STATE BEE-KEEPERS ASSOCIATION. 45 



it, just make the trip to California even from Chicago (in- 

 cluding a walk down and up the Grand Canyon), and I think 

 you will agree that we have a big country. There is no 

 question in my mind, but that bee-keepers should form com- 

 mercial organizations, for the control of the marketing of 

 their product. But how can it be 'done? It is very easy to 

 say a thing ought to be so and so, but it is quite a different ~" 

 matter to make it so and so — or, in other words, to do it. 



I haven't the least doubt that properly organized and 

 conducted, honey exchanges would be most excellent things 

 for the producers. It would also help the consumers to have 

 confidence in honey, when they could be assured that all "Ex- 

 change" honey is absolutely pure, because bearing the "Ex- 

 change" label or brand. There are great possibilities along 

 these lines, I feel assured, but I am not wise enough, or suf-- 

 ficiently experienced, to lead the way to success. However, 

 I am interested enough to be willing to do what little I can 

 to help stir up the subject until such time as it shall result 

 in something tangible and really of value to bee-keepers. 



For nearly a half century bee-books, bee-papers, and bee- 

 keepers' conventions, have been devoted to the teaching o^ 

 bee-keeping and honey-production — to hives and apiarian 

 paraphernalia and their manipulation. It "seems to me that 

 it is high time that bee-keepers begin to pay more attention 

 to the other side of their calling — to the selling side — to the 

 disposition of their honey product. The most of them know 

 how to get the honey. The next thing is to turn it into more 

 money than the most of them have been getting for it in 

 recent years. - 



But I must not longer occupy the time of the convention. 

 We are here to discuss matters of deep interest to all. You 

 all have questions that you wish to ask, and all wish not only 

 to have their own questions answered, but may want to 

 answer the other fellow's questions. That is what we are 

 here for. That we may have the best and most profitable 

 meeting ever held by bee-keepers in this great, overgrown 

 city, is my earnest wish; and that all may return to their 

 homes feeling that it has indeed been goTDd for them to be 

 here, is my fondest hope at this time. 



George W. York. 



Mr. Abbott — Is tlie President's Address open to discus- 

 sion? I don't want to discuss it. I want to offer a protest. 

 I don't think it is fair for The American Bee Journal to iad- 

 vertise Uneeda Biscuit and not get paid for it. I move that 

 be expunged. 



Dr. Miller — How do you know that he isn't paid for it? 

 ' Mr. Abbott — I know from the look on hfs face. 



Mr. Wilcox — A3 long as they buy our honey we will ad- 

 vertise their' biscuit. 



