The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-24
MONTANA OFFERS FIELD
FOR CULTURE OF BEES
Federal Expert, After Trip
Through State, Finds
Prospects Good.
INDUSTRY, n'lEcLE crED
Rare Opportunity for Pho
neers to- Make Success
Of Beekeeping.
INDUSTRY, NEGLECTED

VI 0OSNSVPIlI8.
10y {. L. 4>ehrist, Federal Office Of
Bee Culture tsvsstigation.)
There are in the United States about
100000 persons who own bees. but
there are not, enough who keep bees
efficiently and with the greatest pos
sible profit to themselves. The war
emergency has created need for
abundant production of all food sup
plies and honey is a nom perishable
concentrated food. Efficiency in honey
production comes only from study
OF the best practices perfected and
recorded by others.
The honey crop of 1916 of 100000, 900
pounds has disappeared at good prices
to those beekeepers who were careful
In their marketing by giving due at
tentton to the crop and market reports
which are sent out on request. We
now face another year with bare
shelves. Since the crop was sold the
nation has entered the war, making
hountiful production of all food sup
piles paramount duty. There will
be need for all the honey that can be
produced. This offers an opportunity
to the beekeeper to extend his bust
ness In such a way as to make it
lasting benefit to himself, while he at
the same time is doing a patriotic
duty.
Rare Opportunity Here.
Bookkeeping in Montana is in it's in
fancy and present conditions offer an
opportunity which beekeepers have
never before had of increasing the
importance OF an agricultural industry
which conserves a national resource
the. otherwise wasted nectar of the
flowers-and which produces non-
perishable. concentrated wholesome
food which plays an important part
In the endurance OF our nation.
Wherever white clover and alsike
thrive naturally the prospects for pay
ing honey crops should be good. Be-
sides these clpvers is the well known
alfalfa and the sweet clover which is
becoming more abundant as it's value
becomes known. The government has
just issued Farmers Bulletin No. $50
on the utilization of sweet clover for
feed and forage. which may be had
on request.
influences Favorable.
With these sources of honey and
the present unsupplied demand in
Montana for bees by those who wish
to engage in the industry, there is no
reason why the Montana beekeeper
should not succeed il he will study
his local conditions and give his bees
proper attention.
To thof ouA hn v,,lN ,ooIa 4.
his BEES better. The problem of sue
cesstul winterfng Is the greatest one
for Montana beekeepers to solve. To
that end the office Of bee culture in
vestiga tons wishes to urge every bec-
keeper to study the latest developments
in the best methods of wintering. In
formation can be obtained on this or
any other subject connected with bee
keeping by writing to the office OF
Bee Culture Investigations. Washing
ton. d. c.. of which DIR. f. +. Phillips
il in charge.
Raise Bees for Sale.
There is an opportunity in Mon
tana for beekeepers who will raise
Italian Queens and bees for sale to
Montana people who, IL they wish te
start in Bookkeeping by buying pound
packages of Combless bees must al
the present time get them from the
southern states or from California
Anyone wishing to buy Countless bees
should write to Washington for infor.
nation as to how to handle them. bee.
keeping is only in its infancy, and un.
til We learn to keep bees better-unti
we learn how to obtain the maximum
honey crop from our location. bee
keeping cannot take it's place among
the industries.
Nor will we have have done wha
we should until there is enough hone!
produced so that it may become a sta
pie, everyday food in use on ever.
table as butter now is.
Reekeeping is not likely to suffe
from overproduction Underconsump
ton is the condition with which W
have to contend, and not until enough
honey Is produced so that the con
sumner can buy 1t at any store an
day in the year. will the beekeepe
have done his duty.
Now that the federal government
taking hold of the marketing probler
both the consumer and producer ma
expect better treatment. and if tn
bcekeeper does his share in cultivatin
HIS home market-the best marke
there housekeeping will be given
great impulse that will go on Ion
after the war Is over.
Anyone wishing the Bulletin on Bee
keeping or on the Uses OF Honey
the Home, should write to. the offit
of bee culture Investigations. at WASH
ington. D. CT for such Information {
he wants The government is alwa,
willing to help to act as clearir
honse to pass useful ideas and plal
along the lire TO those who need thel