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 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 ® 
 
 B 
 
 ^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<rOIS : 
 
 OFFICE OF THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, 
 1886. 
 
ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 OVER 50,000 SOLD 
 
 And not a Letter of Complaint ! 
 
 GO SLOW! 
 
 They always get the Blue Card, when 
 Bee-Keepers are the judges. 
 
 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 
 their apiaries. We have letters from hundreds 
 of the best known apiarists, and know that our 
 
 TJncapping-Knives, 
 BINGHAM 
 
 Bee-Smokers 
 
 are the only ones that last long or give lasting and 
 complete satisfaction. Thousands of them are 
 now good that have been used six years. We 
 make six sizes, differing in price according to size 
 —from 65 cents to *2.0i), post-paid. They are all 
 hase-burners -the fire being always helow the fuel 
 and ready to burn as in any good stove. 
 
 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. 
 
 Send card for free Illustrated Circular for prices, 
 by mail, or half-dozen rates, to 
 
 BINGHAM dk HETHERINGTOX. 
 
 A-bronla.* Sllch. 
 
 P. S. It will pay any bee-keeper to order a half- 
 dozen to sell to his friends. We are the original 
 Patentees, and Only Makers In the U. S. 
 
 BeAvare of Tiiiitatioiks ! I 
 
 1886. ALLEY'S 1886. 
 
 Combined Drone and Queen Trap. 
 
 A perfect non-swarming arrangement. Send 
 and get them by the quantity, in the flat, and sell 
 to your bee-keeping friends. Every bee-keeper 
 will purchase one or more who examines them. 
 Send for wholesale prices. Circulars free. 
 HEUfKY ALliEX dte €0., 
 
 5lDtf. Wenham, Essex Co., Mass. 
 
 Italian Bees and Queens, 
 
 IFOTl 1886. 
 AL.SO SYRIAN BBKS and QUEENS, 
 
 Nuclei, Bees by the Pound, Hives, Sections, 
 etc. Send for my Prioe-List for 1886. 
 Address, I. K. GOOD, 
 
 NAPPANBE, IND. 
 
 1869. Up with the Times. 1886. 
 
 ABMSTRONG'S 
 
 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 
 best arranged bee-hive for all purposes. Descrip- 
 tive circular free. Address, 
 
 ELVIN AKMSTKONG, Propr., 
 
 JERSEYVILLE. ILLS. 
 
 Vandervort Gomli Fdn. Mills, 
 
 Send for Samples A Rednced Prlce-I^lat. 
 
 ABtf J.VANDEEVOET.Laceyville, Pa. 
 
 Frank L. Dougherty, 
 
 .532 E. Wasliinsctolt St., 
 
 PEALKR IN 
 
 Bees.Bee-keepers'Supplies &Honey 
 
 Langstroth Hives a Specialty. 
 
 OUR arrangement for tailing comb iioney 
 is certainly equal to, if not ahead of 
 anything so far produced. 
 
 Send for our Illustrated Catalogue. 
 
 F. A. SALISBURY'S 
 
 CATALOGUEforl886, 
 
 SENT ON APPLICATION. 
 
 Head-Quarters forComb Foundation. 
 
 CEDDES, Onondaga Co., N. Y. 
 
 Yandeiwt Foundation Mill. 
 
 6 Inch, Price, $25.00. 
 
 It makeB the finest extra thin Foundation for 
 comb honey. For Sale by 
 
 THOS. G. NEWiTIAN & SON, 
 
 923 & 925 West Madison St., CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 DRAKE & SMITH, 
 
 Successors to A. B. Manum, Bristol, Vt. 
 
