C2_^ ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY New York State Colleges OF Agriculture and Home Economics
AT Cornell University
EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS
BEEKEEPING LIBRARY BRIEF HISTOPl^S^ OF THE ® B NORTH AMERICAN ^o3
WITH A DIGEST UF ITS
Annual Conventions from 1870 to 1884r -
AND A Full Report of the Proceedings
Sixteenth Annual Convention,
HELD AT DETROIT, MICIIU;AX,
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, December 8-10, 1885.
By THOMAS G-. NEWMAN,
Ex-President of the Society.
CHCICA-CSO, IIiX.Il 1869. Up with the Times. 1886. OVER 50,000 SOLD ABMSTRONG'S And not a Letter of Complaint ! Perfection "Crown" Bee-Hive. The brood-frames, honey-rack, and surplus sec- tions, are all reversible. It took Urst premium at the St. Joseph and St. Louis, Mo., Expositions in 1885, over seven other prominent hives, for the SLOW! bee-hive for all purposes. Descrip- GO best arranged tive circular free. Address, They always get the Blue Card, when ELVIN AKMSTKONG, Propr., Bee-Keepers are the judges. JERSEYVILLE. ILLS. It ia probable that all the largest and best known bee-keepers are good judtjes of what is cheapest and best for them to buy and use in Vandervort Gomli Fdn. Mills, their apiaries. We have letters from hundreds of the best known apiarists, and know that our Send for Samples A Rednced Prlce-I^lat. ABtf J.VANDEEVOET.Laceyville, Pa. TJncapping-Knives, Frank L. Dougherty, BINGHAM .532 E. Wasliinsctolt St., PEALKR IN Bee-Smokers Bees.Bee-keepers'Supplies &Honey are the only ones that last long or give lasting and Langstroth Hives a Specialty. complete satisfaction. Thousands of them are now good that have been used six years. We arrangement for tailing comb iioney six sizes, differing in price according to size OUR make is certainly equal to, if not ahead of *2.0i), They are all —from 65 cents to post-paid. far produced. hase-burners -the fire being always helow the fuel anything so and ready to burn as in any good stove. Send for our Illustrated Catalogue. These smokers and knives are the standard of excellence in Europe, Cuba, Australia, Canada and the United States. Our 65-cent, or "Little Wonder" Smoker is amply large for a few colonies of bees ; will last six or more years, and is the best low-priced bee-smoker made, and the lowest priced one made in America by any one. F. A. SALISBURY'S Send card for free Illustrated Circular for prices, by mail, or half-dozen rates, to CATALOGUEforl886, BINGHAM dk HETHERINGTOX. SENT ON APPLICATION. A-bronla.* Sllch. P. S. It will pay any bee-keeper to order a half- Head-Quarters forComb Foundation. dozen to sell to his friends. We are the original Patentees, and Only Makers In the U. S. CEDDES, Onondaga Co., N. Y. BeAvare of Tiiiitatioiks ! I Yandeiwt Foundation Mill. 1886. ALLEY'S 1886. 6 Inch, Price, $25.00. Combined Drone and Queen Trap. It makeB the finest extra thin Foundation for A perfect non-swarming arrangement. Send comb honey. For Sale by and get them by the quantity, in the flat, and sell to your bee-keeping friends. Every bee-keeper THOS. G. NEWiTIAN & SON, will purchase one or more who examines them. Send for wholesale prices. Circulars free. 923 & 925 West Madison St., CHICAGO, ILL. HEUfKY ALliEX dte €0., 5lDtf. Wenham, Essex Co., Mass. DRAKE & SMITH, Successors to A. B. Manum, Bristol, Vt. Italian Bees and Queens, MANUFACTXTREKS of the BXtlSTOI. IFOTl 1886. Bee-Htve, the Standard Hive of Vermont, Section KoneF-!Bes:e«, all sizes, made from AL.SO SYRIAN BBKS and QUEENS, White Poplar, (the best timber in the world for honey-boxes), l-pound boxes a specialty. Nuclei, the Hives, Clamps, Bees by Pound, Sections, Separators andWood Sides. LiehtuingCHners, etc. Send for my Prioe-List for 1886. Shipping Crates, Bee Escapes. Bee Feeders, and Address, I. K. GOOD, Manum'^s Bee Smokers—all made of the best ma- terial and In a workmanlike manner. Send atamp NAPPANBE, IND. for illustrated Catalogue and Price -List. 46D12t J^ BRIE^ HISTOn-lT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WITH A DIGKST OF ITS FIFTEEN ANNUAL CONVENTIONS, AND A Full Report of the ProceeMngs OF THE Sixteenth Annual Convention, HELD AT DE'1:R01T, MICHIGA2T, On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, December 8, 9 & 10, 1885. By THOMAS a. NEWMAN, Ex-President of the Society, orricE or the amebican bee jouenal, 1886. REV. L. [,. LANGSTROTH, »/ Oh in r.:i:sES quinby, 0/ ^'ew r..rt. INTEODUCTION. Life is too short, and Americans are too the officers for the year, (the Secretary be- busy to spend the time necessary to delve ing absent); at other meetings, persons into a multitude of volumes in order to post were elected to fill offices not warranted by themselves on the general history of the the Constitution, which had been amended, past in reference to the formation of Socie- re-amended, and the amendments entirely ties of Apiculture. Tljpy have long needed lost sight of. There will be no excuse for a digest of Convention History in general, such things hereafter; if this pamphlet Is and of the Continental Society in particu- consulted, confusion will be avoided. lar. They •want to know what was done, The organization of Societies are of im- and what subjects were discussed at the mense advantage to our pursuit, and help former meetings. Heretofore this could to obtain for it that recognition which it only be ascertained by carefully examining richly deserves among the productions of over 30 volumes of the Ambkican Bee America. They open up avenues of trade JoTJENAL, and other papers; and some of for honey by informing consumers concern- these are possessed by comparatively very ing Its excellence for medical and mechani- few of the apiarists of to-day. cal piuTJOses, confectionery, table use, etc. Frequently have the members of the They help producers by looking after their Society voted to have the proceedings pub- interests in the use of the mails for the lished in pamphlet form,, but so far the transmission of bees to all parts of the Society has done it but once, and then world, and the use of the railroads for the only published one-third of what was voted shipping of honey and getting It into the to be done (see page 9), by publishing the proper classifications, etc. report of one convention instead of three. When the North American Bee-Keepers' In 1877 the publishers of the Amehican Society, in October, 1878, appointed the Bee Jotienal issued a pamphlet of 33 editor of the Bee J otjbnax to represent the pages containing a report of the Conven- Society at the Conventions and among the tion of that year. They also publish this bee-keepers of the Old World, it exhibited pamphlet at their own expense, and have a wisdom for which it has not received published a report each year, varying from proper credit from the bee-keepers of 4 to over 40 pages, in the Amebican Bee America, and foresaw the advantages to be JOtJENAI,. derived from the cultivation of closer rela- In the following pages, we have endeav- tions with foreign bee-keepers. ored to supply this want by stating the 1879, the Delegate visited of the place and time of each meeting of the Con- In most more prominent apiarian societies of tinental Societies during the past 35 years, Europe, and was everywhere received with and naming the principal officers elected, cordiality and courtesy. But much preju- as well as to note all the business of im- dice existed against American products, portance transacted. and especially honey. In England the We have also mentioned all the subjects public haifi been frequently imposed upon discussed, and enumerated all the essays and had become disgusted with vile trash read at each meeting; so that the history is sold as " Pure Strained Honey; " while in complete, without a broken link, so far as France, Italy and Germany, it was Incom- it can be ascertained at the present time, prehensible how the Americans could pro- and feel sure it will now become a book we duce such vast amounts of apparently of reference in our National gatherings. superior honey, and compete with their Only a few years ago, at one of the an- own producers, after paying exorbitant nual meetings, no one had even a list of freights. ; ' INTRODUCTION. The Delegate appreciated the immensity combs ' launched into this country from of the market a-waiting our product, but America. Tou deserve great credit for realized the necessity for removing distrust your tireless efforts in that direction." and, wherever he went, labored with this the gratifying intelligence, objept in view. It was not enough to assert Now we have that the sale of foreign that our honey was superior, but he was in German figures, honey in Germany has nearly doubled in obliged to prove why it was so; nor was it sufficient to claim that we could produce the past few years, reaching an aggregate equivalent to one-eighth of the en- pure honey and meet the public demand at almost tire product of North America. popular prices, but he found it best to de- monstrate how it would be accomplished. The Hamburg Journal, in Germany, Scarcely had the Delegate returned, when has formulated a table showing the follow- our market became stronger; the foreign ing result: The total amount of American demand was strengthened, and a healthy honey received at Hamburg in 1877, was competition sprang up. The following in 1,018,000 kilos (a kilo is 3 pounds). In 1878 a letter from a honey dealer in England, it was 1,529,500 kilos; and in 1880 it was to swelled to the enormous amount of 1,912,- the Delegate, is good testimony : 500 kilos, or nearly four millions of poimds. " Tou might cover Europe with the most The amount imported m 1880 is double the approved modem bee-keeping appliances, amount given for 1878. but you could not prolong our honey sea- sons. Bee-keeping here can never be pur- This shows what may be done by asso- sued as a business, because our honey sea- ciated labor and organization. sons are of no consequence; so all fears of The expenses of this trip, aggregating our competition can be discarded as absurd about $1,500, were entirely borne by and ridiculous. You here rendered me the Delegate, who donated not only the great assistance in abolishing the unfair money but five months' time to the interests of the prejudice existing about that time in the apiarists of America; and the minds of English consumers against Ameri- results show that both time and money were well spent. can honey; in fact, it was remarked by many that the whole of your valuable time Let us hope that the bee-keepers of was devoted to this most important desid- America will sustain their organizations eratum. Time which almost all visitors to and help to make them more useful. this country would have spent in sight- seeing, you occupied in counteracting the Thomas G. Newman. many absurd stories about ' stuffed honey Chicago, 111., Jan. 1, 1886. : : THE EARLY CONVENTION HISTORY OF AMBKICA, TOGBTHEE WITH A DIGEST OF THE PEOCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTEEN ANNUAL CONVENTIONS OF THE NORTH -AMERim REE KEEPERS' SOCIETY, TKOM 1860 TO 1884, 'INCLUSIVE. First Bee-ConTeiition. Tlie Third Coiiyention The first Convention of the bee-keepers was called to order by President Kirtland of America was lield at Cleveland, O., on on Nov. 31, 1861, and the members dis- cussed raany_ March 15, 1860. The following persons important matters, among them wintering, feeding, and handling were then elected as ofBcers : bees. President—Prof. J. P. Kirtland. On account of the "civil war," attention Vice-President—Wm. M. Cunningham. was called from the pursuit oi bee-keep- Corresponding Sec'y—E. T. Sturtevant. ing, the American Bee Jotibnal was Recording Sec*y^J.^irkpatrick. suspended for 43^ years, and we know of Treasurer—E. Gallup. no Convention of bee-keepers of any importance until 1866. The first question discussed was "What is the best mode of wintering Other Conventions Organized. bees ?" The Kev. L. L. Langstroth was The Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Associa- present, and advocated cellar-wintering. tion was formed in Madison in 1866. Others favored buryiug them in clamps. On Oct. 4, 1867, the " Northwestern "t The subjects afterwards engaging their was organize'd, in Des Moines, Iowa, on attention were ventilation of hives, feed- the State Pair Grounds, about 150 bee- keepers being present ; no business of any ing bees, robbing, feeding rye flour for importance seemed to have been done. pollen, Italian bees, swarming, bee- R. R. Murphy was elected President, and fiouses, etc. M. M. Baldridge, Secretary. When this convention was held there The Kentucky Bee-Keeners' Association were no periodicals devoted to the pursuit was formed at a convention held in Lex- ington on Nov. 30, .1867. Dr. John Dillard of bee-culture in America, and the report was elected Pres., and W. Spencer, Sec. of the convention was published in the The Michigan •"Ohio Parmer." Mr. Samuel Wagner Bee-Keepers' Association, was farmed on April 7, 1869. Mr. E. Rood I started the Monthly Amebican Bee 'was elected its first President, and Prof. A. J. Cook its first Secretary. first ] JoTXENAL in the following January (1861), The ^Convention lasted days, and the dis- and in the March number of the Bee two "cussions extended over nearly the entire JoTJBifAL he re-published the proceedings field of the apicultural pursuit. Its second under the heading of the " First American Convention was held on Sept. 31, 1869, Bee-Keepers' Convention," and editorially and Mr. A. F. Moon was elected President. Both meetings were held at Jackson, Mich. remarked as follows Ohio bee-keepers "We take pleasure in placing on record incur The met in convention / columns, the proceedings of tbe first American at Toledo, 0;;, on Sept. 15,1869, and ad- Bee-Keepers' Convention, wiiich met at Cleveland, journed to Cleveland at the call of the O., on tbe lAth of March, 1S60. Tlie time is ap- Secretary, Mr. J. F. Cleve- proaching when bee-culture will occupy a bigber Martin. The position than it has yet held in this country, and land Convention was held on Jan. 14, 1870, when It will be interesting to trace back its history when it was decided to hold annual i -to those pioneer movements which conduced to sessions thereafter. revival and progress." This was the con- tinuation of the first American Bee-Keep- The Second Convention ers' Society (formed in 1860), and the President, Dr. Kirtland, and Secretary, E. was held in Cleveland, O., on March 14, T. Sturtevant, were re-elected. 1861, President Kirtland in the chair. The discussions were mostlj; on the adoption The Chautauqua Co.(N.Y.) Bee-Keepers' , of the movable-frame hives, and a resolu- Association was organized on Jan. 39, tion was passed welcoming the advent of 1870, by adopting a constitution and by- < the Ambbican Bee JotrHNAL, and recom- laws and electing T. S. Moss President, mending it to all bee-keepers. This and C. E. Benton,Secretary and Treasurer. meeting was adjoumea to Nov. 31, 1861, It was decided to hold the first annual when a semi-annual meeting was held. convention at Mayville, on Sept. 30, 1870. : : . NOBTH AMERICAN The Northeastern (New York) Bee- The convention was called to order at of the ^ Keepers' Association was instituted in 10 a.m., by A. F. Moon, President Association, wlio March, 1870 ; but we can find no minutes Michigan Bee-Keepers' of that meeting. A semi-annual session was elected temporary President, and M. was held at Utica, N. T., on Sept. 37 and M. Baldridge, of Illinois, temporary Sec. 28, 1870. At this meeting It was agreed to On motion of Dr. Bohrer, of Indiana, a institute a National Convention, and a call committee of one member from each State was issued for such to be held at Cincin- represented, was appointed to prepare a nati, O., in February, 1871. Constitution and to nominate officers, viz: The Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association Z. S. Richardson, of Indiana ; Ezra Rood, met at Lansing on March 23, 1870. Presi- of Michigan ; D. L. Adair, of Kentucky ; dent A.. F. Moon strongly ureed the M. L. Dunlap, of Illinois ; Aaron Bene- formation of a National Bee-Keepers' dict, of Ohio; Adam Grimm, of Wiscon- Society, and several letters were read sin ; Elisha Gallup, of Iowa ; Dr. T. B. from j[>rominent apiarists, urging the Hamlin, of Tennessee ; Robert Bickford, formation of sucn a Society. After con- of New York ; W. D. Roberts, of Utah siderable discussion the following was Territory : Daniel Mcllvain. of Pennsyl- unanimously adopted vania ; J. L, Smith, of Missouri, and Wm. "Whereas, The subject of a National Bee- F. Clarke, of Canada. Keepers* Association was much tallied of at our This committee reported a constitution last (fathering ; and " Whereas, In our judgment, the time for the which, with a few amendments, was same Is fully ; therefore come adopted ; and recommended the following " Resolved, That we issue a call for a National Bee-Keepers* Association to be held in the city of as of&cers during that meeting : Indianapolis, Ind., on the 10th and 11th of August President—A. F. Moon. next." • Vice-Presidents—Elislia Gallup and Dr. The date was afterwards changed to 6. Bohrer. Dec. 21, 1870, as will be seen by the follow- Secretary—M. M. Baldridge. Assistant Sec'y—Wm. F. Clarke. ing, which is copied from the Ambbican Treasurer—N. C. Mitchell. Bee Joubnal of February, 1871 The report was adopted, and President North Moon thanked the convention for the American Bee-Association. honor conferred upon him, and expressed " On Feb. 10, 1870, Prof. A.J. Cook, Sec- the desire that it might be the means of retary of the Michigan Bee-Keepers' Asso- promoting the best interests of the Asso- ciation, issued a circular, which he mailed ciation, and bee-culture generally. to the members of that Association, to the The exhibits at this convention were : prominent bee-keepers of other States, 18 movable-comb hives ; 3 cages for ferti- and to the press, inviting everybody lizing queens in confinement ; 3 queen interested to meet at Lansing, Mich., on nurseries ; 3 bee-feeders ; 1 trap for catch- the 31st of March, for the purpose of ing queens and drones when leaving the- discussing special questions on the sub- hives ; 1 wax-extractor ; and 4 machines ject of bee-culture, prominent among for extracting honey from the combs. which would be the holding of a National The election of officers for the ensuing Bee-Keepers' Convention, at some central year was then announced as in point during the year. On the day an- order. nounced, the convention was held at On motion of R. C. Otis, of Wisconsin,^ Lansing, and the question of holding a the Rev. Mr. Langstroth was made an National Convention was discussed with honorary member of the Association. the wildest enthusiasm. As was antici- In view of what Mr. Langstroth has pated, the discussion resulted in a call to already done, in, promoting the interests the bee-keepers of America for a National of bee-keeping, not only m this but in Convention, to be held in Indianapolis, other countries by the introduction of an Ind. The location was happily chosen, improved system of bee-management, Mr. and has given very general satisfaction, it Otis moved that Rev. L. L. Langstroth, of being centrally located, and readily acces- Oxford, 0., be crowned with the honor of sible by a complete net-work of railroads. being the President of the North Ameri- "Accordingly, on Dec. 21 (the day finally can Bee-Keepers' Association for the fixed upon), a large number of the most ensuing year. prominent and enterprising of bee-keepers The motion was warmly seconded, and of tlie United States and Canada, met in there being no other nomination. Mr. M. convention at the House of Representa- L. Dunlap moved that President Moon be tives, in Indianapolis, and held six authorized to cast the unanimous vote of sessions, the last one ending at midnight the Association. on the 32d of Dec, 1870. Every seat in the The motion prevailed, and the tellers house was occupied ; the States rep- announced the resented being Indiana, Illinois, result of the ballot. On Michi- motion the gan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Iowa, Secretary was instructed to notify Mr. Lai^stroth New York, Tennessee, Missouri, .and of his election. Pennsylvania. Delegates were also pres- On motion of Mr. W. F. Clarke, the- ent epnstitution , from Utah and Canada. On the was amended so as to pro- whole, it is safe to assume that never in vide for three additional Vice-presidents, the history of America has bee-culture making the number five instead of two. been represented in a convention by so The following officers were unanimously large an assemblage of wide-awake, elected: Vice-presidents-W. F. Clarke, intelligent, and enterprising bee-keepers.'' Ont. ; Dr. T. B. Hamlin, Tenn. ; Robert : : ; BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. Bickford, N.T. ; E. Gallup, Iowa ; A. F. and the Nort^jea stern. Between these Moon, Mich. Secretary—M. M. Baldridee, associations there has been some con- St.Charles,nis. Treasurer—N.C.Mitchell, troversy—with but little, if any, ill feeling Indianapolis, Ind. —as to tlie claim of priority in issuing ther The following call forthe National Convention. resolution was adopted : " Convention called the Michigan " Beaalved That the Executive Uommittee be In- The by struoted to publish the prooeedlngn of this Asso- Association met in December last ; that ciation In pamphlet form at the earliest practicable called by the Northeastern Association is day, provided the funds will warrant, and that the the in session in this city. Secretary forward a copy to each member as soon one now Both as publlsned." associations have the same man, the Rev. The following were admitted as honor- L. L. Langstroth, of Oxford, 0., for Presi- ary members dent. Many members of the Association formed yesterday are members of the Samuel Wagner.editor of the American Beb North American formed at Indianapolis. Jouenal, Washington, D. C. : M. Mr. Langstroth, of former body, in re- Quinby, the author of "Mysteries of Bee- .tiring from the active duties of the chair Keeping/' St. Johnsville, New York ; E. last evening, called to oflBciate as Chair- S. Tupper, Brighton, Iowa : Rev. John man of the American, the Rev. Mr. Vaw Dzlerzon, Karlsmarket, Lower Silesia, Slyke, of the Northeastern Association. Germany : A. Schmidt, editor of the The union of the two National Associa- "Bienen-Zeitung," Eiclistadt, Germany; tions at their next meeting, which, for li. Gerster, inventor of the Wax-Extractor, both, is at the same time and place, is a Berne, Switzerland ; T. W. Woodbury, moral certainty." Mount Radford, Exeter, England ; Major Von Hruschka, Germany, inventor of About 150 delegates from various States Mel-Extractor. assembled in Convention at 1 p.m., and an As the Rev. L. L. Langstroth was not organization was effected by electing Rev. present, he was notified of his election as Wm. F. Clarke, of Toronto, Chairman. President, and accepted it, adding that he hoped "that the interests of practical and Gen. D. L. Adair, of Kentucky, moved scientific hee-keeping may be greatly to adopt a constitution, which he pre- advanced " by the organization. sented, and make this convention an as the The topics discussed were : Manage- association, to be known Ameri- ment of an apiary ;- diseases of bees can Bee-Keepers' Association. objected to as needless, since Italian and Egyptian bees ; swarming and This was we have already a North American Bee- Increase by division ; queen-rearing ; bee- Keepers' Association. Mr. H. A. King, Easturage ; transferring bees ; marketing Tork,favored Gen. Adair's motion. oney ; comb foundation, etc. of New This would be the first step toward uniting The convention adjourned to meet in the North American Association and the Cleveland, O., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, one proposed to organize here. 1871, at 9 a.m. Dr, Bohrer, of Indiana, a delegate to the American Bee-Keepers' Association. Convention that met at Indianapolis, Dec. 31, 1870, spoke in favor of maintaining The Cincinnati "Gazette" remarks as good feeling. He desired that there should follows be out one Association, i. e., the North "Various States of the Union, either American or the American, as should be singly or two or three of them united, agreed. have formed bee-keepers' associatioiis,but Mr. B. C. Otis, of Wisconsin, moved, as hitherto no national association has ex- an amendment to Gen. Adair's motion, to- isted in this country. The impetus given appoint a committee to negotiate for to bee-culture by the discoveries of Huber, union witl) a like committee of the North the distinguished Geneva apiarist, at the American Bee-Keepers' Association. close of the last century, has sent hun- Mr. H. A. King, of New York, moved to- dreds into that pursuit. The progress of amend the amendment, that the Conven- orttanize adopting ai skill and kiiowfedge in it has not lagged tion should first by behind the advance made by science and Constitution, and then propose a union. question, the skill In other departments of knowledge By carrying the previous and industry since the blind Huber died. debate was cut off. The necessity of associated action and Mr. King's amendment to Mr. Otis'' effort for tlie bfenefit of bee-culture has amendment was adopted. been widely felt and that feeling has been The " American " Society organized by local manifested 'in forming numerous adopting a Constitution similar to the fliS SO (* i 3.tlOQS "About a'year ago, two of these associa- "North American," adopted at Indian- tions, at nearly the same time, conceived apolis, and elected the Rev. L. L. Langs- the idea of issuing a call for a convention troth President, Rev. H. A. King, Secre- to form a national organization. One of Adair and L. C. Waite, them was the Miphigan, the other the tary, Gen. D. L. Northeastern Bee-Keepers' Association. Assistant Secretaries, N. C. Mitchell, The North American Bee-Keepers' Asso- Treasurer, and 15 Vice-Presidents. ciation, organized at Indianapolis last December, and the American Bee-Keep- The Rev. L. L. Langstroth took the ers' Association, organized here, are the chair, but being feeble, he called the Rev. results of calls issued by the above local E. Van Slyke, Vice-President for New- preside. bodies respectively, viz : the Michigan York, to : ; : : NORTH AMEEICAN was elected temporary Rev. F. Clarke, tbe retiring tem- Moses Quinby W. Rev. H. A. King temporary porary President, offered the following chairmanraud resolution, which was unanimously secretary. dissolved adopted By vote, all the offlcers of the created a com- "Resolved, That this Association, when It ad- associations present, were journs, adjonrn to meet at Cleveland, O., at 9 a.m., to present a constitution for perma- the mittee on the first Wednesday In December. I87I, at organization. This conimittee were: same time and blace as the North American Bee- nent other Clarke, Dr. G. Bohrer, A. F. Keepers* Association ; when, provided the Rev. W. F. organization shall Instruct its officers to do the Moon, Dr. T. B. Hamlin, S. Hoagland, with a same, the officers of this body shall resign, Aaron Benedict, L. C. Waite, Gen. D. L. view of there and then consolidating both associa- committee tions into one." Adair, and N. C. Mitchell. The following constitution, which motion of Mr. Peclc.amended by Mr. reported the On adopted. Clarke, Mr. King, Mr. Peck and Mr. Otis was then unanimously were appointed a committee to confer CONSTITUTION. with a similar committee appointed by Assc ARTICLE 1.—This organizBtion shall be known as the North American Bee-Keepers' the North American Bee-Keepers' Society, and union of that elation, with a view to a shall meet annually. ^ . ^ with tnis organization, and report the ART. -2.—Its object shall be to promote the inter- ests of bee-culture. , , same to this Association. ART. 3.—The officers of this Society shall be a President, one Vice President from each State, The topics discussed were : Winter District, Territory or Province represented, Secre- artificial swarming; management of bees: tary, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secre- prevention of natural swarming ; Italian tary, and Treasurer, whose duties shall be those usually performed by such officers. They shall be •bees vs. hybrids and black bees ; hin- drones honey- elected by ballot, and hold tbeir offices for one drances to bee-culture ; ; year, or until their successors shall be elected. plants ; introducing queens ; extracted ART. 4.—The President, Secretaries and Treas- etc. urer shall constitute an Executive Committee. ioney, ^.^, ^ an essay entitled, ART. 5.—Any person may become a member by Mr. E. Gallup read giving his or her name to the Secretary and paying "Successful bee-keeping in a nut-shell." one dollar, excepting ladies, who shall be admitted following were made honorary free of charge. The ART. fi.—This Society may from time to time members : T. W. Woodbury, Mount Rad- elect suitable persons as honorary members. ford, England; F. W. Vogel, Lekman- ART- 7.—No member shall he entitled to the floor more than five minutes in the discussion of any Prussia ; Rev. George Kleine, shofel, motion, resolution or petition, without the consent Luethorst, Prussia ; Andreas Schmidt, of the Society. shall bal- Eichstadt, Bavaria ; Rev. John Dzlerzon, ART. 8.—All committees he elected by lot, by a plurality vote, except by special resolu- Karlsmarkt, Silesia ; Baron A. and Baro- tion. ness L. Von Berlepsch, Munich, Bavaria Art. 9.— Each annual meeting of this Society Prof. C. T. E. Von Siebold, Munich, shall be held atsuch time and place as shall be des- ignated by a majority vote at the preceding regular ;• Hmschka, Dolo, Bavaria Maj. F. Von annual meeting. Italy ; Vis- Italy ; Dr. A. Dubini, Milan, Art. 10.—A special meeting may be called by the count De Salioeto, Milan Italy ; A. S. Executive Committee at any time on requisition of five of the Vice Presidents. Packard, Salem, Mass. ; C. V. Reily, St. ART. 11.—This Constitution maybe amended at liOuis, Mo. any annual meeting, by a two-thirds vote of all Statistics : 120 bee-keepers reported the members in attendance. that they owned 5,051 colonies of bees ; following were elected a committee and the honey produced amounted to The on honorary members : Messrs. Root, «3,065 pounds, and the average price it Moon and Bohrer. Their report was sold at, was about 30 cents per pound. adopted. It read thus : Beeswax,l,046 pounds—4,613 colonies were in movable frame hives, and 439 in box- " Such persons as were made honorary members liives. of both the North \merican Bee-Keepers' Asso- held re- ciation, at Indianapolis, and the American The Rev. L. L. Langstroth was the Bee-Keepers' Association, at Cincinnati, be, and cipient of an expression of the gratitude they are hereby declared, honorary members of of bee-keepers (in the shape of a well- this Society." filled purse), and, vote, he by unanimous The Society then proceeded to the elec- accorded the special privilege of was tion of officers for the ensuing year, which as speaking when, and as long he chose resulted as follows to do so, on any subject. He solved many knotty questions, and often " poured oil President—M.Quinby,St.Johnsville,N.T. on the troubled waters." Vice-Presidents — Aaron Benedict, O. This Association adjourned to meet J. E. Hetherington, N. Y. ; E. J. Peck, n! with the North American, at Cleveland, J. ; Seth Hoagland, Pa. ; D. L. Adair, Ky. O., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1871, at 9 a.m. T. B. Hamlin, Tenn. ; G. Bohrer, Ind. Ezra Rood, Mich. ; M. M. Baldridge, Ills. The Two Associations Consolidated. R. C. Otis, Wis. ; J. W. Hosmer, Minn. E. S. Tupper, Iowa ; S. A. Stillman, Mo. Pursuant to adjournment of bofh, the L. J. Dallas, Kans. ; W. D. Roberts, Utah " American " and " North American " Bee- W. F. Clarke, Ont. ; Hugh Cameron, D. C' Keepers' Associations met in joint session at Temperance Hall In Cleveland, 0., at Secretary—H. A. King, N.T. Recording 10 a.m., on Dec. 6, 1871. The President of Secretary—A. J. Cook, Mich.: Correspond tooth societies, the Rev. L. L. Langstroth, ing Secretary, A. I. Root, O. ; Treasurer, being absent on account of illness, Vice- N. C. Mitchell, Ind. President W. F. Clarke called the meeting The following business committee was to order, and, by unanimous vote, both appointed to serve during the session associations were dissolved for the pur- Messrs. Clarke, Waite, Adair, Hoagland, pose of consolidation. Hosmer, Moon, and Mrs. Tupper. : : : : : : BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. Dr. Bohrer, of Indiana, offered the fol- This resolution was also passed lowing resolution, which was adopted : "Resolved, That no member shall be entitled to the fioor more than five minutes in the discussion " Betolved, Tbat tbe proceedlnRs of the North of any motion, resolution or petition, without con.' Amerloan Bee-Keepers* AsBoolatloa held at In- sent of the Society, nor a second time, unless by dianapolis, and the American Bee-Keepers* Asso- consent of the President or a majority of the olatlon held at Clnolnnatl. also of this session of members present.*' the North American Bee-Keepers* Society, be pub- lished In pamphlet form, and a copy sent to each The report proceeds as follows member of this Society free of onarge ; the ex- " penses to be paid out of the funds of the treasury.*' Dr. Bohrer, from the committee to settle with the Treasurer, made a report, showing that the Mr. Kood, of Michigan, offered the fol- Treasurer*B receipts at the three former meetings lowing, which had been $296, and that he bad paid out $295.27, was adopted leaving a balance of 7S cents due the Society. On " Resolved^ That a committee on publication, con- motion tbe report was received and adopted. sistiUK of Messrs Adair, Mitchell and King, be ap- "Dr. Bohrer proposed to petition for some plan pointed, and that they be empowered to employ of registration, by which the security of queens assistants In reporting.^'. sent by mall may be guaranteed. "Mr. King, of New York, said that the Post- It was resolved, that when this Society master General had lately decided that bees were adjourns it will adjourn to meet at the not mailable matter." city of Indianapolis, Ind., on the first Resolutions were adopted as follows : Wednesday in December, 1872, at 10 a.m. " Resolved, That the President of this Society be The meeting was pleasant and instruc- authorized in its name and behalf, to addressaclr- cular to all tbe bee-keepers of this Continent, tive, and great harmony prevailed. urging the formation of neighborhood, county. Among others, the following resolutions State, territorial and provincial associations, aux- were passed unanimously iliary to this Society. " Resolved, That D. L. Adair be paid $50 for his ** Whereas, Millions of wealth have been an- services as reporter of this Society. nually lost to tbe poeple, through Ignorance of bee- " Resolved, That the thanks of this Societer be Eev. F. culture ; and tendered to our worthy President, W. " Whskb AS, It is the deelre and object of this Clarke, for his able opening address, and the im- Society to enhance Improvement and prosperity in partial manner in which he has presided over our this regarr) ; therefore, deliberations," "Resolved, That we earnestly recommend the appointment of an apiarian professor in each of President Clarke, gave an Interesting the Agricultural Colleges on the Continent, and address on the prospects of bee-keeping, that we respectfully call the attention of State and and referred to the loss which apiculture other executives to this subject. " Resohied, That the Secretary be instructed to had sustained in the death of Mr. Samuel forward copies of these resolutions to tbe Gover- Wagner, the able and talented editor of nors of all the States, Territories & Provinces In Jotjbnal. North America. the Ambeican Bee "Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be Dr. Bohrer read an essay on "The tendered to our worthy President, Mr. M, Quinby, objects of the Society," recommending for the satisfactory manner In which he has pre- sided over our meeting.'* that the proceedings of each annual Con- vention be printed in pamphlet form. The topics discussed were : Why do D. L. Adair read an essay ou "The bees swarm ? why do bees rear queens ? Gen. capacity of a colony of bees for producing artificial swarming ; can swarming be concluded with this remark : prevented ? best method of handling bees honey," and to prevent anger ; bee-pasturage ; bee- "Now 15 square inches of comb. will, on an aver- age, hold one pound of honey, so that each square keeping experience ; transferring bees ; foot of honey In the comb will weigh nearly nine honey-dew ; extracted honey ; comb pounds and two-thirds, and. If they continued at honey ; marlieting honey ; controlling the that rate, they would construct the comb for nine hundred pounds in about ninety-three days, or fertilization of queens ; mortality among about three months. bees ; wintering Dees ; feeding bees with " Another and stronger proof of their capacity rye meal, etc. tosuppty thecomb, is the tact known to all, that 20,000 bees that constitute the working force of an Addresses were given as follows ordinary colony, do produce the comb in which 100 Oathering the nectar, and how to market pounds of honey is stored, and 1 can see no reason times as many cannot build comb to hold it, by President Quinby popular bee- why nine ; nine times as much honey." keeping, by Rev. H. A. King ; prize poem, by Rev. W. F. Clarke ; the experiences of The following topics were discussed a beginner, by Mrs. Savery ; bee-keeping Will right management of bees develop for ministers, by Rev. W. F. Clarke; re- peacefulness of disposition, as we know constructed comb, by Gen. Adair ; honey wrong management develops the oppo- from the linden, by Le Roy Whitford. site ? bee-keeping on farms and suburban prevention of losses of bees in Adjourned to meet at Indianapolis, Ind„ homes ; ; Italian bees compared with black on Dec. 4, 1873. winter bees ; increase ; feeding bees ; getting wintering bees queen- The Third Annual Convention surplus honey ; ; rearing, etc. was held at Indianapolis, Ind., on Dec. 4, Adjourned to meet at Louisville, Ky.,on 5 and 6, 1872. The Rev. W. F. Clarke was the first Wednesday in Dec, 1873. elected president, and the Rev. H. A. King, secretary. The Fourth Annual Convention At this meeting the office of Recording Secretary was abolished by amendment to was held at Louisville, Ky., on the first 1873. Seth the constitution, and Art. v . was changed Wednesday in December, to, "Any person may become a member by Hoagland was elected President, Abner giving his or her name to the Secretary, Pope, corresponding secretary, and D. L. and paying an annual fee of $1, except Adair, recording secretary. Vice-presi- ladies, who shall be admitted free of dents were elected for 28 States and charge." Provinces. 