52 First Annual Report 



A paper read by the Secretary at the Farmers' Institute : 



' 'At the formation of this Institute one of our members was very desirous 

 of having the subject of cattle breeding treated by one who could tell us how 

 it could be done in a way to make it a financial gain . 



"Now, Mr. President, while we are expected to talk about bee-keeping, 

 we are not going to say that it is the only avocation that has any money in 

 it, for we do not think so. We think it is like a good many other things in 

 which farmers engage. We are not advocates of specialties. We believe in 

 mixed farming. 



"While we hear farmers saying that stock breeding in some particular 

 line does not pay, we would say to them, mix it up with something else in a 

 way that it will pay. If the raising of cattle and hogs requires corn, and the 

 producing of corn impoverishes the soil and in that way degenerates the 

 value of the land, then raise sheep, and for the sheep raise clover. 



"Now, we claim that a flock of sheep on a farm (say 50 sheep to 100 

 acres of land) will cause that farm to produce enough more, than it would 

 without them, to make their product clear gain. 



"Then in addition to sheep and clover, with the soil always ready for a 

 large crop of corn, you can bring in you hogs, which do not object to the 

 clover, while they depend largely upon the corn. 



"Then comes our orchards, that you can say do not pay us anything. 

 But I expect our brethren, that will follow us on the fruit question, will tell 

 us how it can be made to pay at least something. 



"Now, by this time I expect some of you are wondering what this all 

 has got to do with bee-keeping . We will tell you. In order to raise stock 

 of any kind we first look out for their pasturage. This is what we have been 

 doing. Our orchards are not only pastures for bees, but bees are a necessity 

 in the cross-fertilization of blossoms, without which there would be no fruit. 

 We had a case of evidence a year ago last spring. Trees blossomed full, 

 but it was so cold that the bees could gather no honey at the time their work 

 of fertilization should have been done, and the result was very little fruit. 

 Horticulturists must learn that the honey-bee is one of his best friends. 



"Scientists are learning that nature abhors self fertilization, and that there 

 are no plants that bear seed or fruit without some agency in cross- fertiliza- 

 tion, and that while the wind or some other agent can be the carrier of the 

 fertilizing dust from one flower to another, yet it is agreed that the honey- 

 bee performs vastly the largest portion of this work. 



"While the honey-bee is of such value as a fertilizing agent why not 

 yoke him in and compel him to work further to our gain, by utilizing what 

 he gathers while performing his useful part of fruit and seed producing. 



"As for the importance of bee-keeping we will say that after the Illinois 

 State Bee-Keepers' Association was organized the Legislature gave us an" 

 annual appropriation of I500 for the publication of our annual report (which 