 MANUFACTXTREKS of the BXtlSTOI. 
 Bee-Htve, the Standard Hive of Vermont, 
 Section KoneF-!Bes:e«, all sizes, made from 
 White Poplar, (the best timber in the world for 
 honey-boxes), l-pound boxes a specialty. Clamps, 
 Separators andWood Sides. LiehtuingCHners, 
 Shipping Crates, Bee Escapes. Bee Feeders, and 
 Manum'^s Bee Smokers— all made of the best ma- 
 terial and In a workmanlike manner. Send atamp 
 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 
 ■busy to spend the time necessary to delve 
 into a multitude of volumes in order to post 
 themselves on the general history of the 
 past in reference to the formation of Socie- 
 ties of Apiculture. Tljpy have long needed 
 a digest of Convention History in general, 
 and of the Continental Society in particu- 
 lar. They •want to know what was done, 
 and what subjects were discussed at the 
 former meetings. Heretofore this could 
 only be ascertained by carefully examining 
 over 30 volumes of the Ambkican Bee 
 JoTJENAL, and other papers; and some of 
 these are possessed by comparatively very 
 few of the apiarists of to-day. 
 
 Frequently have the members of the 
 Society voted to have the proceedings pub- 
 lished in pamphlet form,, but so far the 
 Society has done it but once, and then 
 only published one-third of what was voted 
 to be done (see page 9), by publishing the 
 report of one convention instead of three. 
 
 In 1877 the publishers of the Amehican 
 Bee Jotienal issued a pamphlet of 33 
 pages containing a report of the Conven- 
 tion of that year. They also publish this 
 pamphlet at their own expense, and have 
 published a report each year, varying from 
 4 to over 40 pages, in the Amebican Bee 
 
 JOtJENAI,. 
 
 In the following pages, we have endeav- 
 ored to supply this want by stating the 
 place and time of each meeting of the Con- 
 tinental Societies during the past 35 years, 
 and naming the principal officers elected, 
 as well as to note all the business of im- 
 portance transacted. 
 
 We have also mentioned all the subjects 
 discussed, and enumerated all the essays 
 read at each meeting; so that the history is 
 complete, without a broken link, so far as 
 it can be ascertained at the present time, 
 and we feel sure it will now become a book 
 of reference in our National gatherings. 
 
 Only a few years ago, at one of the an- 
 nual meetings, no one had even a list of 
 
 the officers for the year, (the Secretary be- 
 ing absent); at other meetings, persons 
 were elected to fill offices not warranted by 
 the Constitution, which had been amended, 
 re-amended, and the amendments entirely 
 lost sight of. There will be no excuse for 
 such things hereafter; if this pamphlet Is 
 consulted, confusion will be avoided. 
 
 The organization of Societies are of im- 
 mense advantage to our pursuit, and help 
 to obtain for it that recognition which it 
 richly deserves among the productions of 
 America. They open up avenues of trade 
 for honey by informing consumers concern- 
 ing Its excellence for medical and mechani- 
 cal piuTJOses, confectionery, table use, etc. 
 
 They help producers by looking after their 
 interests in the use of the mails for the 
 transmission of bees to all parts of the 
 world, and the use of the railroads for the 
 shipping of honey and getting It into the 
 proper classifications, etc. 
 
 When the North American Bee-Keepers' 
 Society, in October, 1878, appointed the 
 editor of the Bee J otjbnax to represent the 
 Society at the Conventions and among the 
 bee-keepers of the Old World, it exhibited 
 a wisdom for which it has not received 
 proper credit from the bee-keepers of 
 America, and foresaw the advantages to be 
 derived from the cultivation of closer rela- 
 tions with foreign bee-keepers. 
 
 In 1879, the Delegate visited most of the 
 more prominent apiarian societies of 
 Europe, and was everywhere received with 
 cordiality and courtesy. But much preju- 
 dice existed against American products, 
 and especially honey. In England the 
 public haifi been frequently imposed upon 
 and had become disgusted with vile trash 
 sold as " Pure Strained Honey; " while in 
 France, Italy and Germany, it was Incom- 
 prehensible how the Americans could pro- 
 duce such vast amounts of apparently 
 superior honey, and compete with their 
 own producers, after paying exorbitant 
 freights. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Delegate appreciated the immensity 
 ■ of the market a-waiting our product, but 
 realized the necessity for removing distrust ; 
 and, wherever he went, labored with this 
 objept in view. It was not enough to assert 
 that our honey was superior, but he was 
 obliged to prove why it was so; nor was it 
 sufficient to claim that we could produce 
 pure honey and meet the public demand at 
 popular prices, but he found it best to de- ' 
 monstrate how it would be accomplished. 
 