10 NORTH AMERICAN Owing to the inclement weather and general opinion was that the Society- sickness o£ several members, but few should hold one more meeting (at th& persons were in attendance, and to meet Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia^ current expenses, it was voted that each Pa.), and then cease to exist. member present, pay an additional dollar Some discussion on general topics was to the regular annual fee, which was to be indulged in, and G. W. Zimmerman was credited to them as a year's payment in elected President ; B. B. Overmeyer re- advance. cording secretary ; J, W. Lindsey, cor- Gen. Adair stated that it was proposed responding secretary ; and J. S. Hill to hold a Centennial Exposition in Phila- Treasurer. Philadelphia,Pa., was selected delphia, and moved that a committee of as the place for the next meeting. three be appointed to correspond with the Pres. Zimmerman remarlced : "After managers, and see what arrangements holding the meeting at Philadelphia, I could be made for having the bee-interests think the Society better adjourn, sine- represented. had The resolution was adopted, die." and subsequently the chair appointed a Adjourned to meet at Philadelphia, Pa., committee, and authorized them to ap- atjthe call of the Secretary. point sub-committees in such States as they should deem proper. The Seventh Annual Convention The topics discussed were : clipping convened on queens' wings; the quantity of brood the Centennial Grounds at produced Philadelphia, Pa., on Oct. 25, 1876. Owing by a prolific queen ; the cause to the interest displayed by those in and cure of foul brood ; the cause of queens attendance in the Centennial Exhibition, deserting their hives ; bee-pastur- sessions were only held on two evenings. age ; introducing queens ; the use of the honey-extractor following ; swarming ; cure for bee- The topics were discussed : stings, etc. Introducing qneens ; wintering weak " Gen. Adair read an essay on The colonies ; how to control swarming ; how wings of the bee, physiologically con- to produce the most surplus honey ; how- sidered, as organs of flight and of special to obtain industrious bees ; home market sensation." for honey ; and how to promote the in- Adjourned to meet at Pittsburgh, Pa., terests of the National Society. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1874. The Northeastern (N. T.) Bee-Keepers'' The Fifth Annual Convention Association offered a prize of $25 for "the best and most practical essay on how to- assembled at Pittsburgh, Pa., on Wednes- keep bees successfully during winter and day, Nov. 11, 1874, at 10 a.m.. President spring;" open for competition to the Hoagland in the chair, who delivered an world. The essays were to be read at the opening address. Centennial sessions of the North Ameri- can Bee-Keepers' The JKev. W. F. Clarke was elected Society. The judges- on the essays were : J. P. Moore, of President ; Eev. H. A. King, correspond- New York : Henrv-AUey, of Massachusetts ing secretary ; Dr. L. Brown, recording ; secretary and J. S. Hill, of Ohio. Essays were- ; J. S. Hill, Treasurer; and Vice- presented and read from Prof. A. presidents for 9 States ; in other J. Cook, States the Eev. former officers were to " hold over." E. L. Briggs, Dr. W. B. Rush, and W. H. S. Grout. The committee appointed to make ar- The judges awarded the prize rangements for exhibits at the Centennial to Prof. Cook's essay. in 1376, reported that space had been Capt. W. J. Andrews was elected Presi- dent N. obtained, and that every arrangement ; N. Betsinger, J. S. Coe, E. R. was Murphy, made for adisplay of apiarian implements. 6. W. Zimmerman and J. Van- dervort, Vic^-presidents The topics discussed were: Advan- ; J. H. Nellis, Secretary : and J. S. Hill, Treasurer. tages of bee-keeping; queen-rearing; The Secretary was instructed to issue- securing swarms ; moving bees ; breeding an address to the bee-keepers of America, m the fall ; introducing queens ; bee- earnestly advising Kirage; wintering bees; them to organize and prevention of protect their interests honey-granulation ; and albo request- ; selecting a locality ing for each organization to send one or more queen-rearing ; spring management of delegates to bees, etc. the next North American Convention instructing them TheKev. W. F. Clarke delivered an concerning: their views of how the continental address on " The sting of the honey-bee." body can best subserve the interests of tiie '^'Jpjf®^- ^ ^- ^'"S gave an address fraternity at large. on "The adulteration of honey," and t" "eet in New York on the resolutions condemnatory of the .u-^^JS,"''"^^ practice third Tuesday in October, 1877. by honey dealers in large cities, were The Eighth Annual Convention The death of Vice-President Hamlin vpas announced, and resolutions convened in Cooper's Institute, passed, York, New enumerating his many virtues. on Oct 16, 1877. President W. J> Andrews occupied Adjourned to meet in Toledo, O., Dec. the chair, who gave 1} la75. the usual annual address. The Constitution was amended, so that The Sixth Annual Convention only one Vice-President and one Secretary met at Toledo, J- H. Nellis was O., on Dec. 1, 1875. None electedrf^ifoi^r?^President^}'"'}^'^irr of ; W. J. Andrews, Vice- the ofBcers were present, except the president Thomas Treasurer, ; G. Newman, Secre- and after much discussion tlie tary ; and A. J. King, Treasurer. ; ; '. BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 11 The following were appointed a com- An address to the bee-keepers of Amer- mittee to consider the best means of pro- ica was presented by the Kev. J. W. moting the interests of the National So- Shearer (who was appointed a committee ciety, and to increase its u-iefulness : W. for that purpose), and it was unanimously J. Andrews, Thomas G. Newman. A. J. adopted, and 835 was appropriated to de- King, J. E. Hetherington, and E. D. fray the expense of having It printed and Clark. This committee reported through circulated. its President as follows : Dr. Parmly offered the following prizes: " Your committee on the best means of promot- $25 for a successful method of fertilizing ing and advancing the interests of onr Society, queens in confinement, and $10 for the would recommend the organization of local socie- best method of rearing and fertilizing- tiec), and as a further Incentive to the organization of these local societies, we would recommend an queens, with the use of fewer worker-bees Insurance feature therewith. That In addition to tlian the present methods—making queens- the annual fee of one dollar now provided by our cheafjer, and the purity of the race certain.. Constitution, that every member of the Society, upon being notified of the death of a member, Adjourned to meet again in New Tork shall forward to the Secretary the sum of one dol- on the second Tuesday in October, 1878. lar, and that such fund when so collected shall be paid over to the beneSclary designated by the de- Ninth Convention ceased member while living. As the time allotted The Annual your committee will not permit a full written report at this time, we would therefore recommend convened at Cooper's Institute, New York,, that your committee be continued until the next on Tuesday, Oof. 8, 1878. PresidentNeliis- regular annual meeting, to prepare plans, etc." occupied the chair, and in his annual The report of the committee was re- address counseled energetic measures to- ceived and further time granted—but it place the Society on a permanent basis, was never heard from afterwards, nor and to increase its usefulness. were any " plans " ever presented by it. Thomas G. Newman, chairman of " the The following essays were read,followed committee on the best means of promoting- by discussions : Marketing honey, by and advancing the interests of the Na- Prof. A. J. Cook ; honey dealers, by W. tional Society, and to increase its useful- M. Hoge ; the honey market, by ¥. B. ness," reported, recommending Thurber ; comb foundation, by Capt. J. 1. That the Society be made a representative E. Hetherington ; organization and its re- body, and that delegates from local societies be lation to the sale of honey, by Thomas G. sent to the National Society with Instructions as to- the needs of apiculture at large. Newman ; importing foreign races of bees, 2. That it should encourage a local State exhibi- by Dr. E. Parmly; rearing of Italian tion once a year, having public manipulations with queens, by Martin Metcalf preparing bees. ; 3. That the National Society award suitable brood-combs for winter, by N. N. Bet- medals for the best exhibit of honey in the most singer ; management of an apiary, by marketable shape, and a diploma for the most ex- Prof. Hasbrouck; and introducing queens, pert public handling of bees. The committee also recommended that a Vice- by Silas M. Locke. President be elected In every State and Territory, A letter was read from Mr. S. C. Dodge, to co-operate with the Society in awarding prizes of Chattanooga, Tenn., requesting that a at these Bee and Honey Shows. It also recom- mended that a representative of this Society at- petitioif be circulated; asking the Post- tend these Bee and Honey Shows, and that his master General to rescmd his ruling which traveling expenses be borne by this Society, and excluded queen-bees from the mails of the that a committee be appointed to procure medals and diplomas. United States. After some discussion Ex-president W. The report was adopted, and Articles re- J. Andrews was appointed a committee III and X of the Constitution were to wait on the Postmaster General in per- instated as recommended. T.G.Newman, ap- son to endeavor to have the ruling in L. C. Koot, and E. J. Oatman were question reversed. pointed a committee to carry out the The Secretary was instructed also to get arrangements. up a petition to Congress praying for a Thomas G. Newman was unanimonsly modification of the postal laws of the elected President ; Dr. Parmly, recording corres- United States, so as to allow the trans- secretary ; Professor Hasbrouck, NelliSj, mission of living bees through the mails, ponding secretary; and J. H. Treasurer Vice-Presidents were elected, when properly caged and protected, and ; for 36 States, provinces and territories. to have it numerously signed by bee- keepers, and presented to Congress. This The newly elected President, upon was done early in January, and by March taking the chair, gave an address, recom- 1, having secured several thousands of mending co-operation and concert of signatures, the Secretary sent it to a con- action. gressman, requesting him to present it to The President was, by unanimous vote^ Congress, and also wrote to other mem- requested to correspond with the principal bers of the House, from several districts, bee-keepers of America, and try to in- requesting them to use their influence to duce them to take a greater interest in secure the passage of a law, granting the Conventions and Bee and Honey Shows use of the mails for the transmission of and to give the Vice-Presidents all the living bees. The Hon. G. B. Loring re- assistance in his power to make Bee and plied that he had consulted with the Post- Honey Shows everywhere a success. master General, and found that no law The President was appointed to repre- was necessary. House Bill No. 3850 being sent this Society at the meetings of Eu- sufficiently liberal to admit bees to the ropean bee-keepers during the following mails, at the discretion of Postmaster summer, and to endeavor to open up a General, when properly caged. Here the European market for our honey crop. matter rested, awaiting the action of the A petition to Congress praying for a law Postmaster General. against adulteration was presented by Mr : ; 12 NORTH AMERICAN O. Clute; bee- A. J. King, and adopted. An address to mand for honey, by Rev. honey producers and consumers was diarrhea, by E. Rood; qualities m bees, adopted and ordered to be printed and by James Heddon; bee-enemies, by JN. distributed, and signed by the president Cameron; are cheap queens the most founda- and secretary. profitable? by D.A.Pike; comb Porter; national apiary and executive committee was requested tion, bv J. W. Tlie queen-rearing establishment, by Wm. get up diplomas or medals, to be awarded to Williamson; how to prevent swarms, by at Bee and Honey Shows and thus endea- D. D. Palmer; shall we induce people to vor to elevate honey-production. i keep bees ? by W. M. Kellogg; introduc- The following essays were read and ing virgin queens, by Rev. M. Mahin; can discussed : Rise and progress o( bee- bee-culture be made profitable ? by J. H. oiilture, by A. J. King ; bee-pasturage, by Nellis; preparing comb and extracted of win- Prof. A. J. Cook ; rational system honey for the market, by C. C.Cofflnberry tering bees, by H. H. Flick ; our honey fertilization in confinement, by Professor m>irkets, by C. P. Muth ; comb founda- Hasbrouck. To the latter Dr. Parmly tion, by N. N. Betsiuger ; bee-keeping in awarded the prize of $25. California, by C. J. Fox ; introduction of President Newman reported that, in t ireign bees, by Dr. S. P. Parsons ; hints accordance with the instructions of the to beginners, by L. C. Root; Italian bees, last Convention, hehad attended three Bee bv James Heddon ; extracted honey, by and Honey Shows in England, one in H. A. Burch ; fertilization in confinement, Scotland, one in Switzerland, and one In by Prof. ,1. Hasbrouck. The prize of S25 Austria; had visited many of the most was awarded to Prof. Hasbrouck, by Dr. prominent apiarists of England, Scotland, Parmly, but he desired it to be held till Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and another year, for further experiments. France; had endeavored to remove the Adjourned to meet at Chicago, Ills., on Erejudice existing against American Oct. 21, 1879. oney, and believed that avenues had been of the surplus The Tenth Annual Convention created for the disposal honey crop of America. oonvened at Chicago, Ills., on Oct. 21,1879. This report was referred to a committee President occupied T. G. Newman the of 3, who reported as follows : chair, and gave the annual address, re- this Association has listened marking as follows on the subject of Bee *' Resolved, That with much pleasure to President Newman's report and Honey Shows of his trip to Europe, and hereby expresses its Creating a home demand for honey was a subject high appreciation of the able and successful man- 4<;reatly recomiuended aA our last meetine. lam ner in which he has represented the interests of happy to announce that this advice has very large- American apiculture at the Honey Shows and heartily ly been acted upon, and 1 think it quite safe to say Apiarian meetings of the Old World. It that the "home demand" has been more than approves of tbe efforts he has made to disseminate doubled during the past year. broad views as to the cheap production and en- larged consumption of honey, and thereby aided Many of our Vice-Presidents have nobly at- in securing a larger market for this important pro- tended to their duties in the di£ferent States, Ter- duet. In view of the fact that President Newman's ritories and Provinces. They have used commend- tour was wholly at his own expense, the special able zeal in getting the attention of Managers of thanbs of this Association are due, and are here- State, County and District Fairs, and having prizes by tendered, to him for the eminent service he for honev and bees inserted in many oC the Pre- has performed. mium Lists. To many of them this Association should give the encouraging "Well Done;" and "Besolved, That this Association rejoices in the we hope that those Vice-Presidents who have so cordial and enthusiastic reception accorded to nobly spent their time, money and energy to fur- President Newman by the apicultural societies ther the interests of their constituents may be re- and leading bee-masters in Britain and on the elected, to still further " help on the good work " Huropean continent, trusting that the harmonious during the coming year. feeling evinced may always be cherished by the The Executive Committee bee-keepers o£ the world towards each other. thought best to begin This Assuclation hopes that* the friendly visit slow, and so have only for gotten up Diplomas the will ere long be returned by use of Vice-Presidents awarding which has been made, in prizes, though some one more of prominent apiculturists of the last or Convention gave them discretionary to powers, as Europe, whom it will be our pride and pleasure to the getting up of medals, &c. Another hearty as year medals a to extend as a welcome that given to our may serve good purpose. The Representative. " Programmes " for this Convention, which you all "have for use, have been produced without cost to " Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be the Society—the advertisers paying the entire ex- sent by the Corresponding Secretary to the apicul- pense. tural societies of Europe visited by our Repre- sentative." The Treasurer reported $29.50 as a halanee in the treasury. Thomas G. Newman was unanimously re-elected President, Dr. Parmly, Secre- Essays were read and discussed, as fol- tary, and Mrs. Dunham, Treasurer. Vice- lows : The tongue of the honey-bee, by presidents were elected for 36 States and Prof. A. J. Cook; patents on implements provinces in North America. for the apiary, by A. E. Wenzel; winter- A substantial testimonial consisting of ing bees on the summer stands, by J. E. S153.50 was presented to the Rev. L. L. Moore; monstrosities bees, among by S. Ijangstroth,"who being sick was unable to C, Dodge ; moving bees, by Dr. N. P. Allen ; bee-forage of the South, Dr. P. by J. Mrs. F. A. Dunham and Mr. T. F. Bing- H. Brown ; cure of foul brood, bv C. F. ham were made honorary members in Muth; foul brood, by Dr. L. C. Whiting; recognition of their valuable inventions. ilie bee of the future, by Rev. W. F. Prof. €laxke; the next progressive step, by Cook exhibited and described a botanical collection of plants adapted to Frank Benton: wintering bees, IjyH. H. fuuishlng nectar to bees. His favorite Flick; sub-earth ventilation in wintering plant was the Bokhara, melilot, or sweet bees, by J. Wilkinson ; humanity to the clover. A large number of other plants bees, by A. J. King ; increasing the de- were exhibited. : : BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 13 T. F. Biniirham, of Michigan, was called instructions given at the last meeting, prepared upon and gave his experience with migrating badges for the use of members to designate them hee-culture. the of from others. They have also prepared letter He had found that loss heads, programmes and membership tickets, and hrood was the most serious obstacle which made all necessary arrangements for the present he met with, in shipping hy rail. He had meeting, and hope that it will be, in practical come to the conclusion that he would have value, second to no Convention ever held by this lost less by leaving his bees at home in the Society. In reference to the letter headings we North. caused to be printed for the use of the . ofiQcers of this Association, Dr. Vf. W. Hlpollte, Vice-Presi- The Northeastern Wisconsin Bee-Ke epers' dent for Arkansas, remarks as follows : Association having had some correspond- " Notlongslncel received some printed letter the ence with the Post-office on the heads for the use of Vice-Presidents of Department National Bee-Xeepers' Association, and Und them subject of sending bees In the malls, had exceedingly well gotten up. I think the person sent it to the Convention to be read. Mr. who originated the idea is entitled to tbe thankj^ Detwiler also presented a letter on the of the Association. When communicating with subject, which was read. After some dis- the ofiflcers of our State Fair or other Associations, or others In the interests of our Society, it cussion It was with looks as though we had an existence as such, and Resolved, That Prof. Cook, D. A. Jones and Pres- not merely in name." ident Newman be appointed a committee to bring the matter before tbe Postmaster General and The election of ofBcers for- the ensuing endeavor to have the rullnis reversed. year resulted as follows : President, Dr.. Besolved, That the Executive Committee be N. P. Allen; recording secretary, Dr. instructed to prepare badges for those who may Parmly; corresponding Secretary, C. F. hereafter attend the National Conventions ; also thtft they be Instructed to procure medals to be Muth: Treasurer, Mrs. F. A. Dunham. awarded for tbe best exhibition of bees, honey Vice-Presidents for 35 States and Prov- and implements for the apiary. inces were elected, and Lexington, Ky., Adjourned to meet in Cincinnati, O., on was selected as the next place of meeting. Sept. 28, 1880. President Allen, on taking the chair, thanked the Society for the honor con- The EleTenth Annual CouTention ferred on him, and congratulated it upon its prosperous condition. convened at Cincinnati, O., on Sept. 28, Williamson then offered the follow- 1880, President Newman in tlie cliair. Mr. unani- After the routine business, the Secretary ing resolution, which was adopted read letters from the Rev. Herbert R. mously : Bertrand, ReeoVoed, by the North American Bee-Keepers' Peel, of England, and Mens. Ed. Society, in convention assembled, that the thanks of Switzerland, regretting their inability of this Association are due, and are hereby ten to attend, offering their congratulations, dered to Thomas Q-. Newman, Esq., our retiring untiring and successful interested President, for the zealous, and stating that they were much manner in which he bas conducted the afRiirs of in reading the proceedings of the North this Association : and we further thank him for American Bee-Keepers' Society. The his great liberality In traveling through Europe in the past year at his own expense, thus being following was unanimously adopted : the means of opening up avenues of trade for Resolved, That we return our thanks to the Rev. American honey, and advancing the interests of Herbert B. Peel, of England, and to Mons. E. American apiculturists in a manner that could not Bertrand, of Switzerland, for the fraternal feel- he reached by any other method. ings expressed by them towards the bee-keepers essays read and discussed were aa of Norui America. The follows : Honey-plants of Kentucky, by In the annual address, the President Dr. N. P. Allen ;. Tsee-pasturage, by L. H. of thought and harmony of urged unity Pammel, Jr.; improved races of bees, by advocated the adoption of action. He Thomas G. Newman; yellow bees, by G. statistics of the some plan for obtaining W. Demaree; queens—their fertilization regulate prices ; and added honey crop, to and peculiarities, by Dr. J. P. H. Brown; It is certain that "in union there Is strength." comb foundation, by C. C. Coffinberry; In an individual capacity none of us That which bee-keeping industi-y, could accomplish, is easily done by a strong, germanence of the united and influential body. As an illustration, vA. J.King; the coming frame, by S. last meeting of this Society appointed a com- the Locke ; honey—past, present andfuture, authorities to get a M. mittee to wait on the postal to make honey a reversal of the order prohibiting the use of the by J. H. Nellis; now mails for transporting queen-bees, and though staple product, by B. Bacon; best metiiods many individuals had often petitioned that func- of marketing honey, by Thomas G. New- this body tionary, it was not accomplished until vs.'comb honey, by Chas. took the matter in hand. We are now in the en- man; extracted joyment of the result of our united action in this Dadant; foul brood, by C. F. Muth; api- particular. cultural failures, by James Heddon: win- Is a subject The general prosperity of tbe Society tering bees, by T. P. Bingham ; and rational steadily increasing in for congratulation. It Is increase in the apiaiy, by C. F. Muth. numbers and Influence, and each successive meet- ing has been adjudged better than its predecessor; Dr. J. P. H. Brown, of Georgia, chairman eclipse the meeting I therefore trust this will to draft resolutions con- year since. of the committee held at Chicago, a ^ », In conclusion allow me to thank you for the demnatory of adulterations, reported the honor of being twice unanimously elected as your following resolutions, which were unani- to serve you residing ofBoer. I have endeavored adopted ?aithfully, and have left no work undone, that, mously according to my judgment, would advance the Resolved, By the North American Bee-Eeepers^ interests of this Society and be advantaeeous to Society in convention, that we most sincerely the apiarists of America. To make this Society deplore the.almost universal system of adultera- national in Its character, and world-wide in its tions in articles of food, and particularly all influence has been my aim. How far this hasbeen attempts at adulterating honey, or the use of accomplished I leave it to you to determine. When glucose in any manner whereby it may by any my successor is elected, I shall be most happy to possibility become incorporated with honey. this chair, with all its honors and the practice of adulterating honey welcome him to 2. That " responsibilities. heretofore placed upon the market as " strained the detriment of all honest the fol- honey, has worked to The executive committee made honey-producers, and thrown great discredit upon was adopted : product lowing report, which our ^ , ,. committee would. respectfully 3. That we demand a stringent law be passed by The executive general Congress of the United States, impos- report that they have. In accordance with the the : ; : ; 14 NORTH AMERICAN Ing heavy penalties, or making it a criminal offense urer, Mrs. Dunham, Vice-presidents were to 80 adulterate, or vend adulterated honey. elected for 35 States and provinces. Mr. D. A. Jones presented the Society Ex-president Newman having been de- a with a Cyprian queen ; to be placed in layed oy the trains missing connection, charge of 0. F. Muth, the bees to be tested committee of reception was appointed to by him for superiority, and a report to be meet him at the depot. " Dr. L. E. Brown, made. of Kentucky, alluded to the eminent ser- A vote of thanks was given to Mr. D. A. vices of Mr. Newman to further the cause -Jones and Frank Benton for their explora- of apiculture in North America." and said tions inithe Island of Cyprus and the Holy that ''to his labors, more than those of any Land in search of better races of bees. other, could the North American Bee- and M. Hayes, of Ohio, offered the following Keepers' Society attribute its success, resolutions, which were unanimously that he had done more than any man living to create a market for honey, and to adopted : Resolved, By the North American Bec-Keepers* make it a marketable commodity." He Society in convention assembled, that the importa- moved that the convention receive their and Holy Land bees tion Of pure Italian, Cyprian, standing. his arrival T)r. N. P. into North America, ought to be encouraged for guest On the sole purpose of adding new and diflerent Allen moved " that a recess of ten minutes strains of blood to that we already have. betaken to allow the members to greet now have 2. That the strain of Italian blood we carried unanimously. has reached a higher standard of excellence than him," which was is to be found in the native home of the Italian, Kesolutions were adopted, as follows home- 3. That queens reared from pure selected " Resolved, That the President and Secretary be should at least as bred Italian mothers, command empowered to issue life-membership certificates marliet value as those bred from imported high a to all bee-keepers tbey may approve, upon the re- Italian stock is the sole mothers, where pure ception of afeeof $10for such membership, with- object desired. out furthpr annual dues. Prof. Cook, who was appointed at the "Resolved, That the Vice-Presidents be espe- wait on the Post- cially instructed to appoint suitable persona in the meeting at Chicago to prominent towns of their respective States to en- master General to secure the use of the courage exhibits of honey, bees, etc., at the local United States mails for the transmission fairs, and to secure the offering of suitable pre- of bees (and the Hon. Edwin Willetts who miums for the same. "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to nobly assisted him in his mission), received grepare a pamphlet containing statistics of the a vote of thanks for their successful im- oney crop, and general information about ex- dertaking. hibits of bee^, honey and apicultural implements at fairs and expositions, and advice about the best C. H. Deane, of Kentucky, offered the way of conducting the same; said pamphlets to following resolution, which was adopted be supplied to the Vice-Presidents and others, and unanimously that the committee have power to draw on the of this Society for all necessary ex- Besolved, That all bee-keepers in this Conven- Treasurer penses. tion, who feel competent, are hereby requested to write for their local papers on the subject of bee- "Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention keeping. are tendered Mr. D. A. Jones, of Ontario, for the valuable Information be has so freely imparted, Adjourned to meet in Lexington, Ky,, on and tbe interest he has awakened in the present Oct. 5, 1881. and former meetings by giving his experience and views on so large a range of topics.*.' the third day, those who could make On D. A. Jones and T. G. Newman paid $10 it convenient to remain, went in a body to each, for life-membership in the Society. the residence of Mr. J. S. Hill, at Mount Healthy, O., about ten miles from Cincin- President Cook gave an eloquent tribute nati, and spent the day with that veteran to "the Rev. L. L. Langstroth, the inven- apiarist, examining his apiary and imple- tor of the movable-frame hive." ments, and hearing him describe nis The following essays were read, follow- management. ed by discussion : The new races of bees, The Twelfth Annual Convention by Prof. Cook ; can honey be made a staple product? by C. C. Coffinberry; in-and-in convened in Lexington, Ky., on Oct. 5, breeding, by P. P. Collier; prevention of 1881. President N. P. Allen, m his annual swarming, by C. P. Dadant; obstacles to address, earnestly recommended the Con- progressive bee-culture, by G.W.Demaree; vention to take steps to make the Sooiety a influence of honey on wintering bees, by representative body, by obtaining delegates Chas. Dadant; swarms vs. comb honey, from State apiarian societies or District byDr. C. C. Miller; how to make bee- associations. keeping pay, by Dr. E. Drane; wintering The Treasurer reported a balance of bees in Texas, by Dr. W. R. Howard 133 60 in the Treasury. causes of winter losses of bees, by A.. J. The statistics obtained at this meeting King; wintering bees, by C. F. Muth; were only partial. Those present reported diseases of bees, by W. Thomas ; cultiva- 1,499 colonies in the spring ; increased to tion of honey-plants, by W. T. Stewart; 67,632 a,700; extracted honey, pounds; Albino bees, by D. At Pike; bee-keeping . comb honey, 5,005 pounds. as a means of support, by W. J. Davis; The fertilization of queens in confine- stepping-stones towards apicultural per- ment was discussed, and Dr. J. P. H. fection, by Thomas G. Newman; a partial Brown, Prof. Cook, 6. W. Demaree, D. A. review, by T. F.Bingham; bee-keeping for Prof. Jones, and Hasbrouck were ap- women, by Mrs. L. Harrison ; foul brood, special pointed a committee to make by C. F. Muth ; Cyprian bees, by Eev. A. further experiments and report results at Salisbury: progressive bee-culture, by the next meeting. Kev.L. Johnson;winteringbees in clamps, The election of officers for the ensuing by C. J. Robinson; origin of our present Sear resulted as follows : President, Prol races of bees, by E. E. Hasty. ook; recording secretary, Dr. E. Parmly Adjourned to meet in Cincinnati, O.. on ' corresponding secretary, C.F.Muth ; Treas- Oct. 3, 1883. ' ;; : BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 15 The Thirteenth Annual Conrentiou The Fifteenth Annual Convention convened at Cincinnati, O., on Oct. 8, assembled at Rochester, N. Y,, at 2 p.m., 1882. President A. J. Cook called the on Oct. 28, 1884, Vice-president L. C. meeting to order at 9:80 a.m. The Secre- Root in the chair, who gave an interesting tary being absent, A. I. Root was ap- Address of Welcome, in the absence of pointed secretary, pro tern. President President Langstroth, who was detained iCool!: delivered the annual address, and at home his old malady. by , after selecting Toronto, Canada, as the In the absence of the Secretary and next place of meeting, D. A. Jones was Treasurer, C. F. Benedict was appointed elected President, A. I. Koot, Secretary, secretary pro tem, and R. Bacon, treasurer and C. F. Muth, Treasurer. Vice-presi- pro tem. The Report reads as follows : dents were appointed for 24 States. A call was made for the minutes of the Dr. Parmly, of New York, sent a check last meeting, which led to explanations to of $50 as a nucleus for a Langstroth fund, the effect that no ofiBclal report bad ap- which those present increased to over $100. peared, and that the only one available was The statistics of this meeting were as the report which was published in the American Bee JotmNAL. It was further follows : 3,087 colonies in the spring, stated that a report was in existence in increased to comb honey 47,451 4,748; short-hand, made bv a phonographer who pounds ; extracted honey, 99,808 pounds. was engaged by Mr. D. A. Jones, the ex- essays were : Experiments with The Presldent, for the sum of $100 ; but that bees, by Prof. Cook ; bee-culture in Texas, owing to some misunderstanding, the report by Dr. J. E. Lay; chaff hives, by O. O. had never been completed In long-hand, the Poppleton ; advancing the science of api- reporter considering that he had a claim on the Society for compensation, and the prob- culture, by J. E. Pond, Jr, ; honey-plants ability was that would be heard about and their culture, by A. I. Root; iioney- more the matter at a later stage of the meeting. of Canada, D. Jones ; obtain- plants by A. The President then produced the Amebi- queen-cells for nuclei, by P. L. Vial- ing OAN Bee Journal's report, and asked if it ion; rearing queens, by Dr.J. P. H.Brown was the pleasure of the meeting to have that courtesy in journalism, by A. I. Root; read by the Secretary, as the minutes of the control of fertilization, by G.W. Demaree last meeting. No motion being made on the experiments of comb-building, by P. L. subject, the Secretary proceeded to read the Vlallon; foul brood, by D. A. Jones and American Bee Journal's editorial sum- last year's meeting. C. F. Muth; comb vs. extracted honey, by ming up of Dr. Miller; bee-management, J. M. Hicks. Farther on, the Report says Adjourned to meet at Toronto, Canada, The question of the bill of the stenographic on Sept. 18, 1888. reporter, who took the minutes of the laat Convention, was brought up and referred The Fourteenth Annual Convention to a committee consisting of Messrs. Pettit, assembled at Toronto, Canada, on Sept. Pierce. J. Van Beusen, W. F. Clarke, and W. Clark. 