Show TO nEE BEE INSPECTORS By E. E F. F Phillips Apiculturist There will probably be a shortage of ot sugar in the United States In the near future and there will be need tor all tho the honey that can be pro This offers an opportunity to the beekeeper to benefit himself and at the same time to do a patriotic duty I wish to suggest that in all aU of yo your r work ork during the early part of the season Son you bear this In Jn mind and encourage beekeepers to Increase honey production to the greatest possible extent You will encounter the argument of over production Since the unusually unusually un usually large crop of 1916 has disappeared dig dis appeared at good prices and nd since the wholesale price of oC extracted honey is unusually high this argument argument argument ment Is gro groundless The prospects now indicate a good crop in 1917 and market conditions indicate that there should be no decrease in prices Of course honey sold on home markets market need Deed not be influenced by wholesale prices You can safely advise beekeepers boo bee keepers not to sell their honey until they receive full ull information concerning concerning con con- crops and markets To assist in marketing the office of markets of this department will Issue issue at intervals rep reports on crop movements and actual prices of or trans trans- e actions in the large centers center These will ill not be guesses or offers b but t ro- ro ports of ot actual tr transactions thus gh jing for the first time market quotations quotations quota quota- 8 of unquestioned r reliability The he nur Bureau u to tot Crop Estimates will continue to issue sue honey crop reports and it is possibly desirable at this time to call can attention to the fact tact that these crop r reports ports for tor 1916 were more accurate than any others issued All of ot this material will bo be o sent to the bee journals and oth otherwise die dla- to beekeepers You will therefore be bo e able ble to state ers in your jour territory that this de- de arl nt is doln doing everything everything in In its pow power power r to assist in proper distribution distribution tion of the crop The Bureau Burea of Entomology En En- will will of ot course continue to aid beekeepers In every way possible pos poe BIble sible with their problems of tion Since Since the past years have shown T cle clearly that the chief value of apiary inspection Is 15 in the bf f bee kee- keepers in the treat treatment ment of disease I wish l In this this emergency emergency emer erner- gency genc to that yO you emphasize th the r. r features features fea rea- tures of otc your work ork ork u- u I wish wish- also to suggest u gest that In connection with your yourn n meetings you include advice on better bet better bett bet bet- t ter r beekeeping and on increasing the hon honey Y output Naturally such meetings meet neet- sass ings in U the tho o early summer will wUl be of more value in ill increasing the crop those held later later It has been my gOO good fortune to tb now w a large number of of ot lh the apiary plary it IDI inspectors of the United States and andI I have baTe n ye the fullest confidence that Inthe in inthe inthe the pre nt en emergency erg of war every everyman everyman everyman man wUl do his utmost to help Tb The grea greatest est need peed now Is more honey boney and you may do your bit in that way Of course this office will gl gladly aid you ou in n any possible way Plea Please e tell me if it there is anyway in which you you need our help |