448 THE BEEKEEPERS' REVIEW 



whose work it is to advise with farmers and help them organize 

 upon a substantial basis. This applies to cooperative associations, 

 especially, although, it is not necessary for an association to be or- 

 ganized upon a business basis to carry through successful coopera- 

 tive work. The Government encourages social and educational as- 

 sociations to take up carefully planned cooperative buying and sell- 

 ing. Any local or state beekeepers' association could get counsel 

 from the Government on any cooperative venture it wished to 

 undertake. The forms sent out by the Government could be re- 

 vised by a committee of The National Beekeepers' Association, and 

 rendered of far more use to the beekeepers. The Bureau of Mar- 

 kets would doubtless welcome suggestions of this kind. 



The National Association has a large field, but it has in the past 

 confined its work too much to local conditions that can be handled 

 better by local associations. If local associations do not do the 

 work, then perhaps the National should, but the National Conven- 

 tion each year, I dare say, is a disappointment to the majority of 

 beekeepers. It does not come up in quality and real practical worth 

 with the local meetings that many have attended. The reason is 

 that it is a local meeting, the program made up of subjects, most of 

 them of remote interest to the local members. The National Asso- 

 ciation has spent too much energy (if it has shown any energy to 

 speak of) in social and educational work. The social features lie 

 principally within the province of the local association, and the edu- 

 caticnal work can be better prosecuted by our State Colleges. The 

 National Association should see that each State College carries on 

 this educational work, leaving the actual prosecution of beekeeping 

 extension to the State Schools. 



For a National organization the Secretary should have a large 

 fund of information for the guidance of any State College that con- 

 templates putting in a course of beekeeping. This information can 

 be communicated direct, or through the local affiliated body. 



The National Association should have a definite program re- 

 garding the best disease legislation for the various states. The 

 National should wield a strong influence in the drafting and passage 

 of disease and inspection legislation. National inspection for inter- 

 state shipments will be an open field, and is the direct problem for 

 the National Association. 



The adjustment of railroad express and postal rates on bees, 

 honey and supplies is an open field for the National Association. It 

 is surprising what can be done with a little work along these lines 

 when taken up by individuals, and the National Association should 

 be more powerful. 