1'8, 1888, President Jones in the chair, who E. gave an Address of Welcome, it being the The committee reported as follows : first time that the North American Society The committee on Mr. Bengough's claim had assembled on Canadian soil. on the Society for short-hand reporting at When the Rev. L. L. Langstroth arrived the last meeting, recommended settlement he was received with a rising expression on Mr. Bengough's proposition submitted of welcome, and conducted to the Mayor's through Wm. F. Clarke, offering to take $25 chair as a token of respect, amid loud and for work already done, and hand over the short-hand notes to the Secretary of the prolonged cheers. He gave an interesting Society, to be put on file. The report was account of his early mistakes and diffi- adopted. culties, and of the invention of the mov- A motion was then m.ade to reduce the able-frame hive, and added greatly to the membership fee of the Society from $1 to 50 interest and enthusiasm of the meeting. cents ; but on a question being raised as to The election of officers for the ensuing the constitutionality of the motion, there no copy of the Constitution at hand, year resulted as follows : President, Rev. being the matter was laid on the table, to be con- L. L. Langstroth ; First Vice-president, L. sidered later on. C. Root; Secretary, Dr. Miller; Treasurer, C. F. Muth. Vice-presidents for several The Report records the following : States and provinces were also elected. A motion was made by W. B. Clark, and The following topics were discussed, seconded by S. T. Pettit, that a committee breaking up, and he boldly affirmed that ting; Secretary, W. Z. Hutchinson ; Treas- there had never been a ring- or uliqne man- urer, C. F. Muth. Vice-presidents for 22 aging the •Soolety. Some appeared to think States and provinces were elected. that the Society had had its day, and that there were those who wished to split it into It was voted that a committee be appointed three fragments,the Northeastern,the North- by the President to fill vacancies in the list of Vice-Presidents. The following were so western, and the Southern ; personally, he hoped that this would not be done. It was nominated : Messrs. Peet, Vaudervort, and** true that the constituency was a vast one, C. C. Van Deusen. and we usually had a large local attendance, It was moved by Wm. F. Clarke, seconded with but a small distant representation. But by J. B. Hall, and unanimously there was a prestige about a Continental Besolved, That the President, First Vice- body which gave it a good influence, and President, Secretary, Treasurer, Miss Luoy rendered its meetings important. It was an A. Wilkins (Cyula Linswik), of Farwell, educating power wherever held. He would Mich., and A. B. Weed, of Detroit, be the deprecate a division of the Society into executive committee for the ensuing year. three, mainly because it would destroy its The programme committee reported the international character. Canada and the United States had been happily united in subject of bee-literature for discussion. this apicultural fellowship, and he hoped Many things " wise and otherwise " were that it would continue. He had no doubt said, and finally it was that the Society might be modified and im- Resolved, That, while by no means dlspara^n^ proved in various respects, but he would the value and usefulness of other bee-papers, we not like to see it broken up. as bee-keepers in convention assembled recognize Mr. Clarke's remarks were well received, in the American A^culturist a paper worthy of and several members expressed our support, and would recommend it to the bee- concurrence keepers as one of the best bee-periodicals pub- in the opinion that the integrity of the lished in the interest of bee-keeping. Society should be maintained, and that it should continue to embrace both Canada The question was asked, whether any ofScial report of this and the United States. The resolution meeting would be pub- was lished unanimously passed, and the President ? President Root stated that the Amekioan Bee Joukital had made arrange- appointed the following committee : Ira Barber, Wm. F. Clarke, B. Clark, ments to give a full report, and he presumed W. Arthur that Todd, and J. Van Deusen. Mr. Locke would have a report in his paper. It was not the Intention to get out a Tlie Report continues to read thus : report at the expense of the Society, but the The committee on revision of the Con- Secretary of this meeting, Mr. Benedict, stitution, on consultation with Mr. Bet- would write out the minutes which he had singer, who was present at the meeting held made, and transmit them to the newly ap- in Philadelphia in 1876, find that the North pointed Secretary, who would produce them American Bee-Keepers' Society should be for reference at the Detroit meeting. composed of delegates from all the local Mr. Clarke, of Ontario, said that this societies throughout North America. They would entail a codsiderable amount of after- would, therefore, recommend and urge that work upon Mr. Benedict, which it was not the local societies do carry out this feature, fair for us to expect him to do for nothing. and send delegates to the meeting of this He, therefore, moved that the Secretary be Society at Detroit, in 1885. The local socie- allowed $20 for his services. The motion ties will please correspond with the execu- was seconded and carried unanimously. tive committee in reference to this matter. The questions discussed On motion, the report was received, were: pre- and a vention of discussion on it sprung up. The fear was swarming; use of comb foun- expressed that this action might discourage dation in surplus honey; marketing ex- personal attendance at future meetings. It tracted honey ; reversible frames, etc. was also urged that if the Society became Thomas G. Newman sent a letter to the representative, a much larger attendance Convention asking that a committee be might be expected. appointed to demand of the railroad com- On mailinK queens, the Eeport says : panies a revised classification of bees, The committee on programme reported honey, wax, etc. This brought out con- recommending the reading of a communica- siderable dftcussion. President Root re- tion to the Convention, from Mr. Frank marked that lie believed that the point Benton, accompanying a sample of his made by Mr. Newman, regarding railroad queen shipping-cages, to be followed a by freights, was well taken, and that a com- discussion on sending queens by mail. On mittee assent being given be appointed as suggested. to the rieport, the Secre- Mr. Bacon tary read Mr. Benton's essay, after which a moved the appointment of a number of members spoke on the subject, committee ot three to consult with the all expressing their appreciation of Mr. railroad authorities regarding rates. It Benton's efforts and success. Among these was agreed to leave it to the Vice-presi- was Mr. Peet, originator of the queen dents of ship- the Society. . which Eing-cage bears his name, who spoke The following essays were read and ighly In praise of Mr. Benton's device. Mr. discussed W. F. Clarke prepared : Hibernation theory, by Rev. a resolution, which, W. F. Clarke; at his suggestion, was moved by Mr. comb foundation, by C.Van Peet Deusen; foul and seconded by its author. After some brood, by D. A. Jones. highly appreciative remarks by the Presi- President Root gave a brief address dent and others, the resolution passed expressive of his satisfaction at the suc- unanimously. It reads cess of as follows : the meeting. Though it was not Beeolved^ That we have listened with much ^*^® ^® ^^^h owing to the absence of pleasure to Mr. Benton's essay, and fS have the Western brethren, it had been most inspected his sample cage; rejoice in his harmonious, success in mailing and there had been many queens to long distances, interesting and we tender him our sincere thanks. and useful discussions. H« hoped that there would be a general The election of officers for rally the ensuing at Detroit, next year. year resulted as follows : President, L. 1^*^ to meet at Detroit, Mich., on . Root; First Vice-president, H. D. Cut- Dm'^8° BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. ir THE REPORT OF THE PROOEE DINGS Off THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION THE MTe-AMERra BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY, HELD AT DETROIT, MICH., ON DEC. 8-10, 1885. The Sixteenth Annual Convention Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria, Ills. M. Higgins, Windsor, Ont. of the North American Bee- Keepers' Geo. B. Hilton, Freemont, Mich. Society at Detroit, Mich., on E. L. Hubbard, Water Valley, N. Y. met M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, Mich. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m., President H. F. Hunt, Villa Mastai, Quebec. W. Z. Hutchinson, Eqgersville, Mich. L. C. Eoot in the chair. Quite a large C. E. Isham, Peoria, NT Y. number of bee-keepers were present D. A. Jones. Beeton, Ont. August Keoften, Flint, Mich. from 10 States and Canada ; all were A. w. Kistenbroker, Oak Park, Ills. enthusiastic, and as " sweet as Otto IClelnow, Detroit, Mich. very Eev. L. L. Langstroth, Oxford, O. honey." Silas M. Locke, Wenham, Mass. N. W. McLain, Aurora, Ills. After an impressive invocation by James McNeill, Hudson, N. T. the Eev. L. L. Langstroth, the Sec- J. J. McWhorter, South Lyon, Mich. retary called the roll of members for A. B. Maiium, Bristol, Vt. paid J. J. Martin, North Manchester, Ind. last year. Those present their Dr. A. B. Mason, Wagon Works, O. dues and received their badges, D. F. Moe, Parma, Mich. among them being six ex-presidents Ellas Mott, Norwich, Ont. of the Society. C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O. Thomas G. Newman, Chicago, Ills. The following were duly recorded as S. F. Newman, Norwalk, O. Geo. A. Ouram, Berlin Heights, O. members for the present year : S. T. Pettit, Belmont, Ont. &. A. Adams, Perrysburg, O. Thos. Pierce, Gansevoort, N. Y. J. H. Andrus, Almout, Mich. P. M. Puhl, South Toledo, O. Geo. H. Ashby, Albion, N. Y. John Eey, Bast Saginaw, Mich. H. J. Ashler, M. D., Machlas, N. Y. M. G. Eeynolds, Williamsburg, Ind. 0. S. Avery, Millard, Neb. J. A. Eobison, Pindlay, O. Bicbard Bangham, Windsor, Ont. L. C. Eoot, Mohawk, N. Y. Ira Barber, De Kalb Junction, N. Y. C. M. Euland, Kockton, Ills. O. J. Bedell, Kawkawlin, Mich. George Schook, Three JJivers, Mich, A. D. Benham, Olivet, Mich. C. W. Shepard, he Eoy, N. Y. E. Berkey, Savannah, 0. Geo. Smitn, Amadore, Mich. H. R. Boardman, East Townsend, 0. G. W. Stanley, Wyoming, N. Y. Sani'l H. Bolton, Benton, O. James P. Sterritt, Sheakleyville, Pa.. F. C. Burmaster, Irving, N. Y. E. L. Taylor, Lapeer, Mich. W. H. Burr, Detroit, Mich. Mrs. E. L. Taylor, Lapeer, Mich. Mrs. V. B. Burton, Detroit, Mich. F. J. Temple, Eidgeway, Mich. Hiram Chapman, Versailles, N. Y. E. W. Thompson, Hinsdale, N. Y. A. B. Cheney, Sparta, Mich. N. O. Thompson,' Cold Water, Mich. L. T. Christiancy, Toledo, O. W. O. Titus, Toledo, O. F. S. Clark, Bowling Green, 0. James Ure, Bast Saginaw, Mich. W. E. Clark, Oriskany, N. Y. J. Vandervort, Laceyville, Pa. Eev. W. F. Clauke, Guelph, Ont. J. Van Deusen, Sprout Brook, N. Y, F. S. Comstook, North Manchester, Ind. T. L. Von Dorn. Omaha, Neb. B. F. Conley, Brighton, Mich. E. Walker, Berlin Heights, 0. A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich. Byron O. Walker, Capac, Mich. E. J. Cook, Owasso, Mich. Mrs. Byron Walker, Capac, Mich. Henry Gripe, North Manchester, i Ind. H. L. Wells, Defiance, O. H. D. Cutting, Clinton, Mich. W. C. Wells, Phillipston, Ont. O. P. Dadant, Hamilton, Ills. M. S. West, Flint, Mich. G. M. Doolittle, Borodino, N. Y. L. C. Whiting, Bast Saginaw, Mich. Frank A. Eaton, Bluffton, O. Edwin Willetts, Agricultural Coll., Mich. Will Ellis, St. Davids, Ont. Wm. Wilson, Burr Oak, Mich. Martin Bmigh, Holbrook, Ont. A. D. Wood, Eives Junction, Mich. Jaa. Forncrook, Watertown, Wis. L. C. Woodman, Grand Eapids, Mich. A. M. Gander, Adrian, Mich. Mrs. L. C. Woodman, Grand Eapids, Mich. F. A. Gemmill. Stratford, Ont. M. D. York, Millington, Mich. H. C. Gibson, Burr Oak, Mich. Geo. B. Goodell, McGee's Corners, N. Y. The Treasurer reported $48.90 in John G. Gray, St. Catherines, Ont. the treasury. It was voted to omit A. Greene, Florence, Ont. W. the reading of the minutes of the last J. B. Hall, Woodstock, Ont. Benj. Harding, Kent, 0. meeting, as they had been published : — 18 NOETH AMERICAN friends contributing in all the bee-papers, and it was not I. Root, by his expected the necessary to lose time in reading 10 cents each. He was them. next day, which was his birthday. suggested that a purse be Reports from Vice Presidents were He also made up to buy a present for Mrs. for, and some were read ; others called Quinby, consisting of a portrait of were not ready and asked for more her late husband, whom we all de- time. They will appear hereafter. light to honor. The Rev. L. L. Langstroth was Thereupon the meeting adjourned called upon for a speech, and upon until 2 p.m. arising he was greeted with a storm of applause. He gave a very inter- AFTERNOON SESSION. of modern esting account of the rise Pres. Root called the meeting to ' bee-culture in this country, and of the 2 p.m., and announced that invention of the movable-frame hive. order at He spoke with much feeling of the the first business would be the address help he had received in introducing of welcome by Hon. Edwin Willetts, such men as Mr. his hive, from President of the Michigan Agricul- Quinby; gave many amusing and in- President Willetts, on teresting anecdotes of his childhood, tural College. enthusiastic which showed his love of insects ; and arising, was greeted with built ants' nests, and told how he had applause. His address was as follows : fed the ants bread and meat. Instead of encouragements his parents and address of welcome. teachers scolded and shut him in a Mr. President, Ladies And Gen- dark closet. He had no books treating tlemen : —It becomes my duty, and of bees, and received his knowledge it is a pleasure, to welcome you to of them by observation. He had the State of Michigan. I know of no driven bees from box -hives by putting reason why I should be asked to do the hives into tubs and gradually Ail- so, save, perhaps, because for fifty ing the tubs with water. lie gave a years I have been a citizen of the long and interesting account of the State, and at present represent the invention of the movable-comb hive. Michigan Agricultural College, which The times were ripe for the invention, institution makes a specialty in bee- and had not he (Langstroth) invented culture and instruction in the habits it, some one else would probably have and propagation of bees. soon done so. He showed how nearly We have those present who can he had come to inventing the honey- more fitly represent that feature of extractor. To kill dronelarvse he the institution than myself, but had poured water into the cells, neither they nor any one else can allowed it to remain until the larvae welcome you to our State with a were dead, then removed the con- more liearty greeting than can I. We tents of the cells, by swinging the are glad to see you in our midst. •combs around. He had the idea, but There is a growing interest here in 4id not think of the practical con- the industry that you represent to- nections between it and the extract- day. Michigan easily ranks high in ing of honey, and all honor should be the production of honey. The breezes given to the man who did think of it. are tempered by our inland seas, and Mr. Langstroth had never made any our soil is generous in foliage and money from his invention, but he felt flowers. We are strangers to extreme more than repaid in what was of far drouths and pestilential moisture. greater value, viz., the good-will of We are not in the path of the blizzard bee-keepers. or the tornado. . Nearly every foot of land in our Southern Peninsula takes Pres. Root appointed the following kindly to the plowshare, and rejoices committees in a fertility that responds heartily to the demands of the husbandman. On Finance.—G. M. Doolittle, W. We are a busy people, in busy homes, p. Clarke, and Prof. A. J. Cook. and we harmonize easily with the " On Statistics.—Thos. G. Newman, busy bee." We understand each other D. A. Jones, and Silas M. Locke. we and the bees—and each pursue our On Resolutions.— Prof. A. J. Cook, vocations without antagonism. W. P. Clarke, and R. L. Taylor. Hence there is room for both, without hos- On Exhibits.—Dr. A. B. Mason, ,T. tility and mutual profit ; B. Hall, and G. M. Doolittle. and all we need is the dissemination of such in- formation as you can give, to lead us Prof. Cook suggested that a birth- to a more general pursuit of your day present be purcliased for Mr. A. industry. BEEKEEPEES' SOCIETY. 19 We shall expect an impulse in that dustry. Bees were here before Courts direction as the result of your delib- or juries, and they have the right of erations. You represent no mean way, and will keep it so long as- their vocation. Ever since and before product is desirable. The reeent case Jacob sent as a present to propitiate that has caused some apprehension, the hard master in Egypt, a little will be found, I hope, to be based balm, and a little honey, spices and upon an utter misponception of the myrrh ; ever since Columella wrote, bee and its habits. It will be found, and Virgil and Horace sang, the I have no doubt, that a sound grape is sweet elixir has tempted the palate of absolutely armor-proof to the attack mankind. There is no substitute for of the bee. It is only when^the armor it ; the analysis of the chemist is un- is broken that the attack is made. A able to produce it ; man cannot make grape with a broken shell is prac- it, or grow it, or rectify it, and till tically valueless—worthless, except Millennium's dawn it will be nectar for the wine-press ; and for one, I to men and gods. frankly say, gentlemen, that as be- Yours is no insignificant industry. tween the wine-press and the bee—as You represent 3,000,000 colonies of between ailcohol and honey—I am for bees, with an annual product of sur- the bee and for the honey, and I be- plus honey of 100,000,000 pounds. lieve the Courts will give the bee the Under the impulse of this and kindred case. associations, the product is increasing But. gentlemen, I am not here to annually. The cheap sugar of to-day keep you from your deliberations. I has no perceptible influence upon the again welcome you to Michigan, and demand or the price of the com- trust that your stay with us shall be modity. As the country increases in so pleasant that your recollection of wealth and luxury, the demand grows it shall be a life-long joy. with its growth, and increases with the means to gratify the appetite. Pres. Root said that he strongly ad- The best minds in" the field of science vocated the location of this meeting have contributed to the more success- at Detroit, and he was fully satisfied ful promotion of the industry. Aris- that there was wisdom in the,choice. totle, Virgil, Columella, Pliny, Swam- He had always been much interested merdam, Ray, Latreille, and a host in Michigan bee-keepers, and was of others, ancient and modern—not to very glad to meet with so many of forget Langstroth, Cook, Quinby, them here. The matter of defense of Root, and others of our day—have our rights as bee-keepers liad been studied, observed, experimented and mentioned by Pres. Willetts, and he written about bees and their habits, was much in lavor of uniti^dlv defend- till we know how best to rear them, ing our rights. As Mr. T. G. Newman and- how best to utihze their harvest is the General Manager of the Bee- of sweetness ; so that to use the Keepers' Union, an organization words of a learned Judge of one of created for this purpose, he would our Courts, who said. " In modern call upon Mr. Newman to make a days the bee has become almost as statement concerning what had been completely domesticated as the ox or done, and what was expected to be the cow. Its habits and and its in- done in the future, by the organiza- stincts have been studied, so that it tion of which he was manager. Mr. can be controlled with nearly as much T. G. Newman then delivered the fol- certainty as any of the domestic lowing address, on the animals." NATIONAL BEE-KEEPERS' UNION. You have almost taken it out of the class ferae natuTCB. The propensity to Mr. President, Ladies and GentJernen— mischief has been so diminished, that During the past year it has become serious injury is almost as rare from necessary to form a Bee-Keepers' a bee as from the horse, and far less Union. As this society is a Con- ttjan from the dog. The Courts take tinental one, it would seem to be kindly to the bee. They, look with appropriate that some notice should favor upon animals or insects that are be taken of it by this Convention. useful to man; with disfavor upon With your permission I will state a such as are purely noxious or useless. few facts, and leave it to those present There is no question of the utility of to say whether the work of the Union bees. I note this fact, as I observe a shall be approved bv them or not. little apprehension among apiarists, Last June Mr. S. I. Freeborn, an about the attitude of Courts occa- extensive apiarist of Wisconsin, was sioimily, and the fear tliat there may sued by a neighbor, who kept a flock grow up some legal limitation or of sheep, for alleged annoyance to liabih'ty that shall destroy your in- his sheep by trespassing bees. ! 20 NOETH AMERICAN work get- It was understood that this was to brethren are now busily at there. be a "test case," and if the plaintiff ting members for the Union " It it succeeded in obtaining a verdict in A California apiarist says : Court, his favor, either by the ignorance or eoes against us in the higher trouble prejudice of a jury, other bee-keepers there will be no end of the would be likely to be sued to recover that will arise, and our bee-indnsiry damages done to pastures, vineyards, will receive a death-blow in Southein and gardens by -bees; and any one California." ., ^ ^ owning a few square rods of land, An apiarist in Anaheim, Calif., had devoted to almost any purpose, may the fence around his apiary torn try to recover damages from all the down, all his bees killed by sulphur, owners of bees in the vicinity. the hives piled up under a valuable consumed by fire. Mr. James Heddon suggested the pepper-tree and apiarist was threatened with formation of a Bee-Keepers' Union in Another all because some fruit- defense of their rights, and to protect hanging— into the neighbor- their interests. Such a Union was growers had moved his apiary had been estab- formed, and officers elected as follows: hood after lished several years, and they wanted President—James Heddon. to compel him to move away with his Five Vice-Presidents— (t. M. Doolittle, G. W. Demaree, A. 1. Koot, Continental body of apiarists, Prof. A. J. Cook, Dr. C. C. Miller. As a you no word of encouragement Manager, Seo'y & Treas.—T. G. Newman. have for an organization created tor the The officers were made an Advisory purpose of defending the rights and Board, with full power to act. protecting the interests of the bee- This Union, as soon as organized, keepers of America y Do you say: employed attorneys, obtained " opin- " Let us co-operate, and, if necessary, ions of law" from bee-keepers who maintain our rights as bee-keepers in were also attorneys, and made such a the highest courts of the land V" That stir in the sheep-bees case, showing can be done only tfy having sufficient such fighting enthusiasm, that the money to defray the expenses, and Judge made a thorough examination such are usually' very high. To be of the laws of the State, and con- sure, it will be a small matter, if all cluded that their existed no laws or will bear their part of the burden. rulings upon wliich he could instruct One thousand dollars of expenses the jury ; and bee-keepers have cause when divided between 1,0C0 persons, for pride in the success that attended is only a dpllar for each, and can their eiforts in this matter. easily be borne ; but when one has to In California a suit has been tried pay it all, it becomes a heavy burden ; in a Justice's Court against Mr. Bohn and, to many, one that would be im- for alleged damage done to grapes by possible to bear. United effort is his bees. This suit was lost in the essential to successfully defend our lower Court, because witnesses were chosen pursuit obtained who testified that they had The National Bee-Keepers' Union seen the perforation and destruction needs strong hearts, willing hands, of the grapes done by Mr. Bohn's and many* shekels. Are you willing bees. In vain did the defendant's to help V Is your name enrolled attorneys prove by a score of wit- among the "National Guards." If nesses that the bee's tongue' could not, lose no time in becoming a mem- only be used to extract sweets from ber, and thus help to fight the battles the flowers—not to bore after them. of our pursuit in defense of its rights ! The evidence of the eye-witnesses of If we can raise a column of patriots the plaintiffs had weight with the sufficiently strong to present a formid- jury, and they accordingly returned a able front, we shall dare the envious verdict against the defendant for $75 - ones to "bring on their lawsuits,'' and costs of suit, which amount to and by " an imposing array " and over $60. The damages claimed were " unbroken front," gain a lasting and permanent victory ! The National Bee-Keepers' Union Chicago, Ills. advised Mr. Bohn to appeal from the decision of the Justice's Court, and Mr. S. T. Pettit said that it was assured him that the Union would necessary to band together to defend stand by him, and aid in the appeal ourselves. by sending money, obtaining legal Eev. W. P. Clarke said, " United advice, depositions from scientific we stand." He would prefer to have experts as to the incapability of bees the National Bee-Keepers' Union con- to puncture grapes, etc. The appeal solidated with the North American lias been taken, and our California Bee-Keepers' Society if" it was pos- : ' BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 21 sible. He was one 'of tlie first In of good-cheer and great generosity in Canada to join the Union., and said those who have arranged the pre- that if it is not consolidated, we must liminaries for these meetings, that co-operat« with the Union in the most everything for the comfort of us all decided way. has been so amply provided, and that Mr. W. E. Claris said he agreed all arrangements are so thorough and with the last speaker—if it can be complete. Let us see to it that we done, he was in favor of consolidation. endeavor to perform our part in as Mr. C. R. Isham said that the great faithful and unselfish a manner as flght for the Union was to be fought our Committee has done. in California in the raisin district. We have reached a crisis in the We must sustain the Union, and history of bee-keeping which must be defend our pursuit. met by those who are interested in Mr. T. L. Von Dorn said that the the pursuit, in a broad, honest, and bee-keepers of Lower California were unselfish way. Every well-informed in danger of being entirely driven out bee-keeper is reminded in the most by the raisin-growers. unmistakable manner that the time Mr. C. E. Muth remarked that the when large profits may be realized matter was one for the Courts to from keeping bees, has passed. Each decide—not that of one pursuit against year, the prices of our products have another. been reduced, until at the present Prof. A. J. Cook said that it was a time we find many of our markets case of bee-keepers and fruit-growers overstocked, and our honey selling at on one side, and ignorance on the rates which allow us little profit for other. The bees are the best friends producing it. These are stem facts to fruit-growers, to fertilize the which must be fairly met. It is not flowers, and thereby produce the fruit. my purpose to attempt to instruct In the spring when there are but few those who are already experts in the insects to fertilize the flowers, the business. Their lessons have been bees are very valuable. taught them by dearly bought experi- Mr. H. E. Boardman advised con- ence, the results of which are due to ciliation, when there are complaints the beginner, and to those whose ex- against bees by fruit-growers and perience has been more limited. others. A crate of honey given to We have passed through a period such complainants, will do much to of great enthusiasm, and have in- cause them to feel differently. dulged in much that has been un- warranted and injudicious. We said that in Eev. W. F. Clarke have been far too selfish. As supply- Court, a crate of honey would do no dealers and publishers of bee-litera- good—law must decide the case. He ture, we have been far too anxious to then offered the following resolution present the bright side of our callling. Besolved, That a committee of seven If we have been unwise in the past, be appointed to consider and report we should be thankful that by the upon the best methods of protecting light of these past experiences we are the interests of bee-keeping from able to see more clearly our way for legal attack prompted by ignorance. the future. Many years ago, begin- The resolution passed, and the com- ners were heard to ask if it were ad- visable to engage in bee-keeping as piittee was appointed as follows : W. F. Clarke, T. G. Newman, W. E. an exclusive business. The answer Clark. James Heddon, C. F. Muth, S. should have been then as now—"Com- T. Pettit, and Prof. A. J. Cook. mence moderately, and let experience decide as you advance." The real question now seems to be, "Shall address. peesident's annual 1 we commence at all?" or "Shall Brothbk Beb-Keefers of North those of us who are already engaged America :—We have ^assembled here in it, continue V" at our annual convention to consider In answer to such questions I that which pertains to the best in- would offer the following suggestions: terests of our pursuit. I shall not 1. Our calling is an honorable one, occupy your time with an exhaustive and is an essential branch of agricul- address, for the programme is full, ture, in that the honey-bee is indis- and very complete, and our time is pensable to the fertilization necessary short at best to consider the many in the vegetable kingdom. Wherever important subjects which will be civilization advances, there the honey- presented. I am here as a member of bee js found. 2. Honey is a whole- this Society to assist as best I may in some and desirable article of food. throwing light upon the topics brought 3. It is furnished to us at our very before us. I take it as an expression doors, and if we fail to preserve it. 22 NOKTH AMEBICAlSr tke odor of wasting sweetness con- This can be done by each bee-keeper, stantly reminds us of our neglect and by encouraging home consumption in loss. his own immediate vicinity, and also With these points in view, is it not by opening up new avenues for the evident that a great work is to be uses of honey. A demand thus created accomplished in applying tbe lessons would measurably relieve the over- of economy and industry taught us burdened city markets ; and in this by the bees themselves, to the accu- way we would be able in some degree mulation of this freely-given produc- to maintain reasonable prices. With tion in the most desirable and profit- the present facilities for disposing of able way ? our products, it is difficutto avoid the We have been extravagant in many conclusion that there is an over-pro- of our expenditures. These we must duction. Whether this will grow to endeavor to reduce, to correspond as become a positive fact, or whether much as possible with the reduction bee-keepers will succeed in causing in prices. We have incurred a large the demand to keep pace with their expense by the great amount of labor success in producing, is the problem which we have required in unneces- to be solved in the near future. sary manipulation. In this I antici- Much will depend upon the answer pate a change as we advance, which to still greater questions which are will result not only in economy of agitating the best minds of the day. time and labor, but also in avoiding It the thousands of dollars which are many serious consequences. It is annually spent in nearly every com- evident that we yet need much light munity for that which tends to de- upon many of the simple and prac- grade, and to the production of evil, tical, as well, as on the scientific could be turned to the purchase of phases of our calling. With every that which is wholesome and bene- advance made in apiculture, it be- ficial, the danger of over-production comes more apparent that there are in this, as in other useful callings, new fields of investigation and re- would be little to be feared. My faith search, which promise yield to infor- in the fact that in the end the right mation, and are destined to work will prevail, leads me to the conclu- marked changes in our methods of sion that any calling which presents managing bees. Only those will suc- such a wide field for the intelligent ceed who are willing to practice the and patient worker, and student of most rigid economy, and who will be nature, and which is so productive of satisfied with moderate pay for honest a harvest of good, must work performed. always com- mand those who will find it pleasant It is evident that the effort has been and profitable to continue in the work too much in the direction of increas- until the harvest is complete. ing the production, rather than to create a corresponding demand for the same. I think I am safe in the Mr. C. P. Muth remarked that in assertion that no effort of ours is New York they principally demanded needed which shall tend to an in- honey in glassed sections or in paper- creased production of honey for our boxes. In the West, such are un- present, general, overstocked market. salable. We, here, require it in un- Last season extracted honey was glassed sections with the crates shipped to New York from California glassed. by car-loads. The market was already Mr. C. R. Isham said that our overtocked with the best grades of honey-producers can sell all their Eastern honey, and the result was honey in glassed sections, and it is such that California bee-keepers will desirable to do so in order to preserve hardly care for a repetition of the its beauty and puritv. experience. The present season has E. W. Thompson said that he wrote afforded another illustration. Honey to New York asking for a bid for best has been shipped very largely from glassed honey, and he was offered the Eastern and Middle States to New only 10 cents per pound for it delivered York, and the outcome of this has in New York. been that the choicest white honey in D. A. Jones—We should not forget sections has sold at ruinously low that there are other markets besides rates, and some of it has actually New York. We should not neglect been returned to grocers in our own the small towns nor the farmers. vicinity. By these methods we prac- Toronto was once an excellent honey tically establish these unprofitable market, but it has been ' overloaded. prices ourselves. I now sell my honey somewhere else. The resource seems to be that we S. T. Pettit—Whether there is a must enlarge our field of consumption. darkness " or not, depends upon the BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 23 color of the glasses through which we leave the impression that good queens- look—whether -^e look through the cost something, and are valuable in producer's glasses or through those of proportion to the pains taken in rear- the supply dealers. If honey is so ing them. easily sold, why does Mr. Jones find it I put the getting of the bees at the necessary to send his circulars broad- right time to receive the harvest sec- cast all over the land ? If It meets ond, for this is paramount to all else with such a ready sale, why are so in the production of comb honey—ex- many embarrassed in paying their cept the gueen. Unless we can have debts, asking us to wait until they the bees in our colonies by the tens of get their pay for the 1884 crop ? thousands at the right time, the T. G. Newman—The market has flowers will bloom in vain, as far as been discouraging, but prices are now filling our sections with honey is con- improving. High prices must not be cerned. When all realize the second expected when sugar is cheap. proposition, and work for the same to its fullest extent, one-half of the colo- J. B. Hall—The trouble is that our nies will gather as much surplus as Eursuit is a beautiful one, and its the wljole do under our present man- eauties have been magi)ifled many agenvent. fold, while the dark side—the dis- I place a skillful apiarist third, as he couragements—have been carefully is only second to the bees and queen, kept in the background, and many and unless he is skillful enough to do have engaged in the business who things at the right time and in the never would have done so had it not right place, both bees and flowers will been for this putting the bright side be in vain, as far as getting a good out. yield of comb honey in sections is Mr. J. B. Hall proposed a vote of concerned. The apiarist must study thanks to Pres. Root for his able hard, work early and late, and "leave address. no stone unturned " that will produce a potmd more honey, if he is to be Mr. G. M. Doolittle then read the successful in producing comb honey following on at the present low prices. THE PKODUCTION OF COMB HONET. I place the right kind of a hive fourth, for this comes last in the cate- It has been announced that I am to gory of our subject. To be sure, bees lead in the discussion regarding the will store honey in a nail-keg. but the production of comb honey. Before day of putting honey upon the mar- doing so I wish to quote the words ket in the shape it must present if found on page 723 of the American taken . from such a repository, has " Bee Journal, for 1885 : Long arti- passed away, so that if we would re- cles seldom profit those who have to alize the most from our bees and our do with them. Life is short; time is labor, we must get our honey stored in short ; moments are precious." Espe- neat and attractive receptacles. The cially is this last true at a bee- conven- hive that will admit of getting the tion, and many a person has become largest number of bees in the right tired on account of the long essays time for the honey liarvest, and then read at the same. What we want is get "all hands " to work in the surplus animated discussion, rather than long arrangement as soon as the harvest essays, no matter