THE BEEKEEPERS' REVIEW 447 



The National Field 



WESLEY FOSTER, Boulder, Colorado 



(Secretary-Treasurer National Beekeepers' Association) 



There are not many beekeepers in the United States who do not 

 have definite ideas concerning what measures The National Bee- 

 keepers' Association should pursue to better American beekeeping 

 conditions. The main lines of work that such an organization 

 should pursue are fairly well understood, but there are some things 

 that should be more definitely stated. 



It is not practicable, nor wise, to pursue work that our State 

 Colleges and Government departments have taken up. True, we 

 can cooperate with them to a great extent, but we should not com- 

 pete with them. Our efforts will count for more if we work along 

 lines not directly touched by the Government agencies. 



One of the greatest works that could be done is to secure, 

 through the National Beekeepers' Association, the prosecution of 

 more work by the various State Colleges and the Government 

 Bureaus at Washington. This can be made an effective field of en- 

 deavor. The National Association should have an effective voice in 

 conference with these agencies in determining the way to carry on 

 the various enterprises. We have helped in the honey crop reports 

 that have been instituted, and we should further help in improving 

 and extending this work. 



The standardization and color of honeys was taken up with the 

 Government at Washington and while it is too early to expect great 

 returns, this work will be followed up until results are secured. 



The National Grading Rules is the first step taken to draft 

 comb-honey rules that would be broad enough for the whole coun- 

 try. By these rules, the Eastern beekeeper, the Southern beekeep- 

 er, the Western beekeeper, and the Northern beekeeper can grade 

 his honey and have a well put-up and marketable article. 



The extracted honey grading rules cannot be well completed 

 until the Government completes its work on the standardization and 

 color of honey. 



It is one of the legitimate fields of the National Association, to 

 not only aid in the formation of local and state associations, but, if 

 the funds of the Association would permit, an organizer should be 

 delegated to get the beemen together and organize them where they 

 are not organized. Here is another place where the National Asso- 

 ciation should call upon the Government for help. The Bureau of 

 Markets of the Department of Agriculture has one or more men 



