is in sage brush, but may 

 some day be planted to alfalfa, when 

 it will give increased area for bee 

 pasturage. In the vicinity of Ontario 

 and Vale, a large alfalfa district, one 

 can find some of the state's largest 

 and most productive apiaries. Much 

 of the alfalfa is grown for seed, and 

 with the sweet clover which grows in 

 waste places gives an ideal pasturage 

 for bees. Thei-e are many fine apiary 

 locations in different sections of the 

 state, but all of these should be thor- 

 oughly investigated before an attempt 

 is made to start an apiary in any 

 one of them. 



Notice to Secretaries, Delegates and Others 



Who Will Attend the Denver 



Convention 



(Continued from page 18) 



becoming keener every day, and we 

 must look for more and more public- 

 ity for honey to protect ourselves. 

 Some way must be provided to take 

 care of this added expense. As it 

 is, our yearly dues are absurdly small, 

 compared with other associations, and 

 we get more for our money. We get 

 the Review, in itself worth more than 

 we pay, and we get the benefits of 

 the Association besides. These other 

 associations pay $5.00, $10.00 and 

 some $25.00 for yearly dues, and with 

 this large fee, and a big membership 

 they have an immense working cap- 

 ital that enables them to boom their 

 products and get top prices. This is 

 the kind of competition we have to 