how ably written. arrives, is the one to use. We could Therefore the best part of this essay divide and sub-divide these four head- will be its brevity. ings, especially the last three, yet the There are four things of importance above four fundamental principles in the production of comb honey: would not be changed. I therefore First, a good queen ; second, the get- leave the subject for your decision. ting of the bees at the right time to G. M. Doolittle. gather the harvest ; third , a skillful ; the right kind of apiarist and fourth, E. W. Thompson—Is it profitable a hive. to fill sections full of foundation ? I put the queen first, for the whole B. After many;experiments of bee-keeping centres upon her. J. Hall— I have decided that it is. Without a queen it would be impossi- ble to produce a pound of comb honey; H. R. Boardman—During the past hence it becomes apparent that tlie season I hived 100 swarms with no better the queen is, the more honey foundation in the brood-nest, except- we obtain. When we come to fully ing starters, I have n& data to sbow realize the great value of really good whether or not it was a profitable queens, we shall have less queens which experiment, but I was well pleased cost the apiarist nothing. I wish to with the results. I cut out the new ; : 24 NORTH AMERICAN comb from the brood-nest, leave it Much amusement and bantering of lying upon the grass until the eggs, if Messrs. Doolittle and Hail to explain theie are any in it, have lost their the how, but the wily veterans did not "vitality, then I fasten this new comb come to the scratch, in the sections instead of foundation. Amid much laughter the subject The honey is beautiful and tender, was laid on the table, and the next but will not bear shipment so well. order of the day taken up. J. B. Hall—I have tried this plan of hiving swarms without foundation, but I get too much drone-comb. Mr. C. P. Dadant, of Hamilton, HI., W. Z. Hutchinson—Are your brood- read the following, on nests large or small V EXTRACTED HONEY. J. B. Hall—Large. W. Z. Hutchinson—That explains Nothing is more appetizing than a it. I hive my swarms upon only 5 pretty section of white comb honey. Langstroth frames, and not more But comb honey will always be a than one comb in 25 is drone-comb, fancy article, and will have to sell -and this occurs only when the gueen much higher than extracted honey, in is an old one. order to nay. the bee-keeper that pro- H. R. Boardman—I was surprised duces it. The aim of bee-culture, in ,at the small amount of drone-comb its progressive condition, is to pro- built in my frames. My swarming duce honey for the masses—for the and hiving were managed upon the laborers—who cannot afford to pay for Heddon plan. it any more than they can pay for the G. M. JDoolittle—Comb foundation average grades of sugar. gives honey greater strength, but this Besides, comb honey, although it is very strength impairs its eating a ready selling article, will not fill the qualities. place of li(juia honey in a great many C. F. Muth—There is no necessity, instances—to make pastry or cakes, or of using foundation heavy enough to to use in teas, in case of sickness. It detract from the palatableness ot our is therefore an evident fact that the comb honev. sale of comb honey will always be The discussion on comb foundation limited, and that the sale of extracted took a general and rather desultory honey will increase in proportion to course. Mr. J. B. Hall was asked to its production, provided the bee-keep- state his method, and conQned him- er will take pains to introduce the use self to his experience with comb of it among his neighbors. This we foundation. have ascertained personally by our Rev. W. F. Clarke said that Mr. own sales. In 1868 our sales of ex- Doolittle's essay was professedly on tracted honey of about 500 lbs., were the production of comb honey, but difficult and slow ; now, our crops of what he said was just as applicable 10,000 to 35,000 lbs. are easily disposed to the production of extracted honey. of, and although the prices "are lower than A good queen , plenty of bees to gather formerly, yet we find the pro- in the honey harvest, a skillful api- ducing of it to be a remunerative arist, and a good hive— were not these business. We sell more honey to-day just as needful for the production of in our town of 1,500 inhabitants than extracted as comb honey ? What we we could sell 20 years ago in the city want is the points of a skillful apiarist of St. Louis. required to get large crops of comb We consider the production of ex- honey. We want to know how to do tracted honey, exclusively, as of much it. Our most successful producers of advantage to bee-keepers, for a num- comb honey rather tell us " how not ber of reasons, prominent among to do it." They appear not to like to which are the following explain things. They take Burns' 1. The apiarist who aims to produce honey advice to his friend Andrew : only for his own yse, can pro- " still keep a secret in your breast duce much more of this honey than Ye.never tell to any." of comb. Por several years at these conven- 2. The outlay for combs, crates and tions he had tried to get Mr. Hall to boxes is not an oft-repeated expendit- explain how he gets such large crops ure, since when once supplied the of splendid comb honey, but he had stock remains. never done it. 3. The bees need much less watch- Hall: Mr. "I should have to make ing. The almost total prevention of the man." swarming by the production " of ex- Mr. Clarke : Well, here he is tracted honey is no longer a matter of take the raw material and make the doubt. Por this purpose, it is only man. That's just what I want." necessary to provide the colonies with ' — BEE-KEEPEE8' SOCIETY. 25 a large quantity of empty combs take ; honey may be ripe before it is ahead of their needs. Tliese combs sealed, and it may be sealed before it are not wasted, but are preserved from is ripe. year to year. S. T. Pettit—If we leave enough 4. By the production of extracted honey in the hives, we do not have to honey, exclusively, an apiarist can feed sugar, which prevents that much take care of more than four times as honey being put upon the market, and many colonies, as he can by the pro- relieves the market to that extent. duction of comb honey ; thereby en- H. E. Boardinan—I have given 8 larging his profits greatly, even if he empty frames to a colony of bees in has to sell the extracted honey the fall, fed them 50 lbs. of sugar syrup much cheaper than comb honey. (two parts of sugar and one of water), stored the syrup It would be a great mistake to im- and they built comb, done this agine, as some have asserted, that and wintered well. I have with several colonies. there is already an over-production of Mr. E. Clark said that the honey. Honey of all grades is only W. President had been the most success- to be a staple. We do not fetting producer of extracted honey in the ave to look back many years to the ful East, and he would call on him to time when its sale was so insignificant explain his methods. that it was only occasionally quoted in Boot, in response, said that the market reports of the large dailies. Pres. it was perfectly true, as Mr. Clarke When honey is found as often as is Mr.Doollttle's requisites sugar, molasses, or as butter, on the had said,that for producing comb honey were just tables of the average farmer and of as applicable to the production of the average laborer ; when it is found extracted honey. good q^iieen, for by the barrel or by tbe keg in our A example,' was just as necessary for the wholesale and retail groceries—then, one as the other. In both cases wise and only then, can we say that we are manipulation was needed, and it took producing as much honey as the a large amount of study to know what countrv can use. is wise manipulation. Certainly we The '' revolution in bee-keeping," of must have large colonies of bees to •which Father Langstroth speaks, in gather the honey, then we must ex- his book, has taken place, but the tract it at the time when it could be bee-keeping fraternity is only begin- done to the best advantage and with ning to find out all the advantages and the least hindrance to the bees. It all the growth which the bee-business was hard to lay down specific rules— must derive from this revolution. every bee-keeper must be a law to C. P. Dadant. himself, and find out the methods best adapted to his own locality. Dr. Mason described his method of Experience must be bought by prac- getting extracted honey, but com- tice, and at considerable expense ; he plained that he could not get more only hoped that it would not cost than 65 pounds per colony. He was others as much as it had cost him. asked how many combs he used, and The secret of success lies in having replied, "eight." plenty of workers at the right time, Dr. L. C. Whiting said, If you will and in order to do this we must liave ques- " tier up " your hives, and use plenty good queens. Then comes the of combs, you can get twice as much tion of manipulation. We have had honey. good results from extracting unripe labor Mr. C. F. Muth could not compre- honey, thus saving the bees the hend how the Doctor could manage of ripening it, but the question is, will with so few frames. He wanted at it pav to do this y I think not. Then, is spring manipulation least 10 frames for the brood-nest, and again, there ; then another story for extracting. spreading the brood, and the like. manipulated Even his bees, kept on the house-top In'my opinion, we have getting in the city of Cincinnati, had given many a colony to death. I am him averages double and even treble to think less and less of manipulation. what Dr. Mason had obtained, and In feeding, we look, not at immediate have from hives in the country where they results, but at the future. We adulteration, and had not so far to fly, he got far more heard much about honey. we must avoid the very semblance of be even above C. P. Dadant prefers large hives and it. Oar product must lower grades ^ves to the bees a plenty of combs in suspicion. Some of the will advance of their needs. Honey should of honey are selling so low that it not be extracted until ripe. Many not pay to sell it and buy sugar.— bee-keepers think that honey must be Bees should never be allowed to "hang harvest ; if they sealed before it is ripe. This is a mis- out " during a honey y : ; - 26 NORTH AMERICAN do, something is wrong. Our hives the use of their tails—the sting—being have a ventilator, 6x12 inches, in the the last polishing tool. It was be- bottom, -which can be opened or closed cause the formic acid was thus added at pleasure. that honey must be one-third capped Mr. S. T. Pettit gave his experi- to be good, and all capped to be first- ence in {)roducing extracted honey. He had missed it by not leaving the Prof. Cook thought that no one honey in the hive long enough to knew how or when the formic acid ripen. One season his honey was all was added. He was also of the opin- of an inferior quality, owing to this ion that too much stress was laid on cause. He did not believe that we the matter of taste. Few could dis- could ripen the honey as well as the criminate as thoroughly as had been bees themselves do it. He said that suggested. we should have at least one-third of The Convention then adjourned the honey capped before extracting, until 7:30 p.m. and he believed it was better if all was capped over. He then asked EVENING SESSION. Do you think, Mr. President, that you can ripen honey artificially as well as The meeting was C3,lled to order at the bees can do it 8 p.m., by Pres. Root. An essay was President Root—I am not sure. I read as follows, by Mr. B. F. Holter- know we can ripen it more thoroughly, mann, of Fisherville, Ont., on the and I can discover no difference in CARE OF HONEY FOB MABKET. the taste. 8. T. Pettit—Some have not as keen I bring this subject before you, a sense of taste as have others. I have fully aware that it is not of as great ripened honey artificially, but it never importance as many others, being had the fine, rich, oily, aromatic flavor indirectly connected with the pro- which honey ripened by the bees had. duction of honey ; but on that ac- It is my opinion that bees add, in the count it has perhaps not received that ripening process, ^ome animal product public attention which it merits. It (formic acid, perhaps), which the is our duty when blessed with the honey can get in no other way. means to procure a crop of honey, Rev. L. L. Langstroth did not know that we should acquaint not only our- that he could add much to the ocean selves but every bee-keeper with of intelligence that was tiding all what will secure to us the article in around, but he wished to say a word the highest state of perfection, and or two. He believed there were many place it thus in the consumers' hands. things that the bees could do—certain Have we, as a body, endeavored to do things better than we can—and ripen- so ¥ Looking at it from a business ing honey was one of them. There stand-point, past experience has was too much artificial work in bee- taught us that in order to realize the keeping. One bee-keeper had in- best results financially, from any vented nippers to pull dead bees out article extensively produced,' it is of the cells, but live bees would do it necessary not only to better our own better. but we must better that of the entire Dr. Mason said that the " big-bugs " land. of the Convention had been poking Let us imagine the land completely fun at him tor getting only 65 pounds destitute of vegetation. Here is a of honey per colony, but they would heavy soil, iii the distance is a sandy find it impossible to get an average one, and between, all grades of soil. of 300 pounds in his locality-a city on Here is a hill, there a swamp, and at one side and a wilderness on the other distancfes, intermediate eleva- other. Small as his average yield tions. Now, could our eye stretch was, it was larger than that of any of from north to south within the honey- his neighbors. He wished that his producing area, and were this area to critics would show him how to pro- be decked with our present vegeta- duce 300 pounds per colony, but the tion, which of the aforenamed condi- trouble was as Mr. Clarke said, they tions would influence the quality of did not to disclose their secrets. honey ? The heavy soil would give Rev. W. P. Clarke wished to ask if us a richer honey then the lighter formic acid in honey was not the the more extremes of cold climate element which gave it its keeping would give a better quality than the qualities. He put the question to more equable. Would the high and Prof. Cook. Por his own part, he the low land influence it V We know believed that the formic acid was that honey from every species of added by the bees in the capping pro- flower has its peculiar flavor, no mat- cess, which was carried on mainly by ter how indistinct, and that the sea- ; BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 27 son, its winds, temperature, and extracted honey, which the comb will degrees of moisture influence not give them ? Is it all fancy ? How only the quantity, but the quality of many bee-keepers have greeted you our honey. with the remark, after tasting your The progress bee-keeping has made, basswood honey, " Ah, that is pure and so many making a specialty or honey." How many have thought, it, has enabled us in a measure to after tasting the long-exposed clover conduct ourselves accordingly ; but to honey, " That is sugar syrup." The the ordinary bee-keeper most of the former loses its flavor less readily; previously named conditions cannot the latter more readily. be controlled. But, how much lies Has our comb honey been handled within our power I with proper care? Should it not One of the first questions would be, always be kept not only dry, but at a wheh shall we extract ? Shall we temperature that the delicate scales- extract before or after the honey is of wax—cell caps—never crack from sealed V What are the advantages too low a temperature ? Does honey and disadvantages of the two sys- ferment in the cells and crack the tems ? If entirely sealed, we require wax, or does the cell break, permit to uncap a; large surface, • the bees access to moisture and atmosphere,, must with the ordinary appliances and that cause the honey to ferment ? be cramped for store-room, the brood- E. F. HOLTERMANN. nest becomes contracted, not alone meaning'loss of time until extracted, Mr. Boardman considered this mat- but many think they do not regain' ter of great importance. That honey their old energy for the remainder of was often deteriorated by keeping the season. The advantages would was undeniable, and he would like to be, honey called ripe, subject to the know how it happened so, that it before-named conditions. might be guarded against. When is honey ripe? With the D. A. Jones—I do not think the system of extracting when the honey cappings of honey are impervious to- is unsealed, there is no uncapping, the air. We sometimes have honey and bees have plenty of store-room, so thickened that it does not fiU the but the quality is inferior ; and right cell more than one-half full. If the here a friend would step in with his capping was air-tight, how could this ripening can. But we have made no evaporation take place ? light mistake; for in the past our H. R. Boardman—I think that honey honey has been handled too much, as thickens by " age." if it could lose nothing by having it Prof. Cook explained the difference come in contact with the air. What between evaporation and crystalliza- imparts that peculiar aroma to honey, tion. Honey can only thicken by and gives each kind of honey a dis- evaporation, and to evaporate, it tinct flavor ? Is it not largely a must have air ; therefore the sealing is volatile oil 'i Do we not know it is is not air-tight. Crystallization a being distilled from every flower, as different affair, and is akin to forma- we pass through a clover-fleld in tion of ice, resulting from the cooling blossom y and in evaporating and process. otherwise coming in contact with the Mr. Doolittle gave an instance in air, we lose this. which honey was spoiled by moisture Many find that to extract honey swelling the honey, so that the cells- when one-third capped, answers well were broken, and the honey turned the honey to be put into deep tanks sour in the course of a few months. or barrels holding about 600 pounds James Heddon — If the honey is each, and left for a week. This causes cooler than the surrounding atmos- the light, thin honey to rise to the top phere, the moisture will be condensed —generally it is not 10 per cent., and upon the honey, in the same manner this can be disposed of a little cheaper as it is when a pitcher is filled with —and the rich, ripe honey remains. ice-water. If we wish to prevent One week more of exposure is ample granulation of the honey, it must be for clover, and it becomes sweet kept in a high temperature. I tem- without the flavor ; basswood longer, H. R. Boardman— keep the according to the taste. Thistle honey perature of my honey -house at a high has a very distinct odor and taste, but point, give ventilation, except upon it is very volatile, and requires but damp days, when I keep all openings little exposure. If we handled our closed, and even build a fire. I also extracted honey thus, would it not keep lime upon the floor to absorb the take the place of comb honey more ? moisture. What is meant when consumers say Mr. Thompson, of New York, said that they miss a peculiar richness in that he had been greatly troubled ; 28 NORTH AMERICAlSr with the moth getting into comb James Heddon — Yes, but some honey. He had tried sulphur fumi- beeswax contains large quantities of gation with them, but had not suc- pollen. ceeded as he conld have wished. Prof. Cook said that there could not C. F. Muth—The fumes of burning be animal life, without nitrogen, and sulphur will settle, hence the honey there could not be putrefaction with- should be at the bottom of the room. out nitrogen. H. R. Boardman—In fumigating Mr. Heddon said that we should honey with sulphur, nothing should take such precautions as would keep be used to fire the sulphur that will out flies, wasps and other insects. By give off any smoke. this means the moth-worms would be S. r. Newman—I think much of effectually excluded. He had his this trouble arises from taking ofE the honey-house protected with wire- honey too soon. If left upon the hive screens, and the moth gave him no it is safe from the attacks of moths trouble. and dampness, and will become thor- oughly ripened. It might be left on The following essay by Mr. E. M. for three weeks after it is finished Hayhurst, of Kansas City, Mo., was without its being much dissolved. read, on Mr. J. B. Hall, of Ontario, on being SHIPPING BEES BY THE POUSTD. called upon, gave his experience and practice. He said that the moth The possibility of shipping bees would give no trouble unless there without hives or combs, was first was bee-bread in tha Sections. He brought to the attention of the bee- said : I seldom fumigate my honey. keepers by an editorial in Gleanings TVhen I do, I put some ashes into a for May, 1879. In this editorial, Mr. kettle, put in the sulphur (one pound Root suggested the use, as a shipping- for a room 8x10 feet), and hang the cage, of a common dish-screen, pro- kettle near the top of the room ; then vided with a wooden bottom and sup- throw in a piece of iron heated to a plied with candy and water. Soon white heat, and close the doors. I after reading this, I prepared a half- would keep the honey-room as near pound of bees and a queen, as thus 90° as possible. suggested, and sent them to Mr. Root Mr. Heddon said that there was but as an experiment. They were re- little danger of deterioration, if ceived without the loss of a single honey was taken proper care of. It bee. This settled the matter with should be kept in a temperature me, that bees could be sent safely in higher than the common atmosphere, this way, if all the conditions were else it would attract and absorb mois- right. ture, and thus be injured. He had no I sent a number of half and one- trouble with the moth-worm, and did pound packages that season, with not believe that the moth would live good success. The dish-screen was on pure beeswax. There must be soon abandoned for the much more some pollen—some nitrogenous mat- convenient section-box and wire-cloth ter in order to form animal tissue. cage, as |idvised by Mr. Root in OUan- Dr. L. C. Whiting—When I have mgs for June, 1879. Here I would some old honey that I wish to put like to call attention to the fact that our upon the market, I place it over a common friend, Bro. Root, is strong colony of bees allowing them father of this business, and that nearly access to it. They soon put it in such every advancing step made by his a' condition that it cannot be distin- now healthy "youngster," has been guished from new honey. made at his suggestion. Without detailing D. A. Jones—Would not simply heat to you the manv heavy losses and great answer the same purpose ? discourage"- ments which I met Dr. Whiting—I cannot say. with during the following three years, and owing to G. M. Doolittle—I know of a man which I very nearly abandoned the who kept his honey in his sitting- business as ruinous, I will state that room near the coal-stove all winter 1 now have the matter so well under it kept perfectly, and the next season control that it is as safe and profitable it sold for as high a price as new to me as any other department of bee- honey. keeping. 0. P. Dadant—The bee-moth's larvse I still use the well-known section- will starve upon wax alone. cages, each being crated so as D.;';A. Jones— to Have Messrs. Hed- protect it somewhat from don and Dadant accidents never seen the holes When a number of packages in beeswax made the are to by bee-moth's be sent to one .address, larvae several of ? them are placed in one crate ; I have BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 29 sent as many as 2'5 one-pound pack- fouled by the bees that died during ages in one crate, but generally I the winter, and without giving them divide large, shipments into crates any brood to care for. Only two of containing 12 or 15 packages. These the lot had grit enough to stay in their crates are so arranged as to admit of new quarters and clean up. ample ventilation for each package of In regard to the profits to be derived bees. from the business : After an experi- •Eor feed, I use the " Good " candy, ence of seven years, I believe that made of the best pulverized sugar and when we can retail extracted honey clover or basswood honey. This candy at home for 8 or 10 cents per pound, enables us to dispense with the water we cannot afford to retail our bees which was necessary with the can- for less than $3 per pound, in May, dies formerly used. When the bees and assume all the risks now required are not likely to be confined more of the shipper. Probably the persons than 24 hours, no feed is rea^y neces- most benefited by the business, are sary, although a little candy is put those who have trouble in introduc- into all cages, to guard against pos- ing queens, and they are not few ; to sible delays. The proportion used such it is certainly a very great ad- for long distances is about 4 ounces vantage to buy a half-pound of bees of candy per day for each pound of with each queen, so as to enable them bees. to obtain the improved kinds without I now think that most of my heavy the risk of introducing. These little losses in former years were due to nuclei can be made working colonies over-feeding, or rather, to gorging at once, by giving them 2 or 3 combs the bees with honey. I used to be so of brood and stores (without bees) afraid that they would starve in win- from other hives. By adding other ter, that I would feed them all the combs of brood' as fast as the bees honey that they would take, after can care for them, the^ can be quickly they were caged ; notwithstanding the built into full and profitable colonies : well known fact that bees when indeed 2 or 3 combs of brood and gorged with sweets are much more stores, is help enough in ordinary likely to become panic-stricken when seasons, if the bees are purchased confined, and disgorging, smother early, and in extra good seasons a themselves. On the other hand, I half-pound of bees with a good queen now use every precaution possible to will often grow into a fine colony for prevent the bees from filling them- winter—a small beginning, but not 'selves while being caged. Bees caged quite so helpless as the one made by without a queen have this same one of my neighbors. He sent to me tendency to panics, and will often run for an untested queen ; shortly after- themselves to death ; hence I send no wards he called at my yard and com- more bees without queens. plained that the queen did not do Next to over-feeding, perhaps the very well—in fact, had deserted her greatest cause of losses is the ex- hive. It seems that he had put her posure of the bees to the hot sunshine with the few bees sent with her in the by the carriers ; on this account I mailing cage, into a large, cracked place/ conspicuous cautionary cards box into which he had fastened a one- on each crate, calling attention to pound section containing comb, but this fact. I also send printed no honey. He said that there were " Directions " attached to each cratp, just 9 bees with her, and that he for the benefit of the purchasers, thought 4 of these were a plenty to many of whom are quite inexperienced stay with the queen while the other in handling bees;" these are very 5 went Out to gather honey and wax 1 necessary, but do not always save the At the risk of incurring the charge bees. One friend wrote me this sea- of being " enthusiastic " in regard to son that I had failed to put queens the immense profits to be derived into 4 or 5 packages sent him ; he said : from purchasing bees by. the pound, I " I know this to be so, because all of will close by giving an extract from the bees clustered in one place." a letter received from an Iowa custo- Eurther correspondence developed the mer ; it sounds a. little extravagant, fact that after preparing his five hives but it is by no means an uncommon as directed, he turned all the bees report—he probably had an extra loose at once by throwing them into good run of honey. Here it is : " the open air, expecting each nucleus I kept 11 of those one-pound with its appropriate queen to find the nuclei, put each into a full- si zed' hive intended for it ! Another friend chaff hive with empty combs ; this is lost 3 out of 5 nuclei by turning them all the help they had, except a little into hives containing their full com- feed when they first came, and a little plement of combs, smeared and be- foundation. They filled up their ' : 30 NORTH AMEBICAJSr hives, increased to 20 good, strong condition, unless fed on sugar syrup. colonies, and gave me about 400 I have taken pains during my busi- pounds of nice comb honey. A swarm ness journeys, and in my correspond- from one of them took the first pre- ence, to learn the actual results of mium ($10) at our District Fair." bee-keeping this year in this State for Kansas City, Mo. many a mile distant from Philadel- phia, and I think that the word A. I. Root—I do not think the letter "disastrous" will best express the extravagant; such reports are quite general feeling as to the results. frequent. The original half-pound of I regret that I am unable to meet bees that Mr. Hayhurst sent me was the brethren in convention assembled; put upon combs, and made so strong it is a great disappointment to me. a colony that it was, I believe, divided in the fall. We must have young Mr. H. F. Hunt, Vice-President for bees, and the bee-keeper must be an Quebec, Canada, reported expert. Mr. Root then described as follows what could be done in a single season The knowledge of bee-culture, by with a half-pound of bees and a fertile the improved methods of manipula- queen in May. tion, is still in its extreme infancy in There was general concurrence in Quebec, and has only within the past the utility and convenience of selling few years begun to be disseminated bees by the pound. among the people, the southern and southwestern parts having more bee- BEPOBTS OF VICE-PRESIDENTS. keepers than the other parts. There are numerous box-hive bee-keepers Mr. A. F. Mauum, Vice-President throughout the country, who still take their honey by the old-fashioned for Vermont, reported the honey crop method of " brimstoning,"—a method of that State, for the present season, which I hope is now on its "last to be 160 tons. legs." My report, therefore, will not bear comparison with that of our sister Province— Mr. Wm. Gr. Gibbons, Vice-Presi- Ontario—but I hope that in the not far distant future, dent for Delaware, in his we report, says: shall be able to make as good a show- The year 1885 has been an exceed- ing. The success attending the labors ingly unpropitious one for bee-keep- of bee-keepers in Ontario, will act as ers in this part of the country. The a stimulus to those in Quebec. warm weather which usually sets in In common with the rest of the by April 10, was procrastinated until North American Continent, near the the beginning of May, and dur- losses last winter were heavy, but ing both April and May cold rain- bee-keepers, as a rule, have not been storms were frequent. The result much discouraged, and are hoping was that the bees got to work 15 days for better success this winter. Our later than usual. The white clover losses were not so heavy as those which is in this section the best and farther- south, which I attribute almost only to bee-pasturage, did not our being compelled to protect the seem to be well supplied with nectar, bees well, on account of the severe and the season of its bloom was ex- cold which once or twice every winter ceptionally short; consequently the touches 30° below zero, the average colonies gathered a very small supply being 5° to 10° above. of surplus honey, and few -swarms I have not received as many re- issued. Generally the colonies are in sponses as I could wish, to my good condition for entering upon the request coming for reports, but I generalize from winter, and seem to be what healthy. I did receive. The past season has been a very poor one indeed owing to the extraordinary Mr. Arthur Todd, Vice-President cold sea- son, which seriously curtailed brood- for Pennsylvania, made the following rearmg and the secretion of nectar, in report for the year 1885 : some parts of the Province, notably m the vicinity of Lake The winter of 1884-85 Megantic, and proved dis- m the county of Beance. astrous to many The spring bee-keepers in the was so dry that State of Pennsylvania, certain crops had to and as regards be replanted, a honey harvest— and would, no doubt, practically there have acted unfavorably was none. The fall to the secre- crop of honev has tion ot nectar likewise been a complete in the white clover, failure", and borne honey was gathered from bees go into winter quarters in bad wood, bass- which yields more freely to the : : BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 31 .soutli than to the north of the St. abundant honey-flow, against less Xiawrence. Fall flowers also have than 60 days in 4 flows this season, not given much, and many colonies with no white clover or buckwheat. have had to be fed for winter. Though it has been common for well-cared-for colonies of bees of good blood to produce 100 pounds each, this Mr. 0. O. Poppleton, Vice-Presi- year, it is also more common for the dent for Iowa, made the following uncared-for "scrub" colonies to be report of the results of bee-keeping deficient in winter stores, without yielding any surplus. Although Con- - in Iowa during the past 12 months necticut annually consumes from 100 Bees were put into winter quarters to 125 tons of honey, and although last fall in very poor condition gen- bee-keeping is in a growing condition, erally, as regards numbers of bees in yet it would be extremely difficult to each colony and amount of stores. collect 40 tons of surplus Connecticut The winter was a very hard one, fol- honey. Judging the State by an effort lowed by one of the worst—if not the to obtain a close canvass of 13 towns, -worst—springs experienced during a it g,ives only a return of 12,400 pounds, long term of years. The result has which is far less than half what the been to entirely destroy nearly or grocers sell in some of the towns. quite % of the total number of colo- Learning that the local producers nies put into winter quarters last have customers, and retail their pro- fall, and to leave many of the colonies duct, and that the store supply is that were saved in very poor condi- almost exclusively an import (the tion at the commencement of the production being 'from 40 to perhaps honey harvest. 