The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-11-17

THE following is the address in
substance delivered at the Maine State
BAekeepers Association by Fred e
Davis, a widely known bee man OF
Madison at Bangor, Tuesday:
il wish to express to you my very
great appreciation for the confidence
YOU had in me and the honor you have
bestowed upon me in requesting me
I'd address this meeting OF the bee
keepers OF our state.
While | might, If competent and
capable, give to you some fiowery adj
dfess on the beauties. pleasures and
even goodly financial returns Of this
work as a vocation in our state.
But If | were competent to do this
and speak to you on the beauty, pleas
,fre and refinement of this vocation,
as well as the financial returns II we
are skillful-without stating our real
peSsonal problems-such an address
would be of value to you here only
f6fs your interest and entertainment
att this time only.
For this reason | am going to touch
UPON some Of the basic laws and prin-
ciples of our industry relating to our
personal problems and work.
Remembering that, as one of the
most graceful Of our fraternity has
stated, Nature and God are one, and
We are touching somewhat the divine.
and IT. is doubtful il any faker will
ever be gracefully received at her
hhfids. Nature is very jealous Of her
rights and we must first convince her
that we can derive such pleasure in
our chosen vocation or work, that
other pleasures or recreations would
be- unnecessary to us, II she would
accept us in our chosen vocation.
THUS the first economic law.
MIXTURE and her laws, says one of
the best authorities in our nation, il
nit the very best in these matters,
cannot be taught And from the very
Nature of things You will see how 1t
must be partly at least, born in the
individual instead.
How can Bookkeeping be taught and
the, greatest sphere of usefulness OF
tllis our State Beekeepers' Association
be- attained?
Great minds in past ages have told
us our only hope of real progress lay
in following our true superi0rs ant
likewise giving our aid and knowledge
tQ'1ur true interiors. To those wht
arg following our way and have no
obtained our knowledge of the worl
midst we freely give. We have will
uB'tbday- one of the peers in New Eng
land Beekeeping, and ! believe the
peer OF all New England beekeepers
We can allstruly learn of him and as
truly live up to, our duty to others
And II our beekeepers will work with
this association, with the aim and OBJ
jeets outlined, | believe no accom-
plishment will be too great to expect
from this association or. its members
Thus we will find in the rural pur-
suits at least, and especially Of our
own, that I'VE go our way and come
/. by our deserts
While think It Is generally con-
coded by those best qualified to know
that few, 10 any. ever succeed at bee
keeping when actuated by mercenary
motives. and without any real love
for the work Yet there are some
rules generally accepted by the best
beekeepers today that are quite uni
form for nearly all localities. Some
of the most important OF these rules
are strong colonies at all times and
the rearing of the greatest possible
number of worker bees, just before
the. main honey flow begins and then
to curtail the brood rearing to actual
colony needs the remainder of the
season. These methods require a
large investment in hives and fixtures
at present prices, at least; but are
based on the greatest economy of bee
life and human labor, The fact II
recognized here that a colony Of b6es
consumes EACH season, a certain
amount OF honey usually about 400
pounds, and IL we can save a part
usually consumed by. bees just after
the honey flow and such as would new
er perform any useful labor we would
not only increase our honey crop but
become reasonably sure of securing a
surplus corp each season. Some of
our best beekeepers have not failed in
twenty years or more who have used
these methods. While the bees II
given plenty of drawn comb for rear
ing worker bees and ample storage
room at the right time, will, of their
own accord apparently, tend to keep
down swarming and partly stop their
brood rearing, usually in time for the
greatest economy in honey produc-
ton. The greatest skill of the mod
ern beekeepers will be found here In
knowing how far he can trust his bees
to voluntarily do these things-see-
ing that his bees are never handicap
ped In their work. I mean by this
he should always supply his bees with
the necessary brood chambers and