 Scarcely had the Delegate returned, when 
 our market became stronger; the foreign 
 demand was strengthened, and a healthy 
 competition sprang up. The following in 
 a letter from a honey dealer in England, 
 to the Delegate, is good testimony : 
 
 " Tou might cover Europe with the most 
 approved modem bee-keeping appliances, 
 but you could not prolong our honey sea- 
 sons. Bee-keeping here can never be pur- 
 sued as a business, because our honey sea- 
 sons are of no consequence; so all fears of 
 our competition can be discarded as absurd 
 and ridiculous. You here rendered me 
 great assistance in abolishing the unfair 
 prejudice existing about that time in the 
 minds of English consumers against Ameri- 
 can honey; in fact, it was remarked by 
 many that the whole of your valuable time 
 was devoted to this most important desid- 
 eratum. Time which almost all visitors to 
 this country would have spent in sight- 
 seeing, you occupied in counteracting the 
 many absurd stories about ' stuffed honey 
 
 combs ' launched into this country from 
 America. Tou deserve great credit for 
 your tireless efforts in that direction." 
 
 Now we have the gratifying intelligence, 
 in German figures, that the sale of foreign 
 honey in Germany has nearly doubled in 
 the past few years, reaching an aggregate 
 almost equivalent to one-eighth of the en- 
 tire product of North America. 
 
 The Hamburg Journal, in Germany, 
 has formulated a table showing the follow- 
 ing result: The total amount of American 
 honey received at Hamburg in 1877, was 
 1,018,000 kilos (a kilo is 3 pounds). In 1878 
 it was 1,529,500 kilos; and in 1880 it was 
 swelled to the enormous amount of 1,912,- 
 500 kilos, or nearly four millions of poimds. 
 The amount imported m 1880 is double the 
 amount given for 1878. 
 
 This shows what may be done by asso- 
 ciated labor and organization. 
 
 The expenses of this trip, aggregating 
 about $1,500, were entirely borne by the 
 Delegate, who donated not only the money 
 but five months' time to the interests of the 
 apiarists of America; and the results show 
 that both time and money were well spent. 
 
 Let us hope that the bee-keepers of 
 America will sustain their organizations 
 and help to make them more useful. 
 
 Thomas G. Newman. 
 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. 
 
 The first Convention of the bee-keepers 
 of America was lield at Cleveland, O., on 
 March 15, 1860. The following persons 
 were then elected as ofBcers : 
 
 President— Prof. J. P. Kirtland. 
 Vice-President— Wm. M. Cunningham. 
 Corresponding Sec'y— E. T. Sturtevant. 
 Recording Sec*y^J.^irkpatrick. 
 Treasurer— E. Gallup. 
 
 The first question discussed was : 
 ■"What is the best mode of wintering 
 bees ?" The Kev. L. L. Langstroth was 
 present, and advocated cellar-wintering. 
 Others favored buryiug them in clamps. 
 The subjects afterwards engaging their 
 attention were ventilation of hives, feed- 
 ing bees, robbing, feeding rye flour for 
 pollen, Italian bees, swarming, bee- 
 fiouses, etc. 
 
 When this convention was held there 
 were no periodicals devoted to the pursuit 
 of bee-culture in America, and the report 
 of the convention was published in the 
 •"Ohio Parmer. " Mr. Samuel Wagner 
 I started the Monthly Amebican Bee 
 ] JoTXENAL in the following January (1861), 
 and in the March number of the Bee 
 ■JoTJBifAL he re-published the proceedings 
 under the heading of the " First American 
 Bee-Keepers' Convention," and editorially 
 remarked as follows : 
 
 "We take pleasure in placing on record incur 
 ■columns, the proceedings of tbe first American 
 Bee-Keepers' Convention, wiiich met at Cleveland, 
 O., on tbe lAth of March, 1S60. Tlie time is ap- 
 proaching when bee-culture will occupy a bigber 
 position than it has yet held in this country, and 
 when It will be interesting to trace back its history 
 -to those pioneer movements which conduced to 
 revival and progress." 
 