70 tons as a minimum and maximum The honey harvest itself was much amount), and that well-cared-for api- TdcIow the average, and from the best aries of selected colonies will give a information I can get, I estimate the surplus of 100 or more pounds per total production of honey in Iowa, in colony, it shows that Connecticut is a 1885, at about }4 the amount obtained remunerative location for the skilled last year. apiarist. Connecticut possesses a few well- Foul brood, which was reported read apiarists, but not one specialist, last year as being present m our that I know of, as a honey producer. - locality in this State, is not reported In all cases it is only a " side-show," as being in existence anywhere in the and yet not a few could cast a vote on State this year. What is known by either the reversible frame, sec- some as the " trembling disease," by 4^ tion-box, skeleton honey-board, or on others as the " nameless disease," has any of the other modern fixtures, and been reported from several apiaries all of them tried extensively enough this year. As the causes and charac- to warrant an impartial decision. One teristics of this disease, as well as its apiarist has tried the 1%-inch-wide prevention and cure, has never, so end-bar, with the reversible wire, to Tar as I know, been thoroughly in- the extent of 25 hives, and they have vestigated by any competent person, been tried to stay : there are about 150 respectfully request that this I would of such constructed hives put into Society either appoint a committee to winter quarters, and trying a few by such an investigation, or form- make the side of other hives for 8 years, the ally request Prof. W. McLain, of N. number has gradually grown until the United States Entomological Sta- another season will see a few thou- tion at Aurora, Ills., to make such sand of the % -inch-wide end-bar investigation. combs for sale cheap, or some kind- ling wood and wax in the place of Mr. H. L. Jeffrey, Vice-President the frames and combs. Saw l%'-inch thick plank in %-inch thick strips, for Connecticut, gave the following and make the tops and bottoms 6-16x- report %, let into the ends, and use reversi- Connecticut has not produced over ble wires, the hives to be 123^ inches two-thirds as much honey this year wide, with 2 division-boards scant J4- as last (1884), and perhaps not over inch thick, confining the heat between half the amount, last year being the each two combs to Its own space. best season for white clover and buck- The advantages are, the prevention wheat that we have known for eleven of hoar-frost at each end of the combs, years. It gave us two unusually good the -prevention of each comb being honey-flows, which made almost an built to the end of the hive at every incessant flow from May 8 to Sept. 27, sudden flow of honey, the possibility or more than 140 days of average to take out any one comb without : 32 NORTH AMEEICAN being obliged to move each of the times, according to the season. It is others separately, the convenience of therefore of no avail to bee-keepers. moving a hive without every comb Such hay is, however, not suitable swinging against its neighbor, the for horses, being to " washy ;" and as ease with which a hive or nucleus can alfalfa is here used also for horse- be set up in a hurry, as well as many feed, it is not cut until it has formed other superior reasons. seed, or is nearly out of bloom. On a This is the out-growth of some old few farms alfalfa seed is raised for cast-off Quinby standing-frames the market, and therefore our bees forced into use in 1877, by a sudden have the full benefit of the bloom call for frames and hives, and from while it lasts. then until now they have been used In " dry " seasons, when there is a as standing-frames at one time, and scarcit;^ of wild flowers, tlie alfalfa, at another time as hanging-frames, honey is stored in its purity, and. by driving a nail in the end-bar; and equals any honey in color, flavor and sometimes one side being up, then body, being about as clear as white- the other side up, the twisting and sage honey. In " wet" seasons it is,, turning for fun and for fact caused 5 however, mixed with honey from complete hives after having wedge- other flowers, and is of an amber sticks placed between the combs to color. Our honey invariably granu- be turned bottom-side up, in 1883, to lates when frosty weather sets in, get.the crates of 18 prize-boxes each but until then it remains liquid, and as the receptacles of about 3 inches will be so thick that a dish of it may- deep of honey under the top-bars of be turned upside down, without its. all the combs, because the first crates running out. of boxes were not taken off soon Alfalfa, if rightly treated, is, to enough, and np went the honey. The my mind, equal, if not superior, to same tiling was tried any in 1881, with 4 other plant which can be American hives whose combs were cultivated for honey, hay and seed. The stub- half full, and, lo, the honey was moved. ble also affords fine pasture for stock, but cattle are liable to become bloat- The objections to a stationary or ed, if allowed to graze on it while it. single-position, spaced frame, are all is wet or frosted. This is the only converted into advantages by using danger that has to be guarded against.. • it reversibly, and there will yet be All grass-eating animals are exceed- living proof that the Quinby stand- ingly fond of it, whether it is green ing-frame, of the Langstroth size, and or cured. It also affords fine pasture with reversible wires to combine the for hogs and poultry. As the tap- labors of Fathers Langstroth and root penetrates from 20 to 40 feet Quinby in an established union of down into the soil, the plant is not obliteration to the confused multi- affected by drouth, and, when in- tude, and give us all peace and same- tended for seed, is not irrigated. ness to perfection in frame and hive. When it once has secured a " stand," it will hold its own forever after, re- seeding itself, and choking out, by its Mr. Wm. Muth-Rasmussen, of In- dense growth, all other plants which dependence, Calif., reports as follows may attempt to share the soil with it. for that State I hope that you may have a pleasant and profitable meeting. As far as I know, no vice-president has been appointed for California during the last two years. I can therefore only report for myself. The committee to whom was refer- red the address of Mr. T. While the southern counties, G. Newman accord- on the National Bee-keepers' Union ing to all published reports, have had reported in favor of uniting the a very poor honey harvest, the season two societies. Mr. Heddon, president here has been about an average one. of the Union, remarked that he did The reason is that while the southern not quite see how it counties depend almost could be done, and altogether the resolution upon wild vegetation was tabled, after some for bee-forage, discussion. our principal honey scource, here, is alfalfa, which is irrigated and never fails to yield some honey. Although Some other observations were alfalfa is grown to some extent in the made on the southern counties, it is used there subject, when the convention mostly as cattle-feed, and is cut as adjourned until 9 a.m. of the follow-" soon as the bloom appears, 4 to 6 ing day. : BEE KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 33 SECOND DAY—WEDNESDAY. other friends also presented him with a-bouquet of flowers. Mr. Root re- MORNING SESSION. plied briefly by thanking those who had been so thoughtful. He valued The Convention was called to order the kind thoughts much more than at 9:30 a.m.. by Pres. L. C. Root, who the gift, though that was beautiful. announced the following as a com- He lelt that such kindness was un- mittee to answer any questions that deserved. might be placed in the question-box S. P. Newman, S. T. Pettit and H. Mr. C. r. Muth, of Cincinnati, OhiOv R. Boardman. It was found to be then read the following on impossible to get through with the THE HONEY MARKET. regular programme^ if . the questions were brought up for discussion, and A friend asked me, a few days ago, hence the appointment of the above- as many had done before, what the mentioned committee. reason was for the low prices of honey, whether, in The Secretary read a letter from my estimation, honey Mr. Turner Buswell, of Solon. Me., would remain cheap, whether I asking the Society to consider the thought beekeeping was overdone, etc. I admit that are advisability of publishing, in a these vital questions for us bee-keepers, it is pamphlet forih, a report of its pro- and very proper that should ceedings, and the matter was referred we consult as the to the committee on questions. to best mod/us operandi as to the improvement of our condition and to Pres. Root—I have requested that elevate our business. samples of honey be sent to me, that We know from experience that . I might send them to the government whenever prices are on a level with, chemist. Prof. H. W. Wiley, at Wash- or below, tne cost of production—no ington, for analysis ; but the report difference whether this is in the line that the Professor has already made of produce or manufacture—margins of samples of honey that he has ana- are unsatisfactory for producers and lyzed, leads me to doubt the advisa- manufacturers as well as for dealers. bility of such a course. Too large a Wheat, corn, pork and barley were percentage of the samples were pro- very low for a number of years; nounced impure. 1 should not like farming was very unprofltable, and to send my honey there and have it the proportion of failures among prf^nounced adulterated.' grain-dealers and pork-packers was C. F. Muth — Myself and some perhaps greater than ever. Bee-keep- friends sent some honey there that ing was perhaps not more satisfactory it wefcne-ioto be pure, and was pro- than farming ; yet, in proportion to nounced impure. I do not think that its labor and investment, it was far we shall send any more. more remunerative, even if the prices Prof. A.J. Cook then read a portion 01^ extracted honey ranged between 3 of the published report of Prof. H.W. cents and 8 cents per pound, and that Wiley, of the Department of Agricul- of comb honey between 6 cents and 12 ture at Washington, giving his anal- cents per pound. ysis of different samples of honey It is bad policy to give up, because furnished him by bee-keepers. In his we find just as many malcontents in annual report he put down many other branches, if we look around us, samples as " apparently pure," and and it is folly to consider ourselves many as " probably impure." The privileged characters. To indicate Professor said that it was the business our true position, and how to govern of a chemist to know; and if he could ourselves accordingly, is tbe object of not analyze such products to a cer- this essay. tainty, he should say so in his report. It is not over-production which is troubling there The friends of Mr. A. I. Root, hav- us, as was never so ing learned that his 46th birthday much honey consumed as during the occurred on the second day of the past year ; but still, less was pro- Convention, had contributed ten duced. Our crop was a short one in cents each, to Mr. Muth, with which most parts of the country. Now, if to purchase a suitable birthday- pres- values are governed by supply and ent for him. copy of "Milton's demand, this question is proper, viz., A '/" Paradise Lost," beaiitifuUy printed, ' • What causes the present low prices bound, and illustrated, was purchased, The maxim that there is no rule and the Rev. W. P. Clarke was select- without an exception, may be applied ed to present it to Mr. A. I. Root to our case under the rule of supply during the morning session, which he and demand. The low average value did in a very pleasant way. Some of all produce and manufactures, be- ! 34 NOBTH AMERICAN almost every instance. sides the lack of all speculation in our cane-sugar in our friends are posted on the markets, is, in my estimation, the See that subject • first cause of the depression of the . ,, 4.U .. in the above that prices of honey. When times become Having shown of and traflBc in honey better, i.e., when a general advance the production the same as any in values takes place, prices of honey has its reverses, business, permit me will advance with the rest. other branch of by which we The next factor in the depression now to give some points interests. of prices is adulteration. It is an may promote our about eat- established fact that extracted honey Cleanliness around and impression upon has become a staple article. A large ables makes a good exercise clean- number of manufacturers usingsweets consumers. We must our have found that pure honey is the liness about our apiaries, about extract- best and cheapest sweet they can get.. honey, about extractors and New converts are made daily. For ing. Every quality of honey should mention a late be kept by itself, as nearly so as is an illustration I will manu- case of my own. I have sold, for possible, because most of our years, an occasional barrel of honey facturers make a certain grade of to pork-packers, but only one would goods with a certain flavor with buy with something approaching a which the taste of their customers has regularity. He found that his New been cultivated; to lose this flavor Orleans molasses, at times, not sweet means the loss of the custom. I have enough, while the same quantity of lost several hard-earned customers honey would always answer for the because I was unable to supply the same cask of pickle. I sold him 50 same flavor, although with hundreds barrels of honey for curing meats, a of barrels of honey on hand. They few weeks ago. Other packers having would resort again to cane-sugar as heard of the purchase, bought a few the only means by which to manufac- barrels for experiment,and one of them ture a regular grade of goods. My " direction approached me with : Why didn't latest experience in this you tell me about your honey V" were my loss of custom for the man- " There will be a great deal more grove honey of Florida. When my honey-cured hams and honey-cured supply was exhausted, it was cane- breakfast bacon in our city next sea- sugar that took its place in the ma- son than during the present one. jority of cases, and it will be hard to There is no doubt about it ; and my regain that custom. next experience will be that some Honey should stand in open vessels drummer from Boston, New York, for evaporation when it comes from Philadelphia or Chicago, will be the extractors, and be thoroughly around and sell to my friends his skimmed before it is barreled or glucosed honey )^ cent less per pound canned. No lumps of comb, wax, or than they paid me for pure honey. specks of other impurities should They will buy, and the following remain in the honey, as nothing is " season some one will sav : Honey more annoying to manufacturers. is not much sweeterthan New Orleans They make no allowance for want of molasses after all." Such has been cleanliness, but refuse the honey. A my experience before ; it will, repeat sale is often spoiled when the honey itself. We cannot avoid unfair com- is put up in whisky barrels. The petition, and there is no harm in inside of the staves were charcoaled, "telling it. Glucose is made to cheat, and it is almost an impossibility to -and there is money in adulteration. separate the specks of charcoal from '•Glucose swells the so-called stock of the honey. Clean barrels for honey 'honey on the market, damages the every tirde—or shippers must bear the :good opinion entertained of honey, consequences. in the estimation of consumers, and When putting up honey, bee-keep- Tarings down the price as a natural ers should at once select packages to • consequence. There is no use for me suit their trade. If their honey is to tell you how to meet adulteration, calculated for the wholesale trade, : because every one of us is possessed good, strong cypress, oak or poplar -of more or less of selfishness, and apt barrels are their best and cheapest .to pursue his own course under any packages. I prefer barrels to all (Circumstances. smaller packages. Other dealers may Ttoere is, perhaps, a third cause for require half-barrels or kegs for their Xke low price of honey, which should trade; but, as stated above, care aJso be mentioned. It is, that very should be taken by every bee-keeper many of our nearest neighbors are to have his extracted honey graded, not yet aware of the fact that honey not only according to color, but also is a sugar, and can be substituted for according to flavor. I prefer to put ; ! BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 35 up my own small packages to suit my large packages more honey is sold at jobbinp; and retail trade; these are each sale. tin pails of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 3 pounds, T. G. Newman remarked that we and square glass-jars holding 2, 1, W needed various sizes to accommodate pound and 5 ounces, respectively. I consumers—but he found the sections have an excellent retail trade for holding one-pound by far the most square glass-jars, for which nothing salable. but the best clover honey will answer A. E. Manum—Two years ago I the purpose. shipped 15 tons of one-pound sections, In regard to comb honey, I should and 2 tons of two-^pound sections. I say that it must be white and well received returns for the pound sec- capped to ttnd a ready sale ; if the tions in a very short time ; but it was quality is clover, it is all the better. several months before the two-pound One-pound sections sell best, but half- sections were sold. If there was only pound sections, if well filled, find a one siz^ of section used, people would ready sale, as do also two-pound sec- be surprised at the price at which it tions. No sections should be glassed; could be furnished. but 20 to 30 pounds of honey in neat James Heddon—I do not know as I sections, placed in a neat case with would have everybody use pound sec- glass on each side, meets with no tions. I have used thousands of half- objection whatever, while sections in pound sections ; I can secure just as the neatest paper-boxes or glassed, much honey, and have sold it at an are unsalable by the side of it. advance of 3 cents per pound. I pre- Purity, cleanliness and neatness are fer sections that are 7 to the foot, attractions which should be synony- even when separators are used. mous with the marketing of honey, Pres. Boot—I have found upon a and a strict adherence to this princi- careful examination of the markets, ple cannot fail to secure consumers. that we need sections of different C. F. MUTH. sizes. After the reading of the essay, An address was then delivered by some one asked Mr. Muth what size Thomas G. Newman, of Chicago, 111., of section was, with him, the most entitled salable. PASTURAGE FOR BEES. C. F. Muth—The one-pound section. Geo. E. Hilton—I have used sec- Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen. tions 5x6x13^ inches, and they weigh A carefully-prepared estimate re- 1^ pounds when filled. I find them veals the fact that in North America very salable. (the territory covered by this Society) S. F. Newman—If Mr. Muth had there are 300,000 persons who keep only large packages, would he not bees. The annual product of honey sell just as many of them as of smaller amounts to over one hundred millions ones V of pounds, the value of which is about C. F. Muth—One pound sections fifteen millions of dollars great many want tp sell the best. A May not these figures give us a full " " of honey. buy a pound confprehension of the dignity of our Heddon—I think it will be James mission, the magnitude of the work injury to bee-keepers to lead them an before us, and the exalted possibilities other size of section than to use any which may inspire us to fresh zeal and the l^xl'M- A pound is a good size. grander achievements in our pursuit i" My fixtures are adapted to that size. Suppose some one should invent a In passing—let us contemplate, for how invention, art and new style of section, how much better a moment, science, have followed every "pro- it would be if we all used the same could gressive step" in apiculture! Just size ; how much cheaper they crude methods of our be furnished us. A comb with a think of the and then contemplate the large surface is more attractive, but fathers, wonderful improvements of today I it will not bear shipment so well Instead of the tubs and pails of yore, however, if we get the sections well containing broken combs of honey, filled and the combs attached all dead bees, taken from around, as can be done by reversmg bee-bread and breeding apartment of the hives, the sections, a thin comb will bear the murdering the bees by shipment very well. the result of fumes of sulphur, and then robbing C. R. Isham— Honey was much of the " stores " laid up more salable when we were using their homes winter — see the beautiful little large sections. Bee-keepers them- for sectional-boxes in which we have selves are to blame for the necessity the bees to build virgin of using small packages. By using I educated ! " 36 NORTH AMERICAN " luck with combs, and then to fill them with owner declares he has no honey from Nature's laboratory—at b66S I man's behoof and for man's nourish- Now, what is the duty of the in apiarist, in this state of affairs V The ment I This is but one item the long catalogue of accomplishments, answer is plain, positive and unmis- bees must but it illustrates the apicultural de- takable. Pasturage for the velopment of the scientific progress be provided— it is an absolute neces- study the honey and art of this ever-advancing age ! sity. He must Surely, these are grand achieve- seasons of his locality, and supply the by planting white, Alsike ments ! but shall we with them rest deficiency clover, mignonette, borage, and be satisfied '? No! says the im- or sweet pulsive and enthusiastic bee-keeper- motherwort, cleome, mustard, rape, show us the exalted possibilities of the etc., and thus provide the bees with flora when the nat- future ! Teach us how to obtain a honey-producing crop of honey day after day, month ural supply is insuflicient or entirely after month, and year after year destroyed. Well, this is ttie duty imposed upon Good judgment must, of course, be me by 'your committee—why, I know exercised in the selection of seeds for plentiful, not ; nor did I ask ; but I will seek a planting. If white clover is solution of the problem by leading and fall-flowers abundant, scatter you into " green pastures," filled with mints " to fill the gap." If basswood myriads of " flowers," in which Na- is the main stay for honey, then sow ture distils the honey, drop by drop, sage, motherwort, and other early and invites the bees, by their gorgeous nectar-yielding plants or trees. The hues, to come and dip into their tiny goldenrods, asters, buckwheat, sweet fountains, and feast and fiy, and fiy clover, etc., will always pay to culti- and feast continually. These fields of vate for fall honey. The latter (sweet splendor will point you to success—to clover) with its white, modest bloom shining dollars, and afSuence ! will gladden the eye in June, and the Ask the breeders of stock, the sweet fragrance of its flowers will shepherds, and the dairymen, for the linger till frost and snow comes and secret of their success, and they will the bees are safely placed in " winter point you to their well-tiiled fields, quarters." green pastures and mountains of hay. We are well aware that many who They will tell you that they provide keep bees have not enough land to corn for their hogs, rich meadows, spare to devote to bee-pasturage ; but pastures and hay for their stock, and in the immediate vicinity of every then naturally expect good results ! apiary, and within easy flight of every Ask bee-keepers upon what they colony of bees in America, there are depend for results, and they will have waste lands enough, covered with to confess that '' luck " has a good unsightly branjbles, burdocks,fennels, deal to do with it ; they depend upon mulleins, rag-weeds, etc., which it natural forests, neighbors' clover would pay to seed with suitable plants- fields, wild 'flowers in the fence cor- for producing honey. Many of the ners, roadsides and wild lands ; and best honey-plants require but little or if they are " lucky enough " to have no cultivation, after scattering the these in due proportion to their bees, seeds ; and even the poorest honey- they will sing a song of gladness ; but producers would be more agreeable if not. their long visages will tell of to the eye on such waste land than hopes blasted and prospects blighted ! sand-burrs, brambles, fennels, and But alas, with advancing civiliza- other weeds which grow spontaneous- tion comes the woodman's ax, cutting ly on roadsides and waste-places. down the basswood, elm, oak and In view of the uncertainty of suf- maple trees. The farmers' plow ficient continuous bloom being pro- destroys the magnificent wild floral vided by Nature, and the certainty carpet supplied by nature, and the of annually-recurring periods of cold poor bees often find nothing to gather weather, long and hazardous conflne- —the wild flora is destroyed—the ment^to insure success, the apiarist honey all gone—and starvation stares should as carefully and certainly them in the face ! Nothing remains provide pasturage for the bees as to for them but to destroy their brood, furnish them with hives to shelter kill their drones, and if possible to them from the cold and storms. hold out on half-rations, until some Do you ask, " Will it pay to plant stray wild flowers, unmolested by the for-honey V" Let me reply by asking plow, in fence corners or by the road- if it does pay to keep bees to gather side, replenish their scanty stores; honey at all? If you answer yes, but if tnese are denied, they "suc- then let me assert—the more bloom cumb to the inevitable "—and their the more honey for the bees to gather; ! : BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 37 the more honey gathered, the more Buffalo, N. Y., that was an excellent honey for the market ; the more honey honey-plant. sold, the more money for the bee- Mr. Hiram Chapman described the keeper, and tlie better the business plant as resembling plantain. A will pay specimen of it was exhibited. To further illustrate this point : If Dr. L. C. Whiting—It would be a a honey-flow of 30 days (which con- most excellent and promising plan if stitutes an average honey season, one some young men would go to work year with another) will pay—will not with our red clover.inthe way pointed 150 days pay ^uefimes as mwc/i? If by out by Mr. E. E. Hasty, and develop judicious planting, we can lengthen a' strain with short tubes. the honey season, do we not thereby James Heddou—I do not think it correspondingly increase the honey will ever be profitable to raise honey- crop ? and does not this increase of plants on land worth $50 per acre. the marketable honey-crop corres- Where there are waste-places it may pondingly increase the income of the pay to scatter the seeds of honey- apiarist, and add just that much to plants. One plant that I would the material wealth of the Nation ? recommend is what is called "pleurisy Rational replies to these queries, by root." progressive apiarists, ought to demon- W.F. Clarke said that Alsike clover flourish low, wet, strate that it will pay to plant for honey; would grow and in and also that as the country grows undrained land, where red clover older and the population increases, it would not take. He also said that becomes a positive necessity. bee-keepers should use their influence to have stock prevented from running Thomas G. Newman. at large. It was a just apd good law in other views of it, and its passage Mr. S. F. Kewman spoke of the would double the value of bee-pas- great reduction in the number of turage. basswood trees, owing to the demand A member suggested that all who for the timber by those who were had tried the Alsike clover and found manufacturing sections. Ten years it valuable, should intimate the same ago there were 50 large basswood trees by rising, when about one-third of Within sight of his apiary ; now, all the members present arose. but 5 were gone. He had, however, succeeded in getting them more than NEXT PLACE OF MEETING. replaced by giving away young bass- Indianapolis, Ind., was selected as wood trees to all who would plant the next place of meeting, and it was them and care for them. A number voted that St. Louis be in contempla- planted thus 10 years ago, this year tion for the following year. vielded a magnificent crop of honey, As the hour of adjournment had ihe basswood was a fine shade tree, arrived, the election of officers was and if bee-keepers would encourage postponed until 2 p.m. its multiplication, they would be consulting their own interests. AFTERNOON SESSION. M. D. York—I have basswood trees The convention was called to order that were transplanted a year ago last at 2 p.m., Pres. Root in the chair. spring, that blossomed full this year. A letter read by Mrs. L. Harrison, transplanted a tree 8 inches in I have from Mrs. Sarah J. Axtell, Roseville, Ills., conveying her salutations to the Will it pay to use E. L. Hubbard— Society, and detailing her experience $-50 an acre to raise honey- land worth as a bee-keeper, was referred to the producing plants ? committee on resolutions. T. G. Newman—In my opinion, it would. The following resolutions were adopted Rev. L. L. Langstroth mentioned unanimously That we appreciate the the case of a bee-keeper who was Besolved, ladies in larger numbers thought by his neighbor^ demented, presence of particularizing Mrs. because he sowed the seeds of sweet than ever before, locality L. Harrison, of the Prairie Farmer, clover in a sort of wilderness ; Miss Johnson, of the Michigan but as the result he had now a splen- and Farmer. did range of bee-pasturage. . M. D. York—I have raised Alsike Besolved, That this Society has felt clover upon land worth more than $60 it an especial privilege and pleasure the per acre, aijd the seed alone paid me to have had the presence of apiculture, in |25 per acre. patriarch of American Mr. E. L. Hubbard mentioned a the person of Rev. L. L. Langstroth. plant that grew a few miles south of It has gratefully appreciated the ac- : 38 NORTH AMERICAN tive part that he has been enabled to Mr. A. I. Root, of Medina, O., then take in the discussions at this meet- read the following on ing, and rejoices that still, in his old EXCELLENCE Or CHEAPNESS—WHICH V age, he is enabled to do something for his favorite pursuit. The warm 1 do not icnow but that this subject affection and best wishes of all pres- was given me because some of the ent will hover about him so long as brethren think I have been a little too he shall be spared in this life, and his eager to recommend cheap tools and memory will be held dear while honey appliances ; and may be they thought distils and bees fly. I would defend my side of the subject while somebody else would take up Officers were elected, as follows, for excellence rather than cheapness. the ensuing year Now, it seems to me that wisdom and should guide us in this Pkbsidbnt—H. D. Cutting, Clinton, Mich. experience matter, and that we cannot very well Bbookding Seobetary— Frank L. Douglierty, lay down general rules for purchas- Indianapolis, Ind. ing bee-supplies, or for purchasing Corresponding Secretary — Mrs. Cass Bob- anything else, in fact. Isaiah tells bins, Indianapolis, Ind. us, in his first chapter, to " learn to Treasurer—C. F. Mutli, Cincinnati, O. do well ;" that is, doing well is pro- and should also say, learn VICE-PRESIDENTS : gressive ; I Alabama—Nelson Perkins, Princeton. to purchase wisely. If you have a Arkansas -Geo. B. Peters, Peters. little money that you want to invest Arizona—J as. H. Brown, Prescott. in bee-supplies, do not be in a hurry British Columbia— [J. Spears, New Westminster. to get rid of it all. It is said that California—R. Wilkin, San Buenaventura. " through wisdom is ahousebuilded;" Colorado—Philip Reardon, Jamestown. and I should say, " through wisdom " Connecticut—H. L. Jeflfrey, Wasbingtou Depot. we make prudent purchases. Districtof Columbia—Rev. J. A. Buck,Wa8hington. Suppose a boy is large enough to Dakota-J. H. Townley, Ashton. need a knife. What kind of a knife Delaware—Geo. Remington, Wilmington, should he purchase—a five-cent knife Florida—W, S. Hart, Hawk's Park. or a two- dollar knife ? Why, I should Georgia—Dr. J. P. H. Brown, Augusta. say it depends upon who the boy is, Illinois—Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria. his age, and what he wants to do Indiana—J. Scholl, Indianapolis. knife. Iowa—J. M. Shuck, Des Moines. with the Hut with the average Kansas— Chas. Smith, Marysville. boy, I think it would be a pretty good Kentucky-J. M. Egbert, Salvisa. idea to try the cheap knife first. Louisiana— P. !». Viallon, Bayou Goula. Even if he has laid up a couple of Maine—J. B. Mason, Mechanic Falls. dollars to buy a pocket-knife, I think Manitoba—Hon. J. H. Wallbridge, Winnipeg. he will get more satisfaction by try- Massachusetts—S. M. Locke, Wenham. ing a cheap one first than bv trying Michigan—Miss Lucy Wilkins, Farwell. the two-dollar one first. If the cheap Missouri—E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City. one does not please him, nor answer Mississippi—Dr. O. M. Blanton, Greenville. his requirements, it would not be Minnesota—C. P. Greening, Grand Meadow. very much expense to give it to some Maryland—Dr. W. G. Phelps, Galena. other boy, and try a little better one. Montana—Chas. Bruce, Wickes. Let him carefully examine test Nebraska—T. L. VonDorn, Omaha. and each knife buys, until Nevada—A. A. Leeper, Carson City. he he becomes New Jersey— B. Terryberry, Highbridge. a tolerably good judge of knives, and New york-Ira Barber, i:)eKalb Junction. is able to purchase understandingly. North Carolina-H. H.Watson, Sladesvllle. There are a great many people— Nova Scotia—C. T. Jones, Waterville, and good people too—who have a way New Hampshire-M. Harie, Keno. of saying, in regard to every purchase Ohio- A. I. Root. Medina. that comes up, "The best is the Ontario— J. B. Hall, Woodstock. cheapest." A good deal depends Pennsylvania—Arthur Todd, Germantown. upon what you mean by best. Suppose Prince Bdw. Island-Jas. Gourlie, Summerside. you want a hammer. There are ham- Quebec—H. F. Hunt, Quebec. mers in the market for only five cents. Rhode Island—Wm. J. Tracy, Burrillville. They are not loose nor rickety either, South Carolina—S. C. Boylston, Charleston. for they are all of Tennessee—W. P. Henderson, Murfreesboro. made one piece of iron Texas—W. H, Andrews, ; and although they may be awk- McKinney. ward Utah—John Morgan, Salt Lake City. and cheap- looking, they will do Virginia—J. W. Porter, Charlottesville. a vast amount of service for many Vermont—A. B. Manum, Bristol, kinds of work. They cost so little West Virginia- A. W. Cheney, Kanawha, Falls, that if somebody borrows one, or loses Wisconsin—Christopher Grimm, Jefferson. it, it does not matter much ; and I Wyoming-James Fields, Fort Laramie. have found it quite convenient to Washington—H. A. Marsh, Fidalgo. have these cheap hammers scattered ; ; , BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 39 all around the premises. We have and my experience convinces me that one down in the barn, and one in the the best way in the world to get any- stable out in the lots. The children thing of this kind is to get it progres- have them to crack nuts; and, in fact, sively. ^Learn to do well, not under- their are so many of them on the take to come up to the highest stan- premises that whenever you want dard all at oncg. There is far more some sort of hammer for just a min- enjoyment in making a little more ute, you can almost always get hold improvement every day, than in step- of one of these, without going a great ping into great things, even if it way or hunting very long. could be done. The same with hives, But, do you .thjnK I would give a I would first get a cheap hive. When good mechanic such a hammer to put winter comes, get a hive suitable for up hives with ? By no means. In winter, even if it does cost a little putting up hives be uses a hammer more ; but save the old hive for the- almost constantly ; and if I could find increase when spring comes again. a hammer worth five dollars, I would If you are going to make hives, give it to him without hesitation ; for start out with few tools and purchase if it were worth only a cent a day to judiciously each season, as you find him more than a cheap hammer, it you really need to. Do not get any- would soon pay for itself. For this thing to be put away on the shelves same reason a good mechanic ought until you may need it. Purchase to have at least three hammers, and what you need, and no more, until three good ones. Now, when I say you have pretty surely demonstrated I would give a hammer worth five that it would be prudence to purchase dollars if I could find it, I dcf not larger lots for the sake of getting mean that 1 would buy one that is better prices. If you have worked silver-plated, or has inlaid work in with comb foundation enough to the handle, and things of that sort know that you want to use it largelv, neither would I give him a hammer you can, from past experience, usually that had a great amount of unimpor- figure out how many colonies you will tant work put on it. One of our large need to have, to think of buying a railroad companies paid $60 (I think foundation machine. it was) for a dozen hammers to be There is another point to be con- used by some of their expensive men. sidered right here. Sometimes cheap These hammers were all worked out tools and cheap machinery make us by hand, and were very handsomely so much bother and worry that they made. I do not believe it will pay spoil all the pleasure of trying to keep many bee-keepers to use tools or bees ; whereas a high-priced tool or a appliances made in this way. "When high-priced machine would go right he Decomes so well off in producing along, without any hitch or accident, honey and bees that he has some in suqfi a way that the work would be money he really does not know what only pastime or " fun." Where one's to do with (I wonder if there are any time IS valuable, or where he already such here to-day), it maybe just the has many cares and responsibilities, thing for him to do, to buy a six- nice tools or nice machinery, all in dollar hammer to make hives with, perfect working order, is by all ipeans because, you know, " the best is "the most satisfactory, and, I believe, always the cheapest." the most profitable. This latter point Suppose somebody of limited means comes in more with tools or machinery wants to try bee-keeping. What kind that is necessarily somewhat com- of a colony of bees should he buy ? plicated. We had some experience in Without knowing anything about the this line in making and sending out feneral habits of the man or woman, rubber plates for making foundation. would say, let them get the cheapest While we made the machines work colony of bees that could be found in nicely in the factory, and while a few the neighborhood, thus saving ex- of our customers were pleased with pensive transportation charges, and them, the majority found there were also making their purchases of friends so many conditions to be observed, and neighbors. Then I would advise and the whole arrangement was so its results, that I have getting an Italian queen ; but as I uncertain in have said before, if one is new at the always regretted that I advised any- business, and, may be, likely to make thing of the sort. The same remarks blunders at first, I would tell him to will apply with force to home-made get an untested queen. After he in- honey-extractors. We have for years troduces her all right, and she begins sold the inside work, so that the to lay, if she does not turn out well in friends who wanted to economize every way, let him try a higher-priced could save something by attaching one next time, working progressively; them to an ordinary tin-can or barrel 40 NORTH AMERICAN but as a rule, I believe they found it look decent and in order. A great more vexation of spirit, and perhaps many times, nice-looking implements more' expense in the end, than to liave encourage us to renewed energy; and purciiased an extractor all ready for sometimps just a little extra energy use. Where one has a great many makes all the difference between suc- bees, and a good market for extracted cess and failure, or profit and loss. honey, perhaps an automatic extractor Every man who has honey to sell will be found to be cheaper than any ought to have some sort of scales to other. weigh it on. The family steelyards In regard to bee-feeders : My ex- will do to start with ; but whenever perience has been in favor of some- you begin to take time enough in the thing very plain and simple. One of course of a year, in using steelyards, our bee-friends once made a remark to pay for a pair of scales, get the in jest ill one.of the bee-papers, that scales, but do not get them sooner, if every bee-feeder and bee-hive, accord- you are cramped for means. When ing to his notion, ought to have " cog- your business increases so that it will virheels," slides, and levers, some- pay to have still better scales, get where about them. Now, "cog- them. Do not waste the price of a wheels " work very nicely in a warm good article in bothering with a poor, room on a winter's day ; but when cheap one. you get out in the apiary, among the In regard to seeds for honey-plants : bees, about harvest time, when every- Go slow, unless, indeed, you are a thing is crowding, these cog-wheels farmer, and can raise Alsike, buck- seem to be somehow out of place, l^et whea.t, rape, or raspberries, so as to us have our implements plain, simple, make it a paying investment aside and substantial ; let us pay enough from the honey. If you can do that, for them to have everything exactly by all means raise honey-plants. I as it should be— hives and frames am led to make these remarks, be- interchangeable— everything so that cause some of the new bee-friends It will work easily and surely ; no seem to think that the first thing to sticking, nor jamming, nor pounding, be done in starting in bee-culture is to get things in plHce. to get a pound of figwort seed, and 4 In regard to utensils for honey: I or 5 pounds of the spider-plant, just believe the demand seems to be in because these plants yield honey in favor of cheapness—tin pails that are such quantities as to be visible to the to be given away, as well as crates to naked eye. Buy a five-cent package hold comb honey. Sell the honey for of these seeds first ; and if they please so much, package and nil. But even you, plant more the next year, by though we give them away, let us which time you should have seed of have them well enough made to be your own raising. sure there will be no leaking nor In regard to sections for comb daubing. honey : As the appearance of this In regard to honey-knives : I would product has a great deal to do with advise, as I advised the boy with his the price obtained, I think it very first pocket-knife. If you have few likely that"' the best is the cheapest bees, and do not expect to go into every time. the business largely, you can make a ^hen you find that you need a 10-cent garden-trowel do your uncap- smoker (and you may need it the first ping very well for quite a while. day you can call yourself the owner When you need a better uncapping-* of a small colony of bees), I should knife, getit. say, try a cheap one In to start with. regard to perforated zinc and But perhaps you can decide things what you of this sort, do not include any want before you buy, by examining in your first purchase. Wait until them at conventions, or testing those you feel the need of such new imple- used by your neighbors. I say this, ments. May be you will never need taking it for granted that bee-keepers them at all. are always neighborly. Is it not so ? Even though I advise economy in In regard to hiving-boxes : I have purchases, I would have everything sometime thought I would about as painted that stands out in the soon have a half-bushel or peck basket weather. If you say you cannot fixed to a pole, as to have any of those afford it, I would have half the num- in the market. May be. after having ber of hives, and have them protected from ^J}£^ *''®n3' though, you will think the weather by paint, rather differently. than increase so fast, and have the When your business arrives weather constantly to the spoiling mv im- dignity of requiring a steam-engine. plements. Besides, I would pay some- It will pay you to look into the matter thing for the sake of having things very carefully. If you can, go and ! ; BEE-KEEPEBS' SOCIETr. 