STATE BEE-KEEPERS^ ASSOCIATION. 65 



would have accomplished in making that answer. I know a 

 great many would want their bees assessed. I think we are 

 the gainers in the long run. The tax on bees is not a large 

 one. I am sorry that bees were not on the list last year. 



A. J. Miller — What, should the valuation be given to the 

 assessor? 



Dr. Miller — If I have a horse he is assessed one-fifth of 

 his value. It should be the same with bees. Five colonies 

 of bees would be assessed at $1.00 each, one-fifth of its real 

 value. I bought bees for $2.00 last year, and the prices 

 range from that on up. Whatever is the real value of those 

 bees, you ought to have them assessed at one-fifth of same. 



Mr. Stone — The valuation on bees ought to be what 

 they are selling for at a public sale, that is $2.00 a colony. 



Mr. Becker — I bought 10 colonies at $1.65 a piece, and 

 paid $2.00 and a few cents for hives. I wanted the hives 

 as much as the bees, as they had 50 to 60 pounds of honey. 

 I think bees should be assessed as you have a horse assessed. 

 That is if you have 10 colonies of bees with good hives you 

 should pay not less than $2.00 valuation on the hives if the 

 bees were not worth a cent. 



Mr. Black — In some neighborhoods bees are worth more 

 than in others, and they ought not to be assessed at a fixed 

 valuation anyway. They would be worth more in some places 

 than others. 



REGULATING PRICES OF HONEY. 



"How can we best regulate the price of pure honey?" 



Dr. Miller — You can regulate the price of honey by in- 

 forming yourself as to what the thing is worth, and be sure 

 to ask all you think ought to be asked for it, seeing that 

 you get a fair price for it. I know some sell their honey 

 for a great deal less than they think it is worth. I know 

 you can help individually in never asking less than what it 

 is worth. The markets want your honey and will give what 

 it is worth. 



Mr. Becker — I object to that question, as there is an 

 insinuation in it that we are selling adulterated honey, not 

 pure honey. I hope no one in this convention sells anything 

 but pure honey. So much is said about adulterated honey; 

 I don't think it ought to be discussed. We don't bring any- 

 thing but pure honey to the market. 



Dr. Miller — Do you think any impure honey is sold? 



Mr. Becker — Not in Springfield. 



Dr. Miller — Mr. Becker has control of the Springfield 

 market. 



Mr. Becker — You say I have a monopoly on the Spring- 

 field honey-trade. I have not a monopoly; I sell extracted 

 honey in all the Springfield stores. The first package I put in, 

 I say if anyone calls and says they don't like this honey, 

 don't say anything, just tell them to bring it back and I will 

 give them their money back. I never had to take any bottles 

 back but once, and then it was granulated and needed melt- 

 ing. I went to another store and the man had lots of honey 