 The Second Convention 
 
 was held in Cleveland, O., on March 14, 
 1861, President Kirtland in the chair. The 
 ■discussions were mostlj; on the adoption 
 of the movable-frame hives, and a resolu- 
 tion was passed welcoming the advent of 
 the Ambbican Bee JotrHNAL, and recom- 
 mending it to all bee-keepers. This 
 meeting was adjoumea to Nov. 31, 1861, 
 when a semi-annual meeting was held. 
 
 Tlie Third Coiiyention 
 
 was called to order by President Kirtland 
 on Nov. 31, 1861, and the members dis- 
 cussed raany_ important matters, among 
 them wintering, feeding, and handling 
 bees. 
 
 On account of the "civil war," attention 
 was called from the pursuit oi bee-keep- 
 ing, the American Bee Jotibnal was 
 suspended for 43^ years, and we know of 
 no Convention of bee-keepers of any 
 importance until 1866. 
 
 Other Conventions Organized. 
 
 The Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Associa- 
 tion was formed in Madison in 1866. 
 
 On Oct. 4, 1867, the " Northwestern "t 
 was organize'd, in Des Moines, Iowa, on 
 the State Pair Grounds, about 150 bee- 
 keepers being present ; no business of any 
 importance seemed to have been done. 
 R. R. Murphy was elected President, and 
 M. M. Baldridge, Secretary. 
 
 The Kentucky Bee-Keeners' Association 
 was formed at a convention held in Lex- 
 ington on Nov. 30, .1867. Dr. John Dillard 
 was elected Pres., and W. Spencer, Sec. 
 
 The Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association, 
 was farmed on April 7, 1869. Mr. E. Rood 
 'was elected its first President, and Prof. 
 A. J. Cook its first Secretary. The first 
 ^Convention lasted two days, and the dis- 
 "cussions extended over nearly the entire 
 field of the apicultural pursuit. Its second 
 Convention was held on Sept. 31, 1869, 
 and Mr. A. F. Moon was elected President. 
 Both meetings were held at Jackson, Mich. 
 
 The Ohio bee-keepers met in convention / 
 at Toledo, 0;;, on Sept. 15,1869, and ad- 
 journed to Cleveland at the call of the 
 Secretary, Mr. J. F. Martin. The Cleve- 
 land Convention was held on Jan. 14, 1870, 
 when it was decided to hold annual i 
 sessions thereafter. This was the con- 
 tinuation of the first American Bee-Keep- 
 ers' Society (formed in 1860), and the 
 President, Dr. Kirtland, and Secretary, E. 
 T. Sturtevant, were re-elected. 
 
 The Chautauqua Co.(N.Y.) Bee-Keepers' , 
 Association was organized on Jan. 39, 
 1870, by adopting a constitution and by- < 
 laws and electing T. S. Moss President, 
 and C. E. Benton,Secretary and Treasurer. 
 It was decided to hold the first annual 
 convention at Mayville, on Sept. 30, 1870. 
 
NOBTH AMERICAN 
 
 The Northeastern (New York) Bee- 
 ^ Keepers' Association was instituted in 
 March, 1870 ; but we can find no minutes 
 of that meeting. A semi-annual session 
 was held at Utica, N. T., on Sept. 37 and 
 28, 1870. At this meeting It was agreed to 
 institute a National Convention, and a call 
 was issued for such to be held at Cincin- 
 nati, O., in February, 1871. 
 
