The Greeley tribune., 1906-02-08
SHOWED LOSS
HONEY CROP OF 1905 FELL
OFF GREATLY
Bee Keepers Meet to Formulate
Plans for Next Years Bust
ness-Oficers Are
Elected

If the season of 1906 is not more
profitable for the bee keepers of the
state, than that of 1905, it will not
be the fault of members of the Colo
RADIO Bee Keepers association who
last week held a two days session in
the chamber of commerce in Denver.
AT the close of the session officers
were elected for the coming year as
follows: President, W. P. Collins,
Boulder; vice president, Frank
Rauchfuss, Denver; secretary, G.
Tomlin, Fort Collins; treasurer,
Mrs. r. A. Rhodes, Platteville.
The committee were formed as fol-
lows: Executive, Oliver Foster;
legislative, Frank Rauchfuss, V. De-
vinney, NJ. A. Gill; program, R. A.
Rhodes, N. Il. Henthorne; exhibits,
Frank Rauchfuss, F. Drexel, Harry
McCombs, W. l.. Francis.
Two billion Colorado honey bees
produced 1,65O,00O pounds of honey
of total value of S2l4, 500, in the
year 1904. During the honey season
of 1905 there was decrease in the
production of honey in this state,
and all the 400, 900, 900 bees produced
was 300, 900 pounds, of a total valua-
tion of $50, 900.
This loss of sl75, 500 to the agri-
cultural assets of Colorado is attri-
buted to the failure of the secretions
of nectar in flowers, the cause Of
which is unknown, put the effect Is
all too evident in the diminution of
pee colonies. Many apiaries in the
state have not sufficient supply OF
honey from this seasons gathering
to keep the colonies over winter, and
farmers will be forced to provide
feed for their bee colonies.
The above figures on the produc-
tion of honey and the number OF
working bees engaged in gathering
the same are based upon the most
reliable statistics, the season 1904,
which was an average year, being
taken as a working compendium.
In that year the average swarm OF
bees to the hive was 10000 workers,
and these 40, 600 honey gatherers pro-
duced thirty pounds of the delicious
extract of nectar per hive.
But what bee keepers have lost
because of the scant honey produc-
tion they have in way recovered,
by the increase in the sales of wax.
The production of wax has been in
creased, or rather, more than the
usual supply of wax has gone INTO
the market, by reason of the diminu-
tion of bee colonies and the fact that
bee keepers nave melted last years
boneycombs and sent the wax TO
market.
Most of the 1905 crop of honey was
shipped to the markets east OF the
Mississippi river prior to oct. l. ana
Colorado has not enough honey LOT
home consumption during the win
fer. Not only will consumers nave
TO be content with an imported
article. but bee keepers themselves
will be obliged to buy or manulact-
ure honey food for the support OF
| their bee colonies during this winter.
Colorado honey stands alone In the
markets of the world. The product
from this state has the reputation OF
being the finest table honey i'll the
United States. and at the world S
fair in st. Louis, bee keepers OF this
state captured the grand prize Tor
both comb and strained honey.
These awards consisted of four goio
medals. seven silver medals and hve
hron1e medals-all the prizes worth
anneXing. so
The superior quality of COLORADO
honey is attributed to the exceilei'ce
and regularity of the feed from
which the honey bee CLEANS Its store
of distilled nectar. Alfalfa Is the
srS+ and foremost honey producing
dover in this section. From the
o,rolla of this pretty flower the bee
SIMS nectar that is not surpassed III
the kindgom of flowers as a prooucel
of honey of exquisite flavor. NeA'
IN imnortance as a honey producer III
h;s state are the sweet clover ana
sweet pea flowers. A dainty via
sower that grows in profusion IN GER
tain sections of Colorado, called 1he
pockv Mountain bee plant, Is also a
fayorite with the working bees