76 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS ON APICULTURE. 



of the men engaged in the work to the greatest possible proficiency. 

 It can not be hoped that men owning but a few colonies will be suffi- 

 ciently interested to carry on intensive apiculture. If, therefore, 

 efforts are put forth to bring the industry to its highest point, they 

 should be directed toward the making of specialists in larger num- 

 bers. Above all, there should be no ''booming" of the industry, no 

 effort to "popularize" it, for it is not desirable that everybody keep 

 bees. Bee keeping requires careful work, and to get a financial profit 

 is not possible in the majority of cases. To advocate bee keeping as 

 a general avocation not only hurts reputable bee keepers but gen- 

 erally leads to grave disappointment on the part of those who are 

 led into it by glowing accounts. 



THE NEEDS AND POSSIBILITIES OF APICULTURE. 



That there is room for growth in the bee-keeping industry admits 

 of no doubt. The fact that honey for table use is a luxury rather 

 than a necessity makes possible a great increase in marketing by the 

 creation of a desire for it. This is recognized by those who are engaged 

 in the building up of a local market for their product, for it is found 

 that the amount of honey consumed in a community increases rapidly 

 when honey is brought to its attention. 



A large part of the honey put on the general market does not go 

 into retail trade, but is used in manufacturing. This phase of the 

 market is of relatively recent growth and, in spite of the f aet that most 

 bakers and confectioners pay a small price for hone}', there is in tins 

 case also room for more. Several confectioners have stated to the 

 author that they find it difficult to get enough honey in the general 

 market for their own use. 



In discussing the needs of the bee-keeping industry these may per- 

 haps be best divided under three headings — scientific, economic, and 

 educational. In naming them it does not follow that all are absolute 

 necessities before the industry can reach its highest perfection, but 

 there are many lines which should be taken up which, while not neces- 

 sary, are very desirable in order that the men engaged in the industry 

 may be well informed concerning the various phases of the science. 



SCIENTIFIC NEEDS. 



Statistical. — In order that honey and wax may come to hold a stable 

 place in the market there should be available more detailed statistics 

 as to the scope of the industry and, following that, properly timed 

 crop reports, so that the products may sell for what they are worth. 



Zoological. — In spite of all that has been written on races of bees, 

 the subject is far from being completely exhausted. More reliable 

 work should also be done on the anatomy and embryology of the bee. 