 The Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association 
 met at Lansing on March 23, 1870. Presi- 
 dent A.. F. Moon strongly ureed the 
 formation of a National Bee-Keepers' 
 Society, and several letters were read 
 from j[>rominent apiarists, urging the 
 formation of sucn a Society. After con- 
 siderable discussion the following was 
 unanimously adopted : 
 
 "Whereas, The subject of a National Bee- 
 Keepers* Association was much tallied of at our 
 last (fathering ; and 
 
 " Whereas, In our judgment, the time for the 
 same Is fully come ; therefore 
 
 " Resolved, That we issue a call for a National 
 Bee- Keepers* Association to be held in the city of 
 Indianapolis, Ind., on the 10th and 11th of August 
 next." • 
 
 The date was afterwards changed to 
 Dec. 21, 1870, as will be seen by the follow- 
 ing, which is copied from the Ambbican 
 Bee Joubnal of February, 1871 : 
 
 North American Bee-Association. 
 
 " On Feb. 10, 1870, Prof. A.J. Cook, Sec- 
 retary of the Michigan Bee-Keepers' Asso- 
 ciation, issued a circular, which he mailed 
 to the members of that Association, to the 
 prominent bee-keepers of other States, 
 and to the press, inviting everybody 
 interested to meet at Lansing, Mich., on 
 the 31st of March, for the purpose of 
 discussing special questions on the sub- 
 ject of bee-culture, prominent among 
 which would be the holding of a National 
 Bee-Keepers' Convention, at some central 
 point during the year. On the day an- 
 nounced, the convention was held at 
 Lansing, and the question of holding a 
 National Convention was discussed with 
 the wildest enthusiasm. As was antici- 
 pated, the discussion resulted in a call to 
 the bee-keepers of America for a National . 
 Convention, to be held in Indianapolis, 
 Ind. The location was happily chosen, 
 and has given very general satisfaction, it 
 being centrally located, and readily acces- 
 sible by a complete net-work of railroads. 
 
 "Accordingly, on Dec. 21 (the day finally 
 fixed upon), a large number of the most 
 prominent and enterprising of bee-keepers 
 of tlie United States and Canada, met in 
 convention at the House of Representa- 
 tives, in Indianapolis, and held six 
 sessions, the last one ending at midnight 
 on the 32d of Dec, 1870. Every seat in 
 the house was occupied ; the States rep- 
 resented being Indiana, Illinois, Michi- 
 gan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Iowa, 
 New York, Tennessee, Missouri, .and 
 Pennsylvania. Delegates were also pres- 
 , ent from Utah and Canada. On the 
 whole, it is safe to assume that never in 
 the history of America has bee-culture 
 been represented in a convention by so 
 large an assemblage of wide-awake, 
 intelligent, and enterprising bee-keepers.'' 
 
 The convention was called to order at 
 10 a.m., by A. F. Moon, President of the 
 Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association, wlio 
 was elected temporary President, and M. 
 M. Baldridge, of Illinois, temporary Sec. 
 
 On motion of Dr. Bohrer, of Indiana, a 
 committee of one member from each State 
 represented, was appointed to prepare a 
 Constitution and to nominate officers, viz: 
 Z. S. Richardson, of Indiana ; Ezra Rood, 
 of Michigan ; D. L. Adair, of Kentucky ; 
 M. L. Dunlap, of Illinois ; Aaron Bene- 
 dict, of Ohio; Adam Grimm, of Wiscon- 
 sin ; Elisha Gallup, of Iowa ; Dr. T. B. 
 Hamlin, of Tennessee ; Robert Bickford, 
 of New York ; W. D. Roberts, of Utah 
 Territory : Daniel Mcllvain. of Pennsyl- 
 vania ; J. L, Smith, of Missouri, and Wm. 
 F. Clarke, of Canada. 
 
 This committee reported a constitution 
 which, with a few amendments, was 
 adopted ; and recommended the following 
 as of&cers during that meeting : 
 
 President— A. F. Moon. 
 
 Vice-Presidents— Elislia Gallup and Dr. 
 6. Bohrer. 
 
 Secretary— M. M. Baldridge. 
 
 Assistant Sec'y— Wm. F. Clarke. 
 
 Treasurer— N. C. Mitchell. 
 
