"i!pR51?P 



36 First Annual Report. 



little experience in the line of bee-keeping, I have made it a practice to keep 

 from ten to thirty stands of bees on the farm. 



"This IS an age of specialties and some of the bee-keepers present will 

 insist that success in this line can be attained only by experts who make a 

 special study of the apiarian art. The care of bees is not such a difficult un- 

 dertaking that the farmer of average ability may not obtain a handsome 

 profit for the time and labor expended in the care of a limited number of 

 stands of bees. 



"The man who makes a specialty of bee keeping and has some misgiv- 

 ings for fear that the general farmer may overstock the market with honey is 

 the exception among apiarists. 



"There should be a sufficient number of stands of bees in every county 

 in Illinois to utilize the bee pastorage, and if the professional bee-keepers do 

 not fully occupy the territory there should be no complaint if the average 

 farmer keeps a sufficient number of stands of bees to utilize the honey crop. 



"The farmers of the State should be encouraged by this Association to 

 keep a sufficient number of stands of bees to at least supply the sweets for 

 their own tables. 



"It will be many years before the supply of honey produced in this State 

 will exceed the home demand. 



"This Association can render the State valuable service by encouraging a 

 larger number of farmers and apiarists to give more general attention to the 

 production of honey. 



"The best authorities estimate the annual honey crop of Illinois to exceed 

 $112,000. This amount can be increased four-fold through the earnest efforts 

 of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers, Association. The knowledge of the health- 

 fulness of honey consumption is confined to a comparatively limited number 

 of the people of this State. The medical virtues of honey will largely in- 

 crease the demand for the same when more of our people make a study of 

 this subject. 



"The appropriation made by the State for the publication of an annual 

 report by the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association makes it possible to in- 

 terest many of our farmers in the care of bees. 



"It is suggested that the first annual report of the Illinois State Bee- 

 Keepers' Association contain the information desired by the average farmer 

 who contemplates the purchase of a few stands of bees as a nucleus for an 

 apiary on a small or large scale. 



"A chapter on bee-keeping that could be understood by the novice 

 would doubtless interest the average farmer as much as any matter likely to 

 be published in your annual report. 



"Statistics as to the extent of honey production in this State, if published 

 in your report, will aljso serve a valuable service in calling attention to an 

 industry but little known or appreciated by the citizens of Illinois . 