41 see the engines made near you. But cheap oil-cans filled with oil, on nice as I said before, be sure you need one little bracket shelves in the barn and before you get it. If you are doing in the stables. A little box should your own work, decide how cheaply also be there, filled with tallow, you can afford to furnish power by where it can be had in a moment. A treading a foot-power machine. great many times the oil-can or the Whenever an engine would save you tallow will enable you to use a hand- $25 a year for power, if you can raise saw so as to do the work in half the the money to buy it, without cramp- time it would if you had not used it. ing yourself, buy one of 1 or 2 horse- With steam-engines, and machinery power. When you need a larger one, for hive-making, oil is a necessity you can. as a general thing, dispose or and those who neglect to have it the smaller one, or turn it toward handy; will sooner or later have to another one as part payment. pay heavy hills for repairs that a few While some folks get along nicely drops of oil might have saved. without any bee-veil at all, others is ails and screws of different sizes save time and save their nerves, by should also be kept where you can put using veils. The same may be said your hand on them quickly. Whether in regard to gloves, although for my- you are a bee-keeper or not, you need self I should certainly never use the screw-drivers andadjustable wrenches latter among bees ; and if I had the where any of the children can get entire management of an apiary, I do them in an instant, if you tell them not think I should ever need a veil. the tools are wanted in a hurry. And, Cheap, home-made veils will answer my friends, as you value the future a very good purpose ; but there are no happiness and comfort of those gloves that will do, except the regular children, teach them to be sure these rubber gloves made for the purpose. things are put back in their places as Prudence and economy would dic- soon as you are done using them, if tate some sort of wax- extractor. But you should forget it yourself. A girl do not buy one until you have dis- five years old can easily save the time covered you need one. If you com- of a man and a team, may be, by mence on a small scale, as you by all knowing where to find a wrench or an means should do, I would get a cheap oil-can ; and the little girl will get it, one first. and put it back, quicker than a big Now I am going to talk a little on man could. That is one reason why I the subject of taking care of tools, like little girls, and little boys too, €ven if that subject was not assigned because they can help such a "big me. lot," when they get into the way or A cheap, low-priced tool may be so helping, and when their papas make well cared for that i\ will always give friends with thetp. I wonder how papas to whom I am excellent results ; whereas, the most many of the expensive tool may be so badly used talking to-day are in the haljit of that it will very soon give poor re- making friends with the "little sults. Have for your tools regularly chicks" at home. Why, if you do assigned places. Where any tool is not, you lose half the pleasure of suc- wanted in different places, I would cess in business. When a big crop of have duplicates. For instance, cheap honey comes, and the prospect is be- brushes for brushing off bees should fore you of being able to pay off debts be in handy places in the honey-house, that have worried you, what a rare and in several places about the apiary, pleasure it is to be able to tell the at least during the summer time. The children about it when you tell same may be said of hammers. Do mamma, and have them rejoice and not leave any kind of tool out in the clap their hands too rain. Keep every kind of tool not only well oiled on the moving parts, Mrs. Harrison referred to a remark but oil it to prevent rust. Oil the made in Mr. Root's essay, on wearing hinges to the door of your honey- gloves when handling bees. She found house. Eub tallow on the windows that gloves were necessary, hut rub- so they will slide easily up and down. ber ones did not work well, they were Keep your lawn-mower nicely oiled, too close, and caused inconvenient and out of the rain. Have your sweating. She used a speoies o* fine brooms hung up in broom-holders so cloth. She cuts the tips of the fingers the ends will not get rolled up and off, which allows the perspiration to them more comfort- made useless ; and Keep the .brooms escape,and makes out of the rain also. If you use a able and durable. wrench, keep it nicely oiled and in Eev. W. F. Clarke said that rubber place. And this matter of oil is of so gloves did not last long, the honey much importance that I would have and propolis soon rot the material. ; 42 NOETH. AMERICAN He had experimented largely with lent in the case of some, while others gloves, and preferred two kinds, the did not mind it at all. At one time one a harvest glove, largely used in of his life he was very susceptible to Canada, and made of sheep-skin; bee-virus, and dreaded being stung these were very cheap, costing from but, after having been laid aside from 30 to 40 cents. But he preferred a bee-keeping for some time, and cau- glove, or rather a gauntlet, made of tiously resuming, he found to his two separate materials—the inside a great surprise and pleasure that he species of Canton flannel, a fluffy ma- had become so inoculated with the terial, and the outside, a species of poison that lie scarcely felt any pain fine linen, very glossy. Such a glove whatever. is thick enough to prevent the point Mr. Boardman brought up another of the sting reaching the flesh, and point in the essay—" Excellence or the beauty of it is that when these Cheapness "—as it respects section- gloves are on you can dip your hands boxes. He said that much might be in water which keeps you cool, and done to preserve our honey-flora, by causes the bees to fly as soon as they using something else than basswood alight on the glove, for they are dainty for sections. He never uses bass- and do not like to wet their feet. wood ; honey stains it, so does water. Mrs. Harrison—I do not think that J.B.Hall—I use and prefer white the lining is needed. spruce. It is hard, and the honey J. B. Hall—Wear smooth clothing, does not soak into it. singe the hairs from the hands and James Heddon—I do not use bass- wrists, and but tev,- stings will be re- wood. ceived. Rev. L. L. Langstroth—Upon the Eev. L. L. Langstroth—Bees dislike subject of the essay read, I would say to alight upon a cold surface ; have that excellency is cheapness. dishes of ice water in the yard, and occasionally plunge the hands into the Mr. John Van dervort, of Laceyville, water when the bees are cross. Pa., then read the following on Prof. Cook I — think that a nervous, COMB FOUNDATION. irritable person may be more likely to be stung ; aside from this, I do not To go back to the origin of comb think that bees are any "respecters foundation and trace its history of persons." I question if sweat of would be a waste of time in repeating horses is objectionable to bees. If a what is familiar to all practical bee- horse is severely stung, cover it with keepers. The best and most practical blankets wet with cold water. use of foundation is what we need to Mrs. Temple, of Michigan,said that know. By the use of wired frames she could handle bees any way she for the brood-cliamber, I have ob- wished, and they scarcely' ever stung tained better results from foundation her, JVhen they did, she suffered no 6 square feet per pound than I form- particular inconvenience. She did erly did with 3 square feet to the not mind a bee-sting more than a pound. mosquito-ating. There has been a great deal said Mr. Heddon was in favor of wearing and written on the different kinds of veils, but would not recommend foundation, and many tests have gloves. They were very much in the been made that, in my opinion, proved way. He did not think there was the nothing. I have made mills of every difference in people that Mr. Clarke style in the market (except the Pel- would make out, some being bee-loved ham) ; I have made foundation on and others bee-hated. He thought them ; and I have tested all the differ- that the difference was only in the ent styles of foundation in the hives, actions and behavior of people when and even my bees would not give my among bees. pet theories any preference, so far as G. M. Doolittle was satisfied that acceptance was concerned. When it there was a real difference in different was all made at one time, from the persons as to liability to being stung. same lot of wax, and used at the He had a visit from a gentleman who same time, it would all be accepted said that bees never stung liim, and alike ; but if made of different lots of Mr. acted so H. as to irritate the bees wax, and at different times, They stung him they (Mr. D.) very freely, would show a decided preference for but never touched the visitor. the purest and softest wax, and the James Heddon—I have seen nothing newest made. to indicate that bees are more likely My experience in the use of comb to sting one person than another. foundation for surplus differs from Rev. L. L. Langstroth said that the many, in the amount of wax that poison of a bee-sting was very viru- should be used. Many claim that 8 " BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 43 to 10 square feet to the pound is light foundation, but I find it better to enough ; but I contend that it should sheet the wax thin. My objection to not be heavier than 12 square feet per a press is that it cannot make thin pound . Comb drawn from foundation foundation unless it is sheeted thin. is much tougher than the natural James Heddon—I think there is comb, and for this reason we should quite a point in regard to whether use as little wax as possible in the foundation is exposed to the air, or surplus honey. I find by repeated kept closely boxed, as regards its experiments that I can get as ranch being soft and pliable when old. honey from the light as from the Everything considered, I prefer new heavy foundation, and I receive no foundation. Bee-keepers themselves complaints from my customers about are to blame for all this talk about " flsh-bone." J. Vandekvoet. " flsh-bone." I used foundation for 3 years before my honey-customers D. A. Jones—I have had "flsh- knew it, and only one ever noticed it. bone " in one part of a case and not Foundation was then much heavier in another. One trouble is, the sec- than now. tions are put on too soon, and the bees The convention then adjourned run over the foundation, and " fool until 7:30 p.m. with it, and it becomes hard before EVENING SESSION. they attempt to draw it out. Thos. Pierce — I agree with Mr. The meeting was called to order at Jones. 7:30 p.m.. President Cutting in the Geo. E. Hilton—I also agree, and chair. Dr. C. C. Miller's essay was would further say that when only a read by the Secretary, entitled " starter " is used, I am more apt to BEE-KEEPING BUSINESS. find " flsh-bone " in the upper part of AS A the section, which does not occur In the Canadian Bee Journal for when the section is fllled full of Ifovember, 1885, the question is asked, foundation. " Charging for salaries for work done, N. W. McLain—What shall we do for necessary expenses, and for de- with old foundation ? preciation in the value of accessories, J. C. Van Deusen—Melt it up and does bee-keeping pay ?" Replies are make it over ; or if you do not wish given by 19 bee-keepers. Of these, 3 to this, " do soak it in warm water are non-committal ; 8 say yes, if the before using it. business is rightly managed;" 1 thinks C. P. Dadant—I have used founda- it will pay if the person is adapted to tion 3 years old in the brood-nest, and the business, if compared with other could see no difference between it rural pursuits ; 4 give a more or less and new foundation. If placed out- decided "no;" and 3 give just as side the brood- nest, or where the bees decided a " yes." This leaves the do not cluster upon it readily, it will question about as unsettled as ever, probably not be used so soon as would and it is evident from a close scrutiny new. of the answers, that in the minds of 'Dr. A. B. Mason—I agree with Mr. some of the respondents at least, that Dadant. the question was looked upon in A. E. Manum— I have tried founda- rather a loose way without consider- tion of dijQEerent ages, from one year ing the limitations put upon it by the to flvft years old, and could see no querist. difference. As 1 have been asked to open the G. P. Dadant—When we first give discussion of this subject before the foundation to the bees, the new may North American Bee-Keepers' So- be used first a short time, but as ciety, it may be well to try t6 get at soon as the foundation is warmed up the exact matter to be discussed ; and there will be no difference. in order to do this, it may be neces- D. A. Jones—If foundation is kept sary to ask, what is th e object of the for' several years it will acquire a discussion V that is, what good is to bluish color; if it is put into warm come of it ? I am not sure tliat I water (say 120°), it will lose this bluish know,unless it be to answer the ques- cast and become soft and pliable like tion for that class of persons who are new foundation. trying to decide whether to adopt bee- W.E.Clark- 1 have kept founda- keeping as a means of livelihood. In tion in a hive for 5 years, then hived that view of the case the question a swarm upon it, putting in some might be someting like this : Can I sheets of new foundation, and both make as much money in a series of old and new were worked alike. years, at bee-keeping, as I can at any J. Vandervort—Thin foundation can other business V The more I think - be made upon a mill for making heavy about it, the more difficult it seems 44 NOBTH AMERICAJSr to me to give an answer that will keeps me out-doors, and is good for meet all cases, and perhaps the only health. It allows me to be with my than other calling safe one is this : "I ean"t tell. You family more any at must try it and find out." But as whicli I could make as much, and for the question is asked in good faith, the privilege of these enjoyments I some discussion may help. am willing to pay the price of the It will hardly do to attempt a gen- additional money I would make at a eral answer, as too many do, by quot- more lucrative calling. Whether the ing the results of a successful year by* price may not become too large for a skillful man, saying " Mr. A. made me to afford to pay, is an open ques- f3,000 clear, such a year." If Mr. A. tion. . C. C. Miller. had business ability by which he could make $4,000 a year at some other A. I. Boot—I think that none of our business, then for him bee-keening bee-periodicals now advise everybody did not pay. If Mr. B. can average to keep bees. Dr. Miller sliould have $500 a year keeping bees, and there is mentioned that he was receiving a no other business at "which he can large salary when he embarked in bee- make more than $400 a year, then for keeping. He has frequently told me him bee-keeping pays well. how he enjoyed bee-keeping. If it Perhaps one of the best ways to get brought him health, what more could the desired information, is to ask he ask V those who have had experience in the S. T. Pettit—Mr. Root's speech is a matter. We will interview Mr. C, a sample of showing the bright side, bee-keeper of some note. In reply to and leads us to think that there ' is nothing like for our query, Mr. C. says : bee-keeping health. " Oh yes, bee-keeping pays well. J. B. Hall—Editors like to tell good Adam Grimm rnade a fortune at it." news ; if I tell how much honey I pro- " What has been you own experi- duce, the bee-papers publish it, the ence in the matter, Mr. C. V" newspapers take it up and spread the " Oh, I only keep bees as a matter story all over the world, and every- of recreation. I had, one year, over body thinks that " if he can make 40 colonies, but my time is so much money in producing honey, I know 1 taken up with professional duties can." I know of many people who that I only keep about a dozen. I have engaged in the business and lost have kept a cash account with them, money at it. and find they pay me well." Thos. G. Newman—Editors publish " Why don't you keep a larger just what bee-keepers write them for number, or devote your entire time publication, and try to fairly repre- to it V" sent the pursuit. At least, I know " Oh, I couldn't afford that. You that is the case with the American see I can make so much more as a Bee Journal. lawyer. But then there are thou- Martin Emigh, of Holbrook, Ont., sands of men who only earn say $400 was called upon and asked if he had a year, who would be greatly bettered made bee-keeping pay. In reply he by taking up bee-keeping as an occu- said that he had paid for his farm out pation. I can easily clear annually of the proceeds of his bees. Last per $5 colony. Now one of the men I year he put 180 colonies in cellars and have spoken of, with 100 colonies took out 178 alive ; sold 71 colonies could ; make at that rate $.500 per year, and now has 177 colonies, and they so, you see, he would have his condi- produced 6,000 lbs. of comb honey and tion bettered $100 per annum." 5,000 lbs. of extracted honey. "But, Mr. C, have those men the H. K. Boardman asked all those ability to do 'i"' as well as you who made an exclusive business of " Well, I don't know. It's.'s hard to bee-keeping to raise their hands. A tell." very animated discussion arose as to But I was only to open this discus- who did make bee-keeping ar exclu- sion, and I suppose it may now be sive business, and some exceedingly considered open. I may just add a fine points were raised, when further word from my own experience. I discussion was stopped by a motion to have been in the business some 24 lay the subject on the table, which years, making it my sole business for was carried. the last 7 years. I have no patent Mr. Nelson W. McLain, manager of hive to sell, do not sell bees or queens the Experimental Station of the —simply produce honey U. S. to sell, and I Agricultural Department, at Aurora, am obliged to confess that I could Ills., read from the advance sheets of make more money to give up bees his forthcoming report to Prof. G. V. entirely. If asked why I continue at Riley, U". S. Entomologist ; but he re- the business, I answer: I like it. It quested that what he read should not BEE KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 45 be reported, because it had not yet the Italian and German bees, and been published by the Department, secure a cross possessing the good and it was only by the courtesy of the qualities of both varieties 'i" Agricultural Department that he had N". "W. McLain.—Most assuredly. been permitted to present it to this Mr. Heddon then gave a history of Continental Society of Bee-Keepers. how his strain of bees were originated. He assured them that each one of In regard to bees being trespassers, the bee- periodicals would be furnished he said that people do not look at the with proof-sheets in time so that they matter in its true> light. In some could publish the matter simultane- localities cows are allowed to run at ously with Prof. Riley's forthcoming large ; what would be said of the land report. The subjects treated upon owner who would put poison into a were, " Bees and Fruit " and " Artifi- pumpkin, saying, "It is my poison, cial Fecundation of Queens." The my pumpkin, and my land, I can do report detailed the results of investi- with them as I please, let people take gations and experiments carried on by care of their cows if they don't want him at the Government's Experimen- them poisoned ?" There is as much tal Station. It demonstrated that the sense in saying that bees must be bees cannot injure fruit; and gave the kept at home. All bee-keepers should account of several experiments in join the Union, and thus help to have fecundating queens artificially. bee-keeping recognized as a legitimate industry. At the close of Mr. McLain's re- N. W. McLain detailed in graphic marks, the Rev. L. L. Langstroth language the treatment to which offered the following resolution which honey was subjected at the bands of was unanimously carried : commission men. The remedy is to Jtesolved, That this Society highly let people know that you have pure appreciates, the movement now at honey for sale. If bee-keepers would length . made by the United States take one-fourth the pains that patent Department of Agriculture, in the medicine men do to advertise, there promotion of bee- culture, and wel- would now be no complaint of a poor comes its representative, Mr. Nelson honey market. W. McLain, to whose explanatory ad- The convention adjourned until 9 dress and the extracts from his forth- a.m. of the next day. coming report the Society has listened with much interest, especially concur- THIRD DAY—THURSDAY. ring in the suggestion that statistics of the honey crop be included in the MORNING SESSION. . report of the Department. The meeting was called to order at several A. J. Cook—People have 9 a.m., Pres. Cutting in the chair. that their grapes had times told me It was moved and carried that the been destroyed by bees, and I have Secretary be paid $50 to pay for his the destruc- offered to come and see expenses and services. tion, if they would let me know when The President called on Mr. T. G- it was going on, but I cautioned them Newman for a report on to first be sure that they had a case. I have never yet been called. Bees APICULTUEAL NECEOLOGT. do sometimes attack grapes, however, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: but it is when the weather has first caused them to crack, or something Since last I had the pleasure of else attacked and opened the skins. meeting with this Continental Society I cannot believe that queens can be of Apiculturists, many of those who fecundated while in the larval state. havebeen our companions in these N. W. McLain—When I gave to assemblies have passed from the Prof. Riley an account of my experi- present state of being, and we are ments in fertilizing queens in the now deprived of their gladsome greet- larval state, he said that it was noth- ing and hearty welcome. Much as I their ing strange ; it had been frequently would like to mention all names done with other insects. By exercis- in tender remembrance, I find it im- ing the laws of breeding, difEerent possible, because in many cases the varieties of bees can be crossed, the surviving friends have not communi- undesirable qualities eliminated, the cated the facts to the apicultural good qualities preserved and so inten- public. Allow me, with affectionate sified that we really have anew strain regard, to mention a few'of the most of bees that will transmit their char- prominent of our brothers of America acteristics. and Europe, who,'during the past four James Heddon — Have you the years, have been added to that vast temerity to tell me that I can cross army now numbered witli the dead ! : 46 NORTH AMEEICAN Of these, four were editors of our E. r. Cassell, of Illinois City, Ills., bee-periodicals, who had, during their was killed on Oct. 6, 1883, while at- lives, done much to raise apiculture tempting to board a moving train. up to its present " standard of excel- He had been a prominent and en- lence," devoting the best energies of thusiastic bee-keeper for 15 or 20 their lives to its development and years. advancement, often sacriticing their William Hewlett, of Beaver Lick, ease, comfort, physical strength and Ky., was killed by lightning on May wealth to their favorite pursuit. It 19, 1884, while at work on his farm. " is true that each one fought a hard His apiary contained 125 colonies of " battle ; they were often severely bees. He attended the Cincinnati criticised, ami sometimes strongly meeting of this Society, and took part comdemned by those who should have in the deliberations. been their constant friends and co- D. Given, of Hoopeston, Ills., the laborers. While admitting that they S. inventor of the Foundation Press, often erred (for "to err is human") died at the age of 40, on July 10, 1884, let us cast " the mantle of charity " at Los Angeles, Calif., whither he over " their short-comings," and think had gone for his health. His kind only of their good deeds, energetic disposition endeared him to all who work, unselfish lives, and the general knew him, and his name will go down nobility of their characters ! to posterity as one who did his part I will now " call the roll " of those to make apiculture practical. over whom death has triumphed John Madden, of Davenport, Iowa, A. F. Moon, of Rome, Ga., was one was thrown from his wagon and killed of the founders of this Society, and in on Sept. 19, 1884. He was one of the the absence of the Rev. L. L. Lang- organizers of the Eastern Iowa and stroth, its first President, Mr. Moon Western Illinois Bee-Keepers' Asso- presided over the Convention. He ciation, and was filled with energy was the editor of the Bee World, and and enthusiasm. There were 225 carriages in his funeral died on Aug. 2, 1882 ; aged 58 years. procession He commenced to keep bees when 11 (10 being filled with apiarists) ; this years of age, and ever after gave the proves how much he was beloved by fullest energies of his mind to the ad- those who knew him. vancement of practical bee-culture. William W. Cary, of Colerain,Mass., Rev. Jasper Hazeu, Woodstock, Vt., died on Dec. 9, 1884, in the 70th year after 25 years of progressive bee-cul- of his age—full of years, ripe in ex- ture, died on April 13, 1882, aged 92. perience, and faithful in friendship. He strenuously advocated the use of At the time of his death he had some surplus honey-boxes, invented a hive, 300 colonies of bees. He was in- and welcomed the introduction of the timately connected with the first Italian bees. He was also a vigorous importations of Italian bees into apicultural writer 20 years ago. America, and was the faithful co- worker with Father Langstroth, in Edward Townley, of Cincinnati, O., all his efPbrts to revolutionize bee- died in the 80th year of his age, in keeping in America. .July, 1882. He commenced to keep bees in 1850, and built up a large K. M. Argo, of Garrard Co., Ky., apiary at Mt. Auburn. He was the died of congestive chills, on Feb. 13, author of a book on bee-culture, and 1885. As one of the pioneers of devoted his energies to apiculture. modern apiculture, he wrote ex- tensively some 20 years ago. He was Jesse C. Estlack, of Littleton, Colo., a well-posted and practical bee-keeper, died on Aug. 5, 1885, at the age of 64. and reared many very fine queens. He went from New Jersey to Col- orado in 1859, and there established William Williamson, of Lexington, an apiary in which he took much Ky., died on Feb. 13, 1885, at the age delight. of 40. Those who attended the meet- Theodore Honck, of Canajoharie, N. ing of this Society at Lexington, in Y., died on June 16, 1883, at Denver, 1881, will witness to his zeal and en- Colo., whither he went on account thusiasm, as well as his whole-souled of failing health. He was one of the disposition. He was one of the pro- editors of the Bee-Keepers' Exchange^ jectors of the International Congress and was never happier than when at New Orleans, but died just before among his bees. The last Conven- it convened. tion he attended was at Albany, N. Rev. Herbert R. Peel died in Eng- Y., in January, 1883, and was one of land, on June 2, 1885. He was the its most energetic members. His age editor of the British Bee Journal, and was 26. Secretary of the British Bee-Keepers' ! ! ! ! BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 47 Association. In his death our English and more unselHsh friend), now, in brethren have sustained an irrepar- this very assembly, lives again in those able loss. He was a firm friend, an who are practicing his thoughts, indefatigable worlserand a progres- theories and progressive methods of sive apiarist. bee-culture ; as well as In those who Prof. Von Siebold died in Germany love him for his scientiHc research, on April 7, 1886. He was the faithful grand character, and noble life friend of Father Dzierzon, and was That band of brothers whose names one of the first to accept the theory we have to-day inscribed on our "Roll of parthenogenesis. He was a promi- of the Honored, Dead," live again .in nent scientist, and rendered much our tender remembrance, and we assistance to the development of may almost seem to catch a glimpse rational bee-culture. of "the Angel of Life," with open Prof. Andreas Schmidt, for 20 years scroll, recording their names with the editor of the Bienen-Zeitung, the lead- plaudit—" Blessed are the dead ;"— " ing apicultural publication of Ger- they rest from their labors and their many, is also numbered with the works do follow them." dead. was co-worker and an He a " Breathe soft and low, O whispering wind, ardent admirer of Father Dzierzon, Above the tangled grasses deep, whoseGolden Jubilee was celebrated Where those who loved me long ago in Germany last September with great Forgot the world and fell asleep. So many voices have been hushed, enthusiasm. In his death our Ger- So many sougs have ceased for aye, man brethren have lost a master So many hands I used to touch mind, a thorough scholar, an energetic Are folded over hearts of clay. worker, and a faithful friend. " I only know that, calm and still. There are many, many others—but They sleep beyond life's woe and wail. time would fail me to speak of all Beyond the fleet of sailing clouds. Beyond the shadow of the vale. those who through faith in scientific I only feel that, tired and worn, research, and devotion to experiments I halt upon the highway bare, and manipulations, have helped to And gaze with yearning eyes beyond— dispel the darkness and scatter the On fields that shine supremely fair." light,—as if by " magic wand " com- Thomas G. Newman. manding modern apiculture to " arise and shine "—pulsating and luminating Prof. Cook remarked that he was every zone very much interested in the subject, and remembered with pleasure many Men pass away I Monuments crum- meetings when those mentioned by ble into dust ! and all that remain of human greatness, are thoughts and Mr. Newman had been present. He the deeds. By these we may " lay up spoke particularly of Mj. Moon, original projector the treasures where moth and rust cannot of National and Mr. Williamson, who so corrupt." In death we take nothing Society, nobly managed the entertainment of with us but that which we really are ! the Society at Lexington, Ky. He Shrouds have no pockets ! CoflfiDs no moved a vote of thanks to Mr. New- coupon-drawers ! Crowns fall off at man for placing their names and the touch of death ! Stripped of our history before the Society, and also robes of state, insignia, uniforms and that it spread upon the minutes. decorations, we then shall stand for be Carried unanimously. just what we are Our best thoughts and noble deeds, given to fhe world by the aid of the Mr. James Heddon, of Dowagiac, printed page, may live on and en- Mich., then read the following on ergize a world after we are crumbled BEVEESING COMBS. to dust. True men live, long after they have passed from this stage of My experience with reversing brood action. The ponderous steam - en- and surplus combs is nearly all con- seasons as I gines which brought this Convention fined to two ; but have together, are but the spirit of James had in use 4,000 to 6,000 reversible Watt living again in our very midst brood-frames, as well as quite a num- Modern apiculture is but the embodi- ber of reversible comb-honey-cases, ment of the thoughts and lives of that experience has been somewhat comprehensive. I try to be practical those who have gone before us ; and our thoughts and work, which may in all my work, never jumping hastily methods add to its practicability, may live on at conclusions, nor adopting and fixtures which, although of some after we are gone ! The second President of this Society little advantage, still are not enough —the lamented Moses Qulnby (than to over-balance the extra cost of con- whom apiculture never had a truer struction and manipulation. Despite ; NORTH AMERICAN we desire; but which are for endeavors I realize that it is by ends such against us, we must deter- means impossible for me to make and which BO by experiment. I have satisfied mistakes, yft I feel- quite positive mine that in the inversion of combs that implements arranged for revers- myself violate no instinct which ia ing brood and surplus combs at will, we to our success. We do, to me to stay. favorable have come encourage certain action* During the past year I have been however, the part of our bees, that greatly using a hive which I devised for the on desired result. purpose, with which 1 can reverse, favor the of this reversing we get more properly, invert a whole case By virtue or frames completely and solidly of brood or surplus combs at will. our filled with comb, which metes out to- While wp all, here, consider this a less than six points of advantage great improvement over reversing