The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-09-18
|BE'ESzgs:ss|
AND ~
DEE KEEPING ~
AMERICAN HONEY IN HOLLAND.
Furnishes Ready Market for Wis
consin Products,

consin Products.
Wisconsin is one of the common
wealths Of the United States whose
products are playing prominent
part In the American invasion" of
Europe, says the Chicago News. 1t Ia
Is Wisconsin honey that Is discon-
certing certain parts of the old
world. And the place where the Bad
ger State bee raisers' competition is
chiefly felt is Holland, for many
years one of the chief countries In
Europe in the production of honey.
But Wisconsin honey is not alone In
it's campaign here, for great quanu-
ties OF honey from California and
some other States are sold In the
same markets. But as a matter OF
fact, Wisconsin and California honey
practically carry the banner between
them.
Bee raising has always been a
much priced branch of agriculture In
Holland, although since 1850 II has
been In state of decline. In the
years between 1860 and 1900 the
bee colonies we're reduced to about
half what they had been before 1860.
This decrease has been found to
have been caused by the decrease OF
COLA and buckwheat.
But besides this there was deep
err cause. The Dutch apiculturists
have been content with the old ways
of raising bees and the old fashioned
hives. These old hives to this day
can be seen on nearly all the farms
In the United States, however, the
| newest methods and inventions have
| been employed to make the bee
| dwellings better and to increase the
| honey production. The result is that
| Holland is literally flooded with
| American honey. Honey to the value
| of millions Of forms Ia fiorin Is
worth 40 cents) Is imported every
| year. Not only does the real pure
| honey come in, but the artificial pro-
duct as well, made fresh from potato
| meal. of which the bees are entirely
| innocent.
Still it has proved by the remark
| ably large harvests Of several bee
keepers in Holland that 1t is a coun-
try admirably fitted for bee feeding
and Is, In fact, quite as good as the
best American States, Wisconsin and
California. The large heaths covered
| with bloom In some of the provinces
are ideal grounds for producing
honey Now all this is going to
waste. much to the detriment of the
orchards and grain fields, which also
ruin the busy little fertilizing agents.
They have to buy at great expense
what the soil could produce with
ease. He*
OF late years, however, a begin
ming has been made by some large
Bookkeeping firms who have imported
the American bee dwellings with
movable honeycombs. 1t has beer
found that the Dutchman's slow and
ancient methods make him no mater
for the American. The latter dare'
risk a dollar to win two, while
Dutchman turns a cent twice over, as
the saying is, before venturing 1t. II
Holland bee culture languishes IL
spite of high prices for honey, while
in the United States 1t tiourishes de-
spite low prices.
A society has been formed to ad
vance agriculture in Holland. This
society is supported by the govern
ment. BY organizing lectures and by
distributing pamphlets on bee cul
ture it is doing all in its power tt
further this productive branch o.
agriculture.
The first works on bee culture
were those of the Brahmins in India
In the Bible bees and honey are men
toned in several places witness The
land flows with milk and honey.
The Greeks had treatise on bee cul
ture which has unhappily been lost
| Aristotle was the first histori
ographer of the bee and previous Il
the sixty-nfth century AID. no ont
has improved on his treatise.
The Romans practiced bee cul
ture to high degree and almos
every villa had Its own bee colon
, with specially appointed caretaker
! Virgil In his Georges" sings OF tn
: busy bee" The Germanic nation
:. also practiced agriculture.
a The introduction of Christianit
:. had great influence on this as o
r every other branch of agricultur
t and horticulture for the monasterie
= became practical and theoretic'
i schools In these branches. The us
"A of wax candles on the affairs Of I'll
q churches was strong incentive
q increased wax production.
II The reformation was rather
- blow to the beekeepers, as the III
a of candles was greatly diminishe
n The introduction of sugar was all
of much influence N the decrease
n the honey trade in Europe Stranl
I to say, California, where th bee WI
In introduced only in 1858, is now q
- richest bee land in the whole worl