us no will not consume space tO' combs singly, yet were I to continue which I also tends to keep the the use of such hives as necessitated detail. It the more completely reversing each brood-comb separately, brood-combs with brood, the honey going: I feel positive that I nev.er should again filled surplus combs. When re- use a frame that would not admit of into the versing is practiced, as we can well reversing. when we can reverse a Some of our bee-keepers have afford to do set of combs with a single paused to ask if there was not some whole us great control over serious objection to inverting combs. motion, it gives reversing They had noticed that the cells were swarming. I find that the of the surplus combs after I have slightly inclined ; that the workers do it, is. nearly'always builtthem in this way learned the proper time to and they believed that behind this conducive of most favorable results. completely almost universal method of comb- It causes the bees to more only an construction, was a design for a pur- fill the sections, which is not presenting a more pose. Even if this be true (which I economy, besides package, but adds greatly^ doubt), is it not quite evident that attractive sur- the designers are not aiming at our to the shipping-qualities of our plus comb honey. It also stimulates desired end ; that they do not purpose of the " lots of surplus honey to sell." hasty and complete capping Let us not forget that our bees combs. always and invariably construct their During my experience in reversing combs so that the cells are in rows combs, I have never yet discovered horizontally—not vertically. This is any ill-effects resulting therefrom; an unvarying rule. whilS the incline but besides the advantages above meeting of the cell is not. Now, I found that enumerated, I am always by the use of comb foundation, I with unexpected minor benefits re- could make them construct their sulting from the practice. combs with the cells running in rows James Heddon. vertically. Much of Dadant's excel- foundation is stamped in lent brood Dr. A.. B. Mason—When is the believe that it is less this way. Many proper time to reverse the combs V inclined to sag, when so placed in frames. I have found by practical James Heddon—The proper time to use of thousands of pounds of it, that reverse brood-combs is when the bees the little worker, in so rigidly follow- are rearing large quantities of brood, ing her instinct in rowing the cells and desire to increase the size of the horizontally, was only "just trying to brood-nest. ' To reverse the brood- fool somebody." By the inversion of combs late in the season, when they thousands of combs, I have proven are contracting the brood-nest, will that her less determination to incline cause the brood-nest to be filled with her cells, belongs in the same cata- honey all the faster. Sections should logue with placing the same in hori- be reversed when the bees are in- zontal vows. I think that the scientist clined to store toney in them ; if has long since learned that Nature, done after the bees cease storing wiien forming instinct in animals, is honey in them, it will hasten the re- no more working for our interests moval of the honey to the brood-nest. than when she pours her rain-water As soon as the outside sections are back into the sea, while our crops are far enough advanced to bear inver-' blasting and withering ; or when she sion. change them to the centre of the visits us with cyclones. case, then invert the whole case, and I know it is true that we cannot all the sections will be finished at with impunity violate some of the nearly the same time. Inversion instincts of our bees ; that some of causes the bees to attach the combs them run directly parallel with the to the sections all around, and thus ; BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. makes them bear shipment much THE POLLEN THEORY. better. Swarming is also lessened by reversing the combs, as the removal The pollen theory as I understand it, •is simply : of the honey gives more room for this Under certain circum- brood, and thus helps to destroy the stances bees may winter with less desire for swarming. It also has a liability to diarrhoea, disease and' tendency to the destruction of queen- death, in case there is no pollen or cells. bee-bread in the hive to serve as win- ter food. G. P. Dadant — How about con- There are reasons drawn from ex- traction ? periment, I think, for the belief that James Heddon — My objection to tacts sustain the theory. Por several the Langstroth hive is its depth ; with years we have tried to arrange our that I contracted by removmg some bees so that some should have abund- of the combs and putting in " dum- anae of pollen in their hives, while mies." With my new hive I contract others should be destitute of the same, by simply taking away one section of making a careful record in each case. brood-frames. While we have never lost a colony by Mr. Thompson, of New York—How diarrhoea during these experiments, shall those manage your new hive we have had several cases of such that do not wish to feed sugar for disease, but never in colonies where winter stores ? the pollen was all excluded. In truth, James Heddon—During bas^wood the main portion of the diarrhetic ex- creta is almost always if not always the bees can gather honey faster than — —composed of pollen grains, thus they can store it in the sections, and showing that pollen was present, if not we have only to place a section of the cause of the trouble. Careful ex- brood-combs over the sections, and in amination of bees from colonies with this catch the " overflow." When the no pollen—some dead, others alive and harvest is over, remove this and keep lively, show little and frequently no it until fall, then shake the bees down pollen in their intestines. in front of this case of honey, or else Now with the theory and these facts set it over the case containing the in mind, let us study briefly the nature bees, and it is done. of food, and see whether or not physi- Geo. E. Hilton—In practicing the ological science has any facts or sug- contraction method, how can we re- gestions to offer us regarding this move a section of the brood-nest after question. swarming -without removing some of There are four kinds of food, each the brood ? of which probably enters more or less W. Z. Hutchinson—After a swarm largely into the food regimen of all has issued, the young queen does not animals. Of these the inorganic, such commence laying until about the 19th as water, lime, chloride of sodium, or day, two or three days later all the common salt, etc., are important as brood will have hatched, and we can entering into the structure of organs,, remove one section without taking preserving the requisite consistency any brood ; we may get a few eggs, of tissues, and in aiding the vital pro- but this is immaterial. cesses. Thus it is necessary that nutritive substance of L. C. Boot—Are we to understand blood, or the that you prefer brood-combs only 5 the animal body, should be liquid. A large proportion of water keeps it so inches deep V hence, what wonder that water is so emphatically. Mr.Hutchinson—Most essential to life, and so craved and C. P. Dadant—We object to a shal- sought after by most animals. In all low comb, and to two sets of combs, vital activity, osmosis—or the passing because the queen cannot lay in a of liquids through animal membranes, circle; it consumes time for her to is all important ; common salt pro- pass from comb to comb, or from one motes this osmosis, and thus it is that end of a shallow frame to the other. salt has such saving properties. Hence those of you who believe so W. Z. Hutchinson-We do not care heartily in giving water to bees may how the queen travels, whether in a still rejoice in that you are improving circle or crosslots, if she only keeps the blood of your pets, while those the combs full of brood, and if . we do who take pleasure in adding salt, may not give her too many combs to UU, exult as you affirm, "here goes for she will do this. osmosis!" These inorganic elements are usually obtained in sufficient quan- Prof. A. J. Cook then read the tities in the general food, though water following, on is generally required j.n larger quanti- — 50 NOBTH AMERICAN the organic proces- ties and must be had in addition, sues and carry on heat. separately, to secure the best health ses. This vital work generates and greatest strength. We have all Heat is incidental. Nutrition is to seen oees sipping water, and often in build up and keep the body in work- this the such places as to suggest that the ad- ing condition ; in doing body dition of salt is very welcome to them. is kept warm. All kinds of food are required in We have seen that stored fat in ani- greater quantity when the vital ac- mals that hibernate, and in case of tivity is increased, hence our bees will disease, will alone serve to keep up need more water as breeding, storing, the nutrition. We have also seen that or other work is increased in the hive. these carbo-hydrates conduce more The second kind of food is known than other food to the formation of under the term carbo-hydrates. It this fat. Is it not scientific then to includes all the sugars and starch. urge that the pure carbo-hydrates are As starch, when eaten, is changed un- the best food on which to winter our der the influence of a ferment, into bees'i" And this is enforced, I believe, sugar, we may well consider it with by experience and by nature as well, the sugars. The carbo-hydrates con- for I doubt not but that in most cases sist of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon in nature, almost the entire food of —the two former in proportion to form bees while they are quiescent in win- water. It is a matter of common ob- ter, is honev. servation that when the carbo-hydrates Let me state further that cane sugar enter largely into the food, the animal which composes from one to eight per is apt to gain rapidly in fat. We are cent, of honey, when eaten by any ani- not sure that the sugats are changed mal, man included, is changed in the directly into animal fat, possibly they stomach to a sugar much like, if nOt serve so admirably as food, that they identical, with honey. The bees do produce such an excellent condition the same with nearly all the cane of the animal system, that all thefood sugar or nectar, or with most of the is utilized, and a surplus is at hand cane sugar when they feed upon it. 'Which is stored up as fat. May be the Hence it is more than likely that nitrogenous food as well as the sugars honey is one of the most healthy and aid in forming the fat of the body ; in nutritious of all our sugars ; that the either case the food must be chemi- bees have done for us what we would •cally changed in that wonderful labora- have to do for ourselves had we eaten tory, the animal organism. The fact the cane sugar. Who has not found remains that much sugar in the food that honey seems to go further, and promotes the deposits of fat. We all satisfy more quickly, even than cane inow how the feeding of corn increases sugar when eaten on our tables i" One the fat, and does not the fact that more point, common glucose, or grape corn contains over 67 per cent, of sugar,—I now mean the artiflcial pro- starch, which when eaten and digested duct produced by the action of sul- is all changed to sugar, enforce the phuric acid on corn starch—honey, and position here taken y Again, when liver sugar are usually all called glu- animals hibernate, or when they are cose or grape sugar by chemists. They long sick and take no food, the stored are chemically identical, and give the fat is used up. Thus, if this stored same reactions with the copper salts fat can for a time serve the purpose of which they all reduce, which fact fur- :all food, it is not unreasonable to con- nishes one of the best tests for these rclude that all organic food may under sugars. "X et I do not believe they are the best conditions be converted into the same. Physiologically they seem fat. We positively know that animals quite different. Why, when we eat may eat all muscle—as beef's heart glucose, is it changed to glycogen in and yet the liver will form glycogen, the liver and then to liver sugar, un- which in turn becomes liver sugar, less the latter is more easily assimi- and, as we have seen in the marvelous lated ? Why do bees thrive on honey, economy of the body, sugar promotes and die when fed the artificial glucose? the formation of fat, it may be that Why do bees refuse to eat artificial all food under the best conditions con- grape sugar when honey or nectar is duces to the storing up of fat, and ico be had V All these facts seem to that sugar powerfully aids to bring indicate what I believe to be true, .about just this most favorable con- that physiologically honey, starch, glu- dition. These carbo-hydrates are cose and liver glucose are really dif- often styled the heat-producing foods. ferent. Taste and vital action are nicer I think this term false and mislead- chemists than our scientists.and detect ing. It is probable that all food, of differences which the latter as yet fail which these sugars are an important to recognize. It is possible that honey part, are to nourish or to build up tis- and liver glucose are identical. The BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 51 fact that both arise in the animal body genous food may be transformed into under the influence of the digestive fat. ferments would make this view plausi- As no animal can possibly be de- ble. veloped from the egg to adult life without The third group of food elements this albuminous food, and, as in all vital action, consists of the fats. The higher ani- some of this mate- rial in the body is used up mals obtain these largely in all vege- and must be restored, it table and animal food. While the follows that brood-rear- ing in the hive and activity fats, also called by some the hydro- of the bees necessitates the carbons, consist or the same chemical presence of these al- buminoids in the elements as do the carbo-hydrates, the food. As honey contain no oxygen is far less in amount. Actual albuminous food, except experiment has shown that higher the pollen in it, it follows that bees must have animals thrive poorly without some bee-bread to rear brood, and also to preserve their or- of this kind of food. Its value is far- ganisms intact during ther attested by the appetite which the busy part of their existence. To say that bees craves fat, especially if the weather Is may breed with no bee-bread, cold. Bees get some of this kind of or that the active workers need none, is food in their pollen. It seems quite to say that you can have an likely that the stored fat of the body ocean with- out water, a desert without may come in part from the fat eaten, sand, or bricks without clay. though this is not certain. It is cer- We know that hibernating animals, tainly true that all does not, as ani- and animals long sick, often mals are often known to store much fast for mohths. Yet here the vital forces more fat than is taken with their food. must be kept up and must have nour- It is quite likely that most fat eaten ishment. We have seen that in such goes to serve the current needs, while cases the fat is used up, and without some of the carbo-hydrates and the doubt the protoplasm in muscle and nitrogenous food, and quite likely other inactive tissues yield up of their some fat is, through the wonderous substance to furnish the small amount economy of the vital organism, of albuminous nutriment needed. If changed into and stored up as fat. we could keep our minds and bodies That nitrogenous tissues may be wholly inactive, we should need but robbed of their nitrogen and further little nitrogenous food. changed into fat, is proved by disease We may conclude then, reasoning where fatty degeneration is noticed. from real hibernation, where animals This may occur in all organs. In some are wholly inactive, from cases of long cases, as in fatty degeneration of the sickness, and from higher animals in heart, almost pure muscle is trans- a state of quiescence, that our bees formed into fat. Bees get but little during their winter quiet in cellar or fat in their food, and so this group of clamp, when the vital activities are food elements interests us less than at a minimum, have enough of the do the others. albuminoid elements in blood and tis- The albuminoids or nitrogenous sues and may thrive on a pure car- food elements make up our last group. bonaceous diet. Analogies, as pointed These have, in addition to the oxygen, out, make the hypothesis tenable. hydrogen and carbon—nitrogen. All Again, bees are naturally very neat protoplasm or active vital tissue, and do not void their excreta in the whether animal or vegetable, consists hive except under the severest stress largely of this nitrogenous material. of circumstances. I have more than But as all organs get their substance once gathered all the refuse under a from the food, it becomes evident that full colony of bees at the close of the the albuminoids are absolutely essen- of a long winter's sojourn in the cellar, tial in food. Higher animals get this and found almost no nitrogenous mat- albuminous fooo'^inall vegetables, in ter. If, then, bees are to be forced to muscle, eggs, cheese, etc. Bees also long confinement, we should spare no get it from vegetables, usually from pains to secure the greatest possible honey which contains from .2 to .6 per quietude. Just the proper tempera- cent, albuminoids and from pollen, ture, I think, will, under favorable often from fungoid spores, and occa- circumstances of food and air, secure sionally from various kinds of flour this quiescence. But in case the or meal. This kind of food must fur- temperature or ought else should nish the elements for building up irritate, then it were better that no all the (protoplasms of the body which pollen should be eaten, for without form a large proportion of all the it breeding, which demands great vital organs and tissues. "We have activity, would be impossible, and in ah-eady seen that "some of this nitro- its absence the active digestion nee- 52 NORTH AMERICAN early experience I had all the liquify albuminous food In my essary to wintering that many are would be avoided. It is a generally troubles in now, and I tried every recognized fact that an inactive me experiencing place and manner of wintering that needs little, and is better with little reasonable, to add -to their albuminous food. Indeed, albuminous looked and, as a rule, when they food, as we have seen, subserves the comfort, as we came out of winter quarters the loss vital activities ; of course, then 30 to 75 per cent. For reduce these, we reduce the required would be from of years I have wintered amount of nitrogenous aliment. a long term bees without loss, and fully 80 per the indigestible portion of Again, cent, came out as good as when they rood, especially the the carbonaceous were placed in winter quarters. If very slight. Not so carbo-hydrates, is you ask where I winter my bees, my pollen. can readily see then with We answer would be, in a warm, damp that where the feces are to be re- cellar. Why I prefer a warm cellar tained in the intestines as long the is because a warm atmosphere is a poUenaceous food would be or might natural element of the honey-bee; be irritating, and were better with- and why I prefer a damp atmosphere held. is because bees are more quiet and We thus see that from experience, healthier than in a warm, dry atmos- from analogy, and from what we phere for so long a time as 170 days know of foods and the vital activities, without water. we may well believe that our bees In a warm cellar, where the tem- were better off in many cases were perature is from 60° to 90°, there is no pollen absent from their winter discharge from the bees while in the aliment. cellar, unless it be in a dry state ; and Mich. Agricultural College, if bees have to be fed for winter, it can be done the last thing before C. P. Dadant—We once imported placing them in, and then the bee- bees largely, and by long experience keeper knows just what the bees learned that the food must contain no have, and no harm will be done be- pollen ; if it did, the bees died. cause their feed is not sealed. The James Heddon—I have found bees hives should be packed in a solid body frozen upon combs of honey—^frozen when kept in a high temperature, and before they had consumed enough piled one on top of the other, three or pollen or bee-bread to produce diar- four deep, with no upward ventila- rhea. I have used the term " heat- tion. In this way of packing if some producing food " in the sense in of the bees get uneasy and leave their which it is generally used. I know hive, they are quite sure to enter that a stage driver in cold weather some other bive, and no harm is done. needs food of a different character In wintering in a warm cellar, bees than does a wood-chopper. require all the combs that they occupy in the and they will be all Prof. Cook—The chemist speaks of summer, over the combs and do not cluster. heat-producing food ; the physiologist The cellar must be closed, with no does not. I think it an improper hot or cold term. currents of air either passing through it to arouse the bees. It is necessary to have a small ven- Mr. Ira Barber's essay was read by tilator from the top of the room for the Secretary, on constant draft ; a 3-inch pipe is suffi- WINTERING BEES. IN CBLLAKS. cient for 200 colonies. A flre should be kept in the room above the bees Another year has passed since we whenever the mercury goes below met together in council, and thou- zero. sands of colonies of bees have been Much is said about moisture in lost for want of proper protection in hives, and all manner of ways are winter. It is quite often said that no tried to get rid of it. A warm atmos- one has learned the secret of winter- phere disposes of all moisture that ing bees, so that they can be wintered arises from the bees, without any ab- safely every time ; but I deny the sorbents. Every colony should have assertion, and ask this association of plenty of feed to carry them through bee-keepers if a quarter of a century our longest winters, before they are of successful wintering of hundreds placed in, so that their owner will of colonies of bees without loss; ex- have no excuse to go near them until cept where an occasional one starves, spring. They will use more fe#d in a is not long enough to establish the warm room than in a cool one. fact that bees can be wintered as The time to place bees in the cellar safely as any other stock ? is before cold weather arrives—about BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 63 the middle of November, as a rule. other dry, and the bees wintered bet- I use caps taken from the hives for ter in the dry one. stands to set the brood-chambers on, so that each tier of three or four hives Ira Barber—In a damp cellar the rests on the one cap. The caps should temperature must be higher than in a dry cellar. I be placed close together, and when all have wintered bees successfully are in they form a floor to the cellar, in a temperature of from 60° 90°. and yet each stand is separate so that to there is no jarring when handling in Dr. A. B. Mason—I agree with Mr. taking them out. The bottom tier of Barber, except that I would take hives should be raised off the bottom- away the pollen. I do not say that boards about half an inch at one end the bees caimot be wintered well with of the hive", while all the rest should pollen in the hives, but if they have be left just as they come from the no pollen they can have no diarrhea. yard, with a good cloth and sound top-board well glued on every hive, C. P. Muth asked if he understood when all are in, close the cellar and Mr. Hall correctly yesterday, that his honey harvest let them entirely alone until there is closed about July 20, something for them to do in the and that last year he did not put his spring. About the time that willow bees out until May 2. If so, how did obtain suflScient begins to bloom is early enough in my he a force of bees to locality. fet in the honey during so short a arvest V The above plan of wintering bees is no theory, but is one that is practiced Mr. Hall replied that the secret lay by scores of bee-keepers in Northern in the bees being kept so warm that New York, and invariably without they bred early. He expected his loss in winter. hives to have several combs with brood in them by the time he put I have been as brief as possible in them out in the spring. By May 20, giving mode of wintering, my and there would be not only brood in 6 or will only add further that this plan is 7 combs, but that number full of given for wintering large lots or bees. brood. He could not winter without Where but few bees are kept where I pollen, because if he did, he would live, they have no trouble in winter- not have his bees bred early enough ing in them any cellar where veget- in the spring to gather in the honey. ables will keep freezing. • without If th6y started without brood they "What I claim for this plan of win- would not build up to strong colonies tering is this : 1. It is the safest plan. until near winter. He did not agree 2. It is the cheapest. 3. It requires with Mr. Heddon upon the pollen far less labor than any plan yet recom- theory, but must thank him for his mended. surplus case. James Heddon—I expect to be as Mr. C. R. Isham asked if Mr. Barber successful as Mr. Barber. I think wintered his bees upon natural stores. that nothing has been said that dis- Ira Barber—Yes. proves the poUen theory. Pollen does not injure bees unless" they consume C. R. Isham—Do you leave the it. Prpf. Cook has explained that pollen in V bees may breed without taking pollen Ira Barber—Yes. into their intestines. In some instan- J. B. Hall endorsed the views and ces honey may be free from pollen ; in practices of Mr. Barber from his own others it is not, and the bees cannot experience. He accidentally dis- avoid its consumption. I kept bees covered that bees will winter well in in a cellar in which the temperature a high temperature. He had 48 colo- often fell to 20°. Those having nat- nies in a sm.all bed-room off the ural stores suffered from diarrhea, kitchen. While he was absent a some perished with it ; those having warm spell came in winter. He feared sugar stores were free from it. I will the loss of his bees. "When he came furnish the facts that in many instan- home they were roaring loudly. He ces one colony has survived and an- gave them up for lost, in his own other perished' under exactly the same mind. But they wintered safely, and conditions except food. Who will came out strong in the spring with furnish the explanation ? plenty of brood in the hives. Ira Barber—The higher the temper- Martin Emigh—I endorse Mr. Bar- ature, the better my bees have win- ber's essay, except the dampness. tered. There is sometimes water in C. P. Dadant—We have wintered the cellar, and the combs are slightly bees in two cellars—one wet, the mouldy. : 54 NOETH AMERICAN Mr. HeddoD did not consider that Jas. Heddon—" Spring dwindling". the experience of Mr. Barber and Mr. I call bee-diarrhea in disguise. The Hall conflicted with the pollen theory, bees have had their vitality taxed to because bees did not necessarily eat the utmost in retaining their feces, pollen when they fed it to larvse. Pol- and when they begin brood-rearing len would not hurt bees in winter, the strain is too great, and they per- unless they ate it, and if the temper- ish faster than young bees can be ature was right they would not con- reared to replace the dying. When sume pollen. my bees winter well they are not Adjourned till 2 p.m. troubled with "spring dwindling." I am not yet certain how much there may be in this pollen theory, and I AFTEBNOON SESSION. am yet experimenting. Ex-President Root called the meet- Rev. W. F. Clarke said there were three matters of great importance to ing to order at 2 p.m. him which had transpired to-day. Prof. Cook offered a resolution of First, Mr. Hall had explained his respect to the memory of the late method of bee-keeping, and he was Moses Quinby, of St. Johnsville, N. much obliged to him for it. Second, Y., and announced the contribution Mr. Barber and Mr. Hall had sup- of a handsome purse with which to plied conflrmation of the hibernation Eurchase a portrait of the deceased to theory. A year a ago he did not un- e presented to his widow. Mr. derstand Mr. Barber's method. Mr. Quinby was one of the originators of B. said at the Rochester convention this Society and its second president. that he (Mr. C's) method was a cold This compliment to his memory was system of wintering, and his (Mr. B's) exceedingly appropriate and its an- a warm ,one. This was a mistake. nouncement was enthusiastically re- Our systems are alike, only Mr. Bar- ceived by the convention. ber secured the right temperature in A. I. Root—I must go away in a the whole cellar, and I secured it in few minutes, and before I go I desire the single hive. But Mr. Barber's to say that I have enjoyed this tneet- bees quiesce in the fall ; if the'hive is ing very much. We may not have be- too full of bees, a cluster will hang come rich by producing honey, but outside ; they remain in torpor until this meeting has certainly done much ttie breeding instinct awakes, and good in uniting the bee-keepers of then they arouse to activity. Third, this country into one band. This con- the pollen theory has got its quietus vention has " taken the conceit out of from Prof. Cook. He has told us in me " and has given me a better opin- scientific terms the nature of bee- ion of my fellow men. food, and the process of assimilation. He has maintained that bees cannnot WINTBEING BEES. breed without pollen, and that they The discussion on wintering bees cannot stand work without taking was resumed by Mr. S. E. Newman, nitrogenous food. If they take that who said—If such gentlemen as Mr. food it must be digested and the Barber and Mr. Hall meet with no feces excreted. Well, Mr. Barber winter losses, I should like to know and Mr. Hall have proved that bees what becomes of their bees. breed largely, i. e., work hard, and therefore must eat and digest strong Ira Barber—I work against increase food. , The inferences are plain. The and when I get more than I can use, I bees, if they excrete, do it in sell them. dry feces. They must excrete, that is T. Pierce— have I wintered bees for clear. Therefore, there is no danger 3 or 4 years, the same as Mr. Barber in having pollen in the hive. On the does, and have been successful. I keep contrary, it is necessary. the temperature at from 44° to 5(P. L. C. Root—Do we understand Mr. Thomas G. Newman, chairman of Barber to say that he has no objection the committee on statistics, reported to feeding bees just before putting as follows : There were 103 members them into the cellar ? present, but quite a number had Ira Barber—I do not approve of it, given no report of the past season's but if I find any that need feeding operations. Those reported summed when putting them in, I feed them. up as follows I think that fall honey is just as good Seep.—Colonies last May, . . . 4,283 for winter stores, provided the temper- Increase 3,196 ature is kept high enough. Old bees are just as good as any for wintering. Total now 7,479 ; ; BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 55 Honey.—In comb fts, 165,354 use, but for experimental purposes " Extracted 86,928 and to supply the demand for pure stock. It must not, however, be sup- Total honey produced. ibs, 242,282 posed because of this that they are not without many good qualities; Beeswax produced lbs, 2,233 such is not the case. Different climates have different Honey Unsold.—Comb.. iba, 43,275 requirements, as Extracted " 33,425 evidenced by the success of Mr. B. P. Carroll, of Texas, with pure Cyprians, and of Total honey unsold, ibs, 76,700 Mr. A. W. Osburn, in Cuba, with Holy-Land Only about one-third present at the bees or Syrians. I simply assert that meeting had become members of the they are not so suitable for our Society, and only about one-quarter climate as are others. After the ex- of those present were included in the perience of years I find that for this statistical report. particular climate, several crosses give far better results than do the The smallest report was : 1 colony races in their purity. This experience last spring, Increased to giving 43 5, is the outcome of experiments pounds of extracted honey. con- ducted on an extensive scale, and The largest report was : 470 colonies with all possible care as to selection in May, 740 in the fall. Honey ob- and breeding—the latter on isolated tained from them 38,000 pounds in islands in the Georgian Bay. Crosses comb, and 6,000 pounds of extracted between Italians and Cyprians or 125 pounds of beeswax—all having Syrians, and between Carniolans and been sold except 2,000 pounds of ex- Cyprians or Syrians, seem to give the tracted honey. best results. One-third Cyprian or All other reports of bees and honey Syrian is sufficient with two-thirds varied between these. It was re- Italian, or half Carniolan and half quested that no statistical table be Cyprian or Syrian, work well together. published — the aggregate amounts While bees are all crossed the same, being all that will serve the interests the results vary for a time till the of bee-keepers in general. strains become more fixed. It is not well to decide because the first cross The report was received and adopt- is of extraordinary value, that you ed, and the committee discharged. have found just what you are seeking for ; in after experience you will find that they seldom duplicate themselves Mr. D. A. Jones read the following in this respect. These first crosses on are too often adopted as the standard, with DIFFEBENT RACES OF BEES. the impression that breeding from them will always give equally It Is not my purpose to occupy the good results. Who knows, unless valuable time of this Convention with with proper facilities for breeding, a long essay on what has been done in what these crosses are y On the the past in reference to this subject, islands of which I have spoken, I nor shall I trouble you with a history have found that at all times I cannot of the efforts put forth, the trials and be successful, especially in those par- hardships endured, and the successes, ticular points that I most desire. failures and disappointments con- Unless the mating of the queen can nected with the importation of the be better controlled than now, per- different races of bees in which I fection cannot be reached, and the have participated. The object of the best races or strains of bees produced. majority of the bee-keepers of to-day The breeds of horses and other ani- is to have their capital and labor yield mals over which we have perfect them as good a return as possible, and control,are being constantly improved, the desire is to obtain such a race or through persistent efforts v\»hich have strain of bees as will be conducive to been going on for hundreds of years that end. it is not a mere assumption, then, to With the above object in view, I assert that by crossing, ' re-crossing, shall therefore tell what I have now selecting and re-seleoting,we certainly and what I prefer. I have as yet make much progress ; but these opera- found none having all the good tions will need to be much more care- qualities and being possessed of none fully conducted than is generally the of the bad ; . and none therefore that case, as few, from their surroundings, suit me in every particular. I am not are enabled to properly prosecute the now breeding either Cyprians or work. Where pure races best meet Syrians in their purity for my own the requirements of the climate, it is : : 56 NOETH AMEEICAN examinations which we deem very well to have them in all their purity. important to our pursuit. Mr. Benton is still engaged m the thanks of the East in the exportation of queens ot Besolved, That the Keepers' So- the different races, and his efforts are North American Bee- Biley worthy of proper recognition, and ciety are due to Prof. C. V. should receive such. and to the United States govemmeBt for its action in forming an experi- mental station for the promotion of In reply to inquiries, Mr. Jones apiculture. said—I do not believe that any one the thanks living in a Northern climate can Besolved, That we tender profitably produce honey with pure of this Society to the Department our Syrian or Cyprian bees. I prefer of Agriculture in sending to Syrians crossed with Italians. The meeting in Detroit, Prof. McLain, Carniolans do not swarm with us any and for the able paper he has pre- more than do the Syrians or Cyprians. sented to us. My advice is, if you have good bees Besolved, That we recognize this fool money by keep them ; don't away step of the Department of Agriculture sending tor new kinds of bees, and as in the right direction, and bespeak paying big prices. We cannot keep for it your continued support. queens long enough to test them, and Besolved, That we recommend to then sell them at q low price. Buy the Department the making of ac- them and test them yourself. In curate reports of all data concerning buying queens, buy of a reliable the production of honey, and have breeder. Carniolans crossed with them embodied in the usual agricul- Italians cannot be distinguished from tural reports. Italians crossed with blacks. I prefer of this crosses to pure races. Besolved, That the Secretary Society present a copy of these resolu- James Heddon—I must say a word tions to Prof. McLain for transmission want their in favor of the blacks ; I to the Department of Agriculture. excellent comb-building qualities, and their disposition to keep the The above were also adopted. honey out of the brood-nest. I have crossed them with the Italians for perhaps 20 generations. Prof. Cook, who was about to leave, expressed the great pleasure he had experienced in meeting so many bee- on resolutions re- The committee keepers, especially the Eastern ported the following, which were friends. Mr. L. C. Boot responded, nnanimously adopted saying that he had hoped great things for this meeting, and he now felt the of this Resolved, That thanks certain that the Society had done presented Society be, and are hereby wisely in coming to Detroit. to the retiring President, Secretary, and Committee of Arrangements, for It was voted to hold an evening their energetic and efflcient services session, and the meeting adjourned in connection with this meeting. until 7:30 p.m. To the railroads by which reduced EVENING SESSION. fares were given to members attend- ing this meeting. The meeting was called to order at To the proprietors of the Antisdel 7:30 p.m., Ex-President Boot in the House for reduced rates, excellent chair. fare, and polite attentions. Mr. Dadant introduced the subject To the editors of the various bee- of beeswax, and urged the desirable- periodicals, also the publishers of the ness of inducing the United States of Prairie Farmer, for the publication Government to take oil the protective early and full notices of this meeting. duty in order that a supply might be obtained from other countries. The committee also recommended C. r. Muth remarked that much of the adoption of the following the beeswax offered in this country Besolved, That a committee of one was very inferior, and went on to be appointed to present to the Com- speak of several adulterations, some missioner of Agriculture our apprecia- of which were such close imitations tion of his valuable efforts to aid our of the genuine article as to deceive business in urging the importance of experienced dealers. The greatest apiarian statistics, and suggest our* care should be taken to get pure desires in respect to the chemical beeswax. : ; BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 67 " Prof. Cook was . appoiuted the using chloroform for introducing committee of one " voted in the after- queens it is better to use it at evening noon to communicate with the De- or in the morning, when the bees are partment of Agriculture in regard to not flying, as those that came in might obtaining a scientiflcally-accurate kill the queen. If done in the middle analysis of honey. of the day, give them another puff or D. A. Jones gave his method of two a few minutes after the queen queen-rearing as follows: Get a has run in. colony very strong, either by adding L. C. Eoot—One of the greatest brood or young bees, then remove the stumbling-blocks in the way of ad- queen and brood, and give the bees vancement is the oft-repeated cry, eggs from a choice queen. A large " It is not according to nature !" It is number of excellent queens will be not a question of ''^naturalness," but the result. Such a colony can build it is, "All things considered, is it at least 3 lots of cells. Italians are best ?" poor ' cell-builders. Queens reared in Mr. Manum stated that he had been this manner lay sooner, and are better very successful in getting colonies developed. with laying workers to accept a queen, James Heddon — These excellent by introducing her with a couple of results may be the result of " contrac- frames of brood in all stages. This tion," i. e., the bees should be many restored the colony to a normal con- in proportion to the space. dition. N. W. McLain—It is amazing to D. A. Jones said this plan would me why" breeders pay so much atten- work with all but pure Cyprians or tion to the rearing of queens and so Syrians, which were incorrigible. little to the rearing of drones. If such wonderful results have been se- cured in rearing queens, the same REPORT OF VICE-PRESIDENT. treatment in rearing will drones im- Mr. S. T. Pettit, Vice-President prove them in the same manner, and for Ontario, Canada, made the follow- it should not be forgotten that prepo- ing report tency is the on male side. Both the Bee-keeping in Ontario, for the last "Pollen Theorists" and Mr. Barber year, has not been of the most flatter- correct. If the are environments are ing kind. During the last winter and the pollen if right, does no harm ; the spring about 75 per cent, of our bees pollen is not there, no harm will come perished. This great loss was brought if the environments are not right. about by three principal factors, viz : D. A. Jones—There is a way of poor stores, long-continued cold in "squeezing" bees into the sections both winter and spring, and inex- by putting the brood-combs close perience. together, and more surplus will thus Generally speaking, those of long be secured. I am so thoroughly con- experience in apiculture, who have vinced of the advantage of this that I given muiSi time, study, painstaking, make all my hives so that the combs and exacting care—in a word, those are 1% inches from centre to centre. who make nee-keeping a specialty, T. L. VonDorn—I have used combs and who are adapted to the business, only 1^ inches ftom center to center, sustained comparatively little loss and was surprised at the good results. hence it is plain that this great loss fell principally upon those who, as a D. A. Jones—When the honey har- rule, neglected some other business vest is coming to a close, I remove J^ to enjoy an immense amount of pleas- of the combs, and the bees build ure and grow suddenly rich by "keep- out the upper part of the combs and ing bees." The large amount of dead, fiU them with honey ; the wide spaces filthy honey thrown upon the market below the honey are excellent places the past spring, has done no little for the bees to cluster. harm to the pursuit. Interested James Heddon—By using combs far parties are constantly promulgating apart, the inducement to building the idea that everybody should keep drone-comb is increased. bees, which results in no inconsider- D. A. Jones^In introducing virgin able loss to the country. queens I let them run in at the en- Beside the indirect loss by diverting trance. Do not disturb the bees. I the minds of many from their legiti- can introduce laying queens by put- mate calling, I believe a fair calcula- ting them into a top-feeder and let- tion would show the startling fact ting them work their way down that every pound of honey produced through the feeder into the hive. In in Ontario, for the last 6 years, has . : : 58 NORTH AMERICAN cost the producers, on an average, not honey in glass, at our Expositions, is- less than 25 cents per pound. doing good service by way of an edu- cator; both dealers and consumers The teaching that everybody should begin now to regard granulation as a do everything for himself, is a retro- proof of purity. grade movement, undermining the best manufacturing, producing, carry- ing and commercial interests, and QUESTION BOX. tends to semi-barbarism; no mat- ter how persistently or plausibly put, The committee on questions report- "the trail of the serpent is over it ed as follows all;" "every man to his trade "is a noble motto, and brings " the greatest Will it pay to raise red raspberries possible good to the greatest possible for pasturage on land worth from number." $100 to $160 per acre ? Yea, if the The season was a poor one; the crop of berries also paid. amount of honey taken being about What is the smallest amount of 50 per cent, below the average. The honey needed for winter stores for a weather was too cold and wet with strong colony, and what is the best occasional hot spells. The principal kind of honey to use ? Fifteen to 40 honey-producing flowers were abund- pounds of well-ripened honey. ant, but the elements failed to get What per cent, of those entering into the proper to inspire them humor bee-keeping succeed ? Two per cent. with their natural love for the secre- Will thin combs, in sections, sell as tion of the delicate, sparkling sweets, well as thick ones ? Yes. . and the friendly visits of the honey- Shall use if" bee. In spite of all this, some of the we separators? Yes, cannot straight short crop of 1884 is yet on the mar- you get combs with- out them. kets ; but we will have a clean market for 1886. How shall bees by the pound be There are several practices that placed upon combs ? Place the queen militate against the true progress of on the combs, then shake the bees on apiculture in Ontario, besides those the combs. already referred to What shall be done with honey- 1 Extracting green or unripe honey. dew ? Sell it, or feed it sparingly to It is impossible by human art or skill the bees in the spring. to impart that exquisitely fine,flnished Is a coal-furnace objectionable in a- flavor that the bees give it when left cellar where bees are wintered ? We with until it is them capped. do not think favorably of it. 2. The practice of feeding sugar What width of sections is best ?' either for stimulating or wintering One and one-half to 1% inches with- purposes. It is very diflacult to dis- out separators ; 1% to 2 inches with abuse the public mind. They know separators. that we feed sugar, and they seem Has the queen been seen depositing determined to cherish the belief that drone-eggs ? This committee has not in some way or other it gets into the seen her doing so. honey. If we all fed honey instead of sugar, a less quantity would be Are queens reared from transferred thrown upon the markets, and a cor- larvae as good as any ? Yes. respondingly higher price would be How are the Carniolans regarded ?' obtained, besides inspiring confidence Favorably; except excessive swarm- in the purity of our honey. ing. 3. Small bee-keepers demoralize our Will reversing combs secure the markets sadly, and give a good deal destruction of queen-cells. Report of trouble by allowing their bees to be says yes. robbed. H. K. Boardmau, S.T. Pettit, S. P.Newman. 4. And last but not least, I fear the most of us will have to plead guilty Committee on Questions. to the charge of painting the bright side of bee-keeping too bright, while we keen the dark side obscurely in The committee on exhibits reported' the dark ; in fact it is much easier to the following articles on exhibition : show up the bright side than the dark side—it seems to loom up so M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, Mich.—A chafT easily. hive, one-piece V-grooved Eoctions, and extracted honey in glass cans and jars. In conclusion, I desire to say, that Will Ellis, St. Davids, Ont.—Thick and thin the practice of exhibiting granulated comb foundation, and sections. ; : — BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. b9 Beynolds Bros., Williamsburg, Ind.—Sam- Bev. W. F. Clarke, Guelph, Ont—His re- ple of fine flavored and light colored fruit- nowned hibernating hive stand. bloom lioney. Bingham & Hetherington, Abronla, Mich. Berlin Fruit Box Co., Berlin Heights, 0.— —Honey-knife. A orate of 500 one-pieoe, sliced, V-groored E. S. Miller, Dryden, Mich.-A Falkner sections ; seotionoase to be used with or chafl-hlve with wintering and surplus without separators ; veneer separators, top arrangement, and a perforated-zinc queen- feeder and strawberry baskets. excluder. W. Bro., G. Stanley & Wyoming, N. Y.—An P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La.—Comb automatic, vertical-geared honey-extraotor; built by Mexican honey-wasps. much Improved on those formerly made. Joshua Bull, Seymour, Wis.-Extracted Dr. A. B. Mason, Wagon Works, O.—Blocks honey. of candled honey on plates, sweet clover, There was also on exhibition some 2-ounoe form for nailing frames, wiring-board, re- sections of comb honey from W. Harmer, of versible frame, and a machine for making Manistee, Mich. holes in frames for wiring. Chas. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.—A variety of A. B. Mason, G. B. HaU, G. M. Doolittle, his Improved, all-metal smokers. Oommittee on Exhibits. J. Van Deusen & Sons, Sprout Brook, N. T.—A large quantity of thick and thin foun- dation, both wired and unwlred. Ex-President Root then addressed Frank A. Eaton, Bluffton, O.—A section- case for use without separators, and a case the meeting, summing up some of the of 56 one-pound sections of white clover interesting features of the present honey. Chas. Dadant & Son, Hamilton, Ills.— gathering, expressing his satisfaction Samples of heavy and thin foundation vary- at the success which had attended the ing In weight from 5 to 11 square feet to the pound. convention, and said that the hour had Amos A. Bessler, Sandersburg, Pa.—Ex- now come when we must part. tracted locust honey. Prof. A. J. Cook,Lan8lng,Mlch.—Extracted Adjourned sine die. white clover honey, and a sample of plant- llee honey from northern Michigan. W. Z. HuTCHiNsoiir, Sec. E. J. Cook, Owosso, Mich. — Extracted basswood honey. Hiram Chapman, Versailles, N. T.—Some heads and seeds of a new honey-plant (name unknown), and honey from the same. J. J. Bradner, Findlay, O.—One-pieoe V- grooved sections. John Bey, East Saginaw, Mich,—Extracted honey in glass jelly-pails. ERRATA. Newman Bros., Norwalk, O.—Several cans of extracted honey. W. E. Clark, Oriskany, N. Y.—Dovetailed white poplar, nailed spruce sections and ; The following corrections were not frame-spacers, Qulnby hive-clasps. Van Deusen feeders with brackets, Quinby's received in time to prevent their ap- new bee-keeping revised by L. C. Boot, and pearing in this pamphlet a quantity of Quinby smokers from 2 to 3J4 inches. page top of second column Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.-White On 33— comb honey, gathered from a plant on the toiother friends, read " Otto Kleinow." Michigan river, known there as " cleaver ;" extracted basswood honey, and large photo- On page 38—The Vice-President for graphs of residence and apiary. Michigan, is Prof. A. J. Cook. The D. A. Jones, Beeton, Out.-Large variety of labels for both comb and extracted Professor was nominated, and he then honey ; very smooth one-piece sections as suggested the name of Miss Wilkins, they came from the saw ; nine different widths of one-piece sections, a reversible but as the lady refused the oflBce, it honey-crate for use on the hive, and for naturally reverts to the first nominee. shipping any sized sections ; sections slotted on four sides, section-case for any width sections, slotted queeuexcludlng honey- On page 42—second column, first honey-extractor board, new gearing for to Instead of the last sen- permit the instant removal of comb-basket paragraph— " a double and a single Benton shipping tence, which reads thus : He never queen-cage, Canadian bee-feeder, wmter feeder for " Good " candy, zinc honey-board uses basswood ; honey stains it, so and queen-excluder. does water;" read "I use basswood Wales, Belleville, Ont.—Fine specimen Jas. in view of its becom- of honey-cake. for sections, but B. Nutting, Kent, 0.—Drone-trap. ing scarce, and to save it for bee-for- H. D. Davis, Bradford, Vt.—Surplus and age, can we not find some other timber section shipping-case, and four-piece dove- " tailed sections. to take its place ? ALSIKK C1,0VBK. ROCKr-MOUNTAlN BBB P1,ANT. BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETr. 61 HMD -BOOK OF HEALTH, DOUBLE -WALLED Hints and Ebadt Recipes, Langstroth Hives 18 the title of a Tery valuable book that glvea a FOR WINTERING BEES ON SUMMER STANDS. great amount of Information, of the Utmost Im- Eortanoe to Everybody, ooncerning thetr dally THBT are made Identical and Interchangeable abttB of Bating, Drinking, Dressing, Sleeping, wltb our Standard Langstroth Hives, as adrer- Bathing, Working, etc. tlsed and described In our CataloRue. All upper stories and surplus arrangements made by us will IT TELLS ABOUT fit this double - walled brnod chamber. Prices : Mailed, 50o.; In the flat, 85c. per hive. In addition What to Eat, Parasites of the Skin, to our prices of the standard liangstroth. We also How to Eat it. Batbisg— Best way, make our la-tacb Caps with a sloping or Cottage Things to Do, liungs & Lung Diseases, Roof, which Is worth SOc. nailed and ISc. flat, In Things to Avoid, How to Avoid them. addition to the prices of the BtandaVd Langstroth Perils of Summer, Clothing—what to wear, hire, which has a flat top. Hov to Breathe, How much to Wear, Overheating Houses, Contagious Diseases, THOS. G. JiE-WaiATi ic SON, Ventilation, How to Avoid them, Influehce of Plants, Exercise, 923 & 925 West Madison St., CHICAGO, ILL. Occupation for Invalids, Care of Teeth, Superfluous Hair, After-Dlnner Naps, Restoring the Drowned, Headache, cause & oure. Preventing Near-sight- Malarial Affsotlons, edness, Croup—to Prevent. Wooden Pails for Honey! J IT TELLS HOW TO CURB can furnish regular Wooden Water-Palls— WEwell painted on the outside, and with 3 Iron Black Eyes, Bolls, Bums, Chilblains, Cold Feet, hoops and a tight-flttine wood corer, at sa.SS Cholera, Diarrhoea^ Diphtheria, Dys- Coms,(^ougnB, per dozen. Ther will hold lbs. of honer, Felons, 35 and entery, Dandruff, Dyspepsia, Ear Ache, when empty, can be utilized for use as an ordinary Fetid Feet, FreckleB, Headache, Hiccough, Hives, household pail. HoarsenesMtohing, Inflamed Breasts, Ivy Poison- ing, Moles, Pimples, Piles, Rheumatism, Ringworm, THOS. «. NEWItlAN & SON, Snoring, Stammering, Sore Byes, Sore Mouth, Sore Mtpple8,Sore Throat, Sun-stroke, Stings and Insect 923 & 925 West Madison Street, CHICAGO, ILL. Bites, Sweating Feet, Toothache, Ulcers, Warts, » Whooping Cough, Worms In Children. Bee-Keepers' Badges at Fairs. Price only S5 Gents. Sent by Mall, post-paid. We have some EIE6AHT RIBBON BADGES, having 823 & 925 West Madison street, CHICAGO ILL, a rosette and gold Bee, for .bee-keepers' use at Fairs, Conventions, etc. Price SYSTEMATIC AND CONVENIENT. 50 cents each, by mail, postpaid. THOMAS G. NETrntAN & SON, 923 & 925 West Madison St., CHICAGO, ILL. EXCELSIOR HONEY EXTRACTORS In answer to frequent inquiries for Extractors carrying 3 and 4 DATIS' PATENT HONEY CARRIAGE, Langstrotli frames, we have con- cluded to adopt these two new BEVOLVZNa COMB-BASOBR, sizes. The 3 frame basket Is in a Tool Boz and Eecording Desk Combined, ' can of the same size and style as the 2 frame. The 4 frame basket is in the larger can, with the cone Price, complete, only $18.00. or metal standard for^the basket to revolve upon, leavtne room un- THOS. 0. HEWUAir & SON, derneath the basket for 75 or 80 lbs. of honey. It will be complete, 923 & 92S West Madlaon Street, CHICAOO, IIiI,. with covers, and in every way identical, except in size, with the $16.00 Extractor, 13x20, which Is intended for any size of frame. ONE-POUND HONEY PAIL. Excepting wltn the 18.00 Ex- NEW tractors, all the different styles THIS nefv size of our Tapering have strainers over the canal lead- Honey Palls Is of unltorm design ing to the honey gate, and mova- Jkwlth the otber sizes, having the top ble sides in the Comb Baskets. The V8.00 and /edge turned over, and has a ball or 910.00 Extractors have no covers. ' rery convenient handle,—making It For 2 American frames. 13x13 inches 98 00 t^t carry. It is weli-made and, when and For 2 Langstroth " 10x18 '* 8 00 filled with honey, makes a novel 8 " " 10x18 " 10 00 package, that can For attractive small For4 " '* 10x18 " 14 00 2() cents or less. Many be sold for For 2 frames of any size, lSx20" " 1200 consumers will buy it In order to give the children '* per For 3 " 13x20lHx20 12 00 a handsome toy pall. rJBlCE, TS cents For 4 13X20 16 00 dozen, or SS.OO per lOO. THOS. G. NEWMAN & SON, TBtOS. G. NBTTIMAN & SON, . 923 A 925 West Madison Street, CHICAGO, ILL. 923 & 925 West Madison Street, CHICAGO. ILL. 62 NORTH AMERICAN Bee-Keepers' Guide, or Mannal of the Apiary, by Prof. A. J. Cook.—It is elegantly illustrated, and fully up with the BOOKS! times on every subject that interests the Sent by mail, on receipt of price, by bee-keeper. It is not only instructive, but interesting and thoroughly practical. It comprises a full delineation of the anatomy $1.25. THOS. G. NEWMAN & SON, and physiology of Bees. Price, Qnlnby's New Bee-Keeping, by L. C. 923 & 925 WEST MADISON STREET, Boot.-Its style is plain and forcible, making its readers realize the fact that the author is CBXCAGO, IlililNOIS. master of the subject. Price, $1.50. A B C of Bee-Culture, by A. I. Root.— On dozen or half-dozen lots of one kind, we Embraces everything pertaining to the care allow 25 per cent, discount, and prepay of the Honey-Bee, and is valuable to the bee-keeper, as well as the postage. Special rates on larger quantities, more advanced beginner. Cloth, $1.25; paper, $1. ^ven upon application. Blessed Bees, by John Allen. — A romance of bee-keeping, full of practical Tbe Apiary Register, by Thomas G. information and enthusiasm. Price, 75c. Newman.—A Keoord and Account Book for the Apiary, devoting 3 pages to each colony, The Hive and Honey-Bee, by Bev. L. ruled and printed, and is so arranged that a L. Langstboth.—The work of a master, and mere glance will give its complete history. will always remain a standard.—Price $2.00. bound in full leather. Price, for 50 Strongly Dzlerzon's Rational Bee-Keeplng.— colonies, $1.00; for 100 colonies, $1.26 ; for master-piece of that most «)0 colonies, $1.50. A translation of the celebrated German authority. Price, bound Honey as Food and medicine, by In cloth, $2.00; in paper covers, $1.50. Thomas G. Newman.—It gives the various uses of Honey as Food ; recipes for maMng Bee-Keepers'Handy-Book,byHENSY Honey Cakes, Cookies, Puddings, Foam, Alley.—This book contains 270 pages, and Wines, etc. Also, Honey as Medicine, with is a complete Manual of Bee-Keeplng. Price, many valuable recipes. It is intended for $1.60. consumers, and should be liberally scattered to help in creating a demand for honey. Bee-Keepers'Text Booli, by A. J. King Price, for either the English or German —Eevlsed and enlarged. Price, $1.00. one edition, 6 cents— dozen, 40 cents—100 for Extracted Honey; Harvesting, Handling $2.50—500 for $10.00—1,000 for $15.00 and Marketing.— By Chas. Dadant & Son.— are ordered, will print If 100 or more we the Details their management. Price, 15c. bee-keeper's card (free of cost) on the cover. Practical Hints to Bee-Keepers, by Bee - Keepers' Convention Hand Chas. F. Muth.—Gives his views on the man- Boole, Thomas G. Newman.—It contains by agement of bees. Price, lOe. a simple Manual of Parliamentary Law and Kules of Order for the guidance of officers Dzierzon Theory. — The fundamental and members of Local Conventions—Model principles of Dzlerzon's system of apiculture Constitution and By-Laws for a Local Society as set forth by Berlepsoh. It was translated —Programme for a Convention,with Subjects by the late Samuel Wagner. Price, 16c. for discussion—List of Premiums for Fairs, etc. Bound in cloth, and suitable for the Dictionary of Practical Aplcnltnre, j)ocket. Price, 50 cents. Leather 60 cents. by Pbof. John Phin.—This gives the correct meaning of nearly 500 aploultural terms. 'Wby Eat Honey? by Thomas G. Price, bound In cloth, 50c. Newman.—This Leaflet Is intended for dis- tribution in the Bee-Keeper's own locality, The Hive 1 tTse, by G. M. DOOLITTLE.— in order to create a Local Market. Price, 50 Details his management of bees. Price 5c. -cents per 100 ; 500 copies for $2,25 ; 1,000 copies for $4.00. When 200 or more are Foul Brood, by A. B. Kohnke.—Its origin ordered at one time, we print on them the and cure. Price, 25c. lioney-producer's name and address free. Kendall's Horse Book.—No book can • Preparation of Honey for tbe be more useful to horse owners. It has 36 Market, including the production and care engravings, illustrating positions of sick of both Comb and Extracted Honey, and horses, and treats all diseases in a plain and Instructions on the Exhibition of Bees and comprehensive manner. It has many good Honey at Fairs, etc., by Thomas G. Newman. recipes, etc. Price, 25c.,1n either English " A chapter from Bees and Honey."—10 cts. or German. Stvarmlng, Dividing and Feeding Constitution and By-I^aws, for local Bees.—Hints to Beginners.by T. G.Newman. Associations, $2 per 100. The name of the A chapter from "Bees and Honey." Price 6c. Association printed in the blanks 60c. extra, Bee Pasturage a Necessity, by Thomas Scrlbner's Iiumber and Iiog Book.— G. Newman—Progressive views on this im- Gives measurement of all kinds of lumber, portant subject; suggesting what and how logs and planks ; wages, rent, etc. Price, 35c. to plant.—A chapter from "Bees and Honey." 36 engravings. Price, 10c. Fisher's Grain Tables.— For casting up the price of grain, produce and hay ; wood Bees in 'Winter, by THOMAS G. NEWMAN. measurer,ready reckoner,tables for plowing, —Describing Chafl-paoking, Cellars and Bee- etc. Price, 40c. Houses. A chapter from "Bees and Honey." Price 8c. Emerson Binders, made especially for Blenen Kultnr, by Thomas G. Newman. the Bee Journal, and lettered in gold on —In the German language. Price, In paper the .back. Price, 75 cents each. TheycauJ covers, 40 cents, or $3 per doz.) not be sent by mall to Canada. — BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 63 " Success In Bee-Oalture, as practiced and advised by James Heddon," is the title BEES and HONEY, of a NEW pamphlet on bee-culture. OB THB It consists of 128 pages ; Is well-printed on Hanagement ef an Apiary for Flaamre good paper and illustrated. It covers the whole field of practical apiculture, and is asd Freflt ; by intended for specialists and those who keep THOMAS C. NEWMAN. bees for the money to be obtained from the EMtor of the ATnerican Bee Jov/mal. business. In his preface the author says : In the delineation of It contains 230 profusely illustrated pages methods of manage- ment, and of implements and devices, lis " fully up witn the times " in all the im- appertaining thereto, it ptovements has been my con- and inventions in this rapidly stant aim to present such only as will •developing pursuit, and presents the apiar- approximate uniform and unvarying suc- ist with everything that can aid In the cess, as nearly as possible, when the successful management of the honey-bee, requisite conditions have been complied •and at the same time produce the most with, and thereby obviate the disappoint- honey in its hest and most attractive con- ments and vexatious losses, resulting from edition. the complicated and impracticable in both management and utensils. In short, the PRICE—Bound in cloth, 81.00, postpaid. instruction herein given, la from the dollar^ and-oent basis — the financial results to ^P~A Uberal Discount to Dealers, 1>7 accrue therefrom, and not from the vagaries tbe Dozen or Hundred. and inconsistencies of empiricisms; aiming to present the new and useful rather than ^" The American Bee Joubnal mere repetition of the old. We are sure that its perusal will hand- for a year and the book, " Bees and somely pay every honey-producer. It can Honey," will be sent for $1.75. be obtained at this office for 50 cents. Ho\r to Propagate and Grow Fmlt, Moore's TTulTersal Assistant, and Tby Charles A. Green, contains over 50 Illus- '^'"^'^.^i' Complete Hechanic. trations and two colored fruit plates. It Enlarged Edition- contains 64 pages. Price, 25 cents. con- tains over 1,000,000 Previous to the publication of this book, Industrial Facts, Calcu- there was no work on the propagation of lations, Processes.Trade small and large fruits which could be pur- Secrets, Legal Items, chased for less than $3.00, therefore the —- Business Forms, etc., or masses have been without a guide in this vast utility to every Mechanic, Farmer and Important branch of fruit-growing, and Business Man. The work contains 1,016 tnow very little about propagating. The pages — is a veritable Treasury of Useful price of the book places it within the reach Knowledge, and worth its weight in gold to of all. Further than this, the book gives the any Mechanic, Business Man or Farmer. By latest and most approved methods found in mail, in fine cloth, $2.50. no other publication. The A B C of Carp Culture, is a neat This tells book how to pbopagate Straw- pamphlet of about 100 pages. It explains berries, black raspberries, red raspberries, the simplest, cheapest and most blackberries, effective currants, gooseberries, grapes, system of carp culture, and being written by <[ulnce, peach, apricot, plum, cherry, pear Mr. Milton P. Pierce, of Philadelphia, Pa., and apple; also oenebai. bitlbs for propa- Secretary of the American Carp gation, with Cultural illustrations showing how to Association, it cannot faU to bo of inestima- "bud, how to graft, how to propagate from ble value to all interested in the " finny layers, stools, inarching, with full Instruo- tribes." Price, 40 cents. -Hons for grafting the grape. It tells howto> The of Potato lay out a garden or fruit farm—how to plant, ABC Culture ; "how to cultivate trim, etc. CTOw them in the largest quantity, and of the finest qilality, with the least expenditure "Farmer's Account Book," contains Of time and labor." The book is not only a 1 66 pages, printed on writing paper, ruled and valuable one to potato-growers, but a great 1}0und, and the price is S3.00. We will club part of it applies to the management of It and the Weekly Bee JoxjBifAii for a year almost any crop on the farm, especially to the for $3.00. If you want it sent by mail, add preparation of the soU, manures, etc. 20 cents for postage. Price, 40 cents. Phenol for the Cure of Foul Brood. —By Prof. Frank E. Cheshire, of London, flngland. Price 10 cents ; 3S pages. THE HORSE, Photosraplis of Bev. L. L. Langstroth, By B. J. KEITSALL, M, B. ]Baron of Berlepsoh, or Dzlerzon, 25 c. each. «'^'°K »" 'naei of digeaaea, and..^IFP'l^T^^^the armptoniB ; cause and treatment of each, a Ribbon Badges, for bee-keepers, on h^?AfLvff„*" tljePrtnotpal drura uaed for ttS which are printed a large bee in gold, horae.vlth the ordinary dose, effectaand antidote 10c. when a poiaon •each, or ; a table with an engraving of the $8 per 100. Large and elegant ones, borse'a teeth at different ages, with nilea for telllnK with rosette, SO cents, post-paid. the age of the horse; a valuable oolleotlon of r«? olpes, and much valuable Information, Poulterer's Guide, for treatirig diseases •of Poultry, etc., by C. J. Ward. Price 25 c. Price »S centa—In Hngllsh or Oerman. Food Adulteration.—What we eat and THOS. G. NSTmnAN & SON, whatwe should not eat. Price, 60c. 923 & 925 West Madison St., CHICAGO, ILL. The Oldest Weekly Bee-Paper in the World. ESXABIilSIEED IN 1861. THE l[filCAII B[[ JOUeNAL, ^SSf^ '^^ ^^ ^ Is tlie Recognized Leading Bee-Periodical in America. ONE DOLLAR A YEAR, IN ADVANCE. A Sample Copy Free, CTpon Application. The most successful and experienced bee-keepers in the World comprise its Corps of Contributors, and it is contin- ually advancing progressive ideas upon the various topics of modern scientific Bee-Culture. PUBLISHED BY THOS. G. NEWMAN & SON, 923 & 935 West niadlson St., CHICAGO, II.I4., JOBBERS AND DEAIEES IN BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES INCLUDING HIVES, SECTIONS, HONEY & WAX EXTRACTORS, COMB FOUNDATION, KEGS, PAII.S, SEEDS, &e. Illustrated Catalogue sent free upon application. A Sample Copy of the American Bee Journal sent free. ! ! ADVEKTISEMENTS. Given's Foundation Press Mutb's Honey Extractor, Feifection Cold-Blast Smoker, SQUARE GLiSS HOSEY-JARS, etc. For Circulars, apply to CBA8. F. MVTB ^b SOW, Freeman 4 Central Ave.. - CINCINNATI, O. P.S.—Send 10c. for Practical Hints to Bee-Keepera. S o I uCO d Mi (S in AITJBir PKE88 scsiids the frnat PI TBErank for maDufacturinK jCOUIirDATIOIir In "Wired Frames, as well as foundation for SUCTIONS. Without a dlBsenting voice, all of our customers affirm its superiority. Bend for Circular and Samples. J. K. CAI^D'W^EK.I. •fe CO., < lABtf HOOPBSTON, Termlilion Co., ILL. BEE-KEEPERS' GDIDE; Or, VfAJSVA^, OF TBI: A.PIAK'C. 12,000 SOLD SINCE 1876. 18th TheuBatnd Jnst Out 10th Thousand Sold in Jnst Four Months a* 4,000 Sold Since May, 1888. More than 50 pages, and more than 50 fine Illus- trations were added in the 8th edition. The whole work has been thoroughly revised, and contains the very latest In respect to bee-keeping. It is certainly the fullest and most scieatiflc work treating of bees In the World. Price,bymailf9i:S5. Liberal discount to dealers and to cluba. jL. «r. COOK, Author and Publisher, IGI7 Agricultural College, Mioh. fee o o PATENT Foundation BeeKeepers Mills ,g.'?,^\f W.e.PELHAM j^SuppllBs] MAYSVILLEXY WHOLESALE^RlxAn BeB-Hives, Honey-Boxes, Sections. Largest Bee-Hive Factory in the World. ELECTROTYPES Capacity, one car-load per day. Best of goods at Of Bngravings used in the Bee Journal tor sale at lowest-prices. Write for price-list, 25oents per squa're inch—no single cut sold forjess than SOc. C. B. LEWIS & CO. XHOS. a. NEwniAiv & sow, 51Atf. ITATERTOIVN, W^IS. 923 & 925 West Madison St., CHICAGO, ILL. : -^^M^i^M^M^^SS^^^^I^M^^^M^. SECTIONS ( HEAPRR THAN EA^ER. THE "EOSS" ONE-PIECE APIARIAN SECTIONS. SUPPLIES MANUFACTURED BY i W.T. FALCONER, - JAMESTOWN N. Y., Patented June '28, 1881. Are unsurpassed for Qaallty and fine work- | manship- A specialty made of all Styles of the Bee-keepers will find it to their interest to j Simplicity Hive, including the Van Deuaen- I send for our Price-List, just issued, before Neills. The "FAl^CON" Vb^tf Hive with they order their sections for the season of movable upper story continues to receive the hUrh- eat [ 1886. We have our machinery in tip-top recommendations as regards Its superior ad- f order, and can turn out more sections per vantages for WINTJEiriXG and handling bees all seasons, liour than any other maimfacturers in the at United States ; therefore we can fill orders DOVETAlI.EI> SECTIONS on very short notice. same price fiaOne-Plece. Alsomanutacturerof J. FORNCROOK & CO., VANDERVORT FOUNDATION. Dealer in a full line of BEE-KEEPERS' 5Ctf Waterlown, Wis.. Jan. is, 1886. , SUPPLIES. Send for my Illustrated Catalogue I for 1886. Free. Prices alvi^ays reasonable. THE VICTOR HIVE NEW BOOK—JUST OUT. Is pronounced by competent apiarists to be the Best Hive for comb noney. It is operated on a new principle, the passaye-ways beinR contin- uous throu;:)! perforated zinc to the sections. Our dovetailed White Poplar Sections, with or without Success in Bee-Culture, side passasea. cannot be excelled in accurncyor BY smonthneas. They are as nearly perlect as can be made. Sample of the new sections for i' one-cent stamps. Catalofzue on application. JAMES HEDDON Address, DK. G. I^. TINKER, 3Dtf ISEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO. Mail him a postal for his BARNES' FOOT-POWER MACHINERY. CIRCULAR for ISSoi Read what J. I. Pa rent, of CHAKLTON,N.Y.,8ay8—"We containing Prospectus and Price of cut with one of your Com- bined Machines, last winter, Book ; Cuts and Prices of his New TjO chaff hives with 7- in. cap, Reversible Hive, as well as his mod- UHJ huney-racks, 500 broad frames, li.OdO honey-boxes ification of the Langstroth Hive and and a great deal of other other Implements for Bee-keepers. work. This winter we have { double the amount of bee- Address, JAMES HEDDON, hives, etc., to make and we DO WAG I AC. Cass County, MICH. expect todo itwith this Saw. It will do all you say it will." Catalopue and Price - List , W. F. & JOHN BARNES, No. 484 Ruby St., Rockford, 111. DADANfS FOUNDATION is attested by hundreds of the most prac- j HEAD-QUARTERS IN THE SOUTH tical and disinterested bee-keepers m be For the cleanest,brlghtest,quicke8t accepted by the manufacture of ' bees, least apt to sag, most regular in color, Bee Keepers' Supplies evenness and neatness of any that is made. It is kept for sale by Messrs. Dunham and Root Foundation a specialty Itahan Queens and Bees from March to November. THOS. Q NEWMAN & SON, Chicago, 111., for lySend my Illustrated Catalogue. C. F. MUTH, Cincinnati, O., fiCtf PATJI. r.. VI ALI.ON. Bayou Goula. La. JAMBS HBDDON, Dowaglao, Mich.. F. L. DOOGHBRTT, Indiana,poltB, Ind., (Established i864.) CHA8. H. GRBBN. Berlin, Wis., CHAS. HBETBIj, Jr., Preeburg, HI., B. L. ARMSTRONG, JerBeyyille, 111. ARTHUR TODD. Germantown,Phlliidelphl«,PB. B. KRBTCHMBR, Coburg. Iowa. DCC-SUPPLIES. BLBBBT P. SMITH, Smyrna, N. Y ^^ ^_ ^__ We furnish everything needed C. F. DALB, MortonsTille, Ky. ^^ ^" ^« in the Apiary, of practical construc- BZRA BABR, Dixon, Lee Co., III. tion, and at the lo^vest price. CLARK JOHNSON, Covington, Kv. Satisfaction guaranteed. Send your address on a C. A. GRAVBS, Birmingham, Ohio. Postal card, and we will send you our Illustrated M. J. DICKA80N, Hiawatha, Kans. Catalogue free. JE. K.KETCHMJER. BD. B. NBWCOMB, Pleasant Valley, N. T. ^Cl:2t COBURG , IOWA. J. W. PORTER, OhariottesTille, Va. ^~~^ J. B. MASON & BOS, Mechanic Falls, Maine. J. A. Vienna, FLAT - BOTTOM HUMA80N, O. and num tiers of other dealers. Write for S AMPLBS FREB and Price-List of Supplies, accompanied COMB FOUNDATION, with ISO »;OMPl,IMENT'AKT and UJf- SOLICIXED TESTIiaO?riAI.S from as high side-walls, 4 ^^. to 16 square feet K many bee-keepers in 1885. "We guarantee tn© pound. Circular and samples free every Inch of anr Fonndatlon equal to J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, sample In every resiicet. Sule Manufacturers, CHAS. DADANT Ji SOW, Sprout Brook, Mont, f*"., N. T. 5Aly HAMILTON. Hancock Co., ILL. ^.. THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL-WEEKLY-Sl.OO A YEAR. M __ Cornell University Library SF 521.N862B A brief history of the North American be 3 1924 003 171 000