 The report was adopted, and President 
 Moon thanked the convention for the 
 honor conferred upon him, and expressed 
 the desire that it might be the means of 
 promoting the best interests of the Asso- 
 ciation, and bee-culture generally. 
 
 The exhibits at this convention were : 
 18 movable-comb hives ; 3 cages for ferti- 
 lizing queens in confinement ; 3 queen 
 nurseries ; 3 bee-feeders ; 1 trap for catch- 
 ing queens and drones when leaving the- 
 hives ; 1 wax-extractor ; and 4 machines 
 for extracting honey from the combs. 
 
 The election of officers for the ensuing 
 year was then announced as in order. 
 
 On motion of R. C. Otis, of Wisconsin,^ 
 the Rev. Mr. Langstroth was made an 
 honorary member of the Association. 
 
 In view of what Mr. Langstroth has 
 already done, in, promoting the interests 
 of bee-keeping, not only m this but in 
 other countries by the introduction of an 
 improved system of bee-management, Mr. 
 Otis moved that Rev. L. L. Langstroth, of 
 Oxford, 0., be crowned with the honor of 
 being the President of the North Ameri- 
 can Bee-Keepers' Association for the 
 ensuing year. 
 
 The motion was warmly seconded, and 
 there being no other nomination. Mr. M. 
 L. Dunlap moved that President Moon be 
 authorized to cast the unanimous vote of 
 the Association. 
 
 The motion prevailed, and the tellers 
 announced the result of the ballot. On 
 motion the Secretary was instructed to 
 notify Mr. Lai^stroth of his election. 
 
 On motion of Mr. W. F. Clarke, the- 
 epnstitution was amended so as to pro- 
 vide for three additional Vice-presidents, 
 making the number five instead of two. 
 
 The following officers were unanimously 
 elected: Vice-presidents-W. F. Clarke, 
 Ont. ; Dr. T. B. Hamlin, Tenn. ; Robert 
 
BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 
 
 Bickford, N.T. ; E. Gallup, Iowa ; A. F. 
 Moon, Mich. Secretary— M. M. Baldridee, 
 St.Charles,nis. Treasurer— N.C.Mitchell, 
 Indianapolis, Ind. 
 
 The following resolution was adopted : 
 
 " Beaalved That the Executive Uommittee be In- 
 struoted to publish the prooeedlngn of this Asso- 
 ciation In pamphlet form at the earliest practicable 
 day, provided the funds will warrant, and that the 
 Secretary forward a copy to each member as soon 
 as publlsned." 
 
 The following were admitted as honor- 
 ary members : 
 
 Samuel Wagner.editor of the American 
 Beb Jouenal, Washington, D. C. : M. 
 Quinby, author of "Mysteries of Bee- 
 Keeping/' St. Johnsville, New York ; E. 
 S. Tupper, Brighton, Iowa : Rev. John 
 Dzlerzon, Karlsmarket, Lower Silesia, 
 Germany : A. Schmidt, editor of the 
 "Bienen-Zeitung," Eiclistadt, Germany; 
 li. Gerster, inventor of the Wax-Extractor, 
 Berne, Switzerland ; T. W. Woodbury, 
 Mount Radford, Exeter, England ; Major 
 Von Hruschka, Germany, inventor of 
 Mel-Extractor. 
 
 As the Rev. L. L. Langstroth was not 
 present, he was notified of his election as 
 President, and accepted it, adding that he 
 hoped "that the interests of practical and 
 scientific hee-keeping may be greatly 
 advanced " by the organization. 
 
 The topics discussed were : Manage- 
 ment of an apiary ;- diseases of bees ; 
 Italian and Egyptian bees ; swarming and 
 Increase by division ; queen-rearing ; bee- 
 
 Easturage ; transferring bees ; marketing 
 oney ; comb foundation, etc. 
 The convention adjourned to meet in 
 Cleveland, O., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 
 1871, at 9 a.m. 
 
 American Bee-Keepers' Association. 
 
 The Cincinnati "Gazette" remarks as 
 follows : 
 
 "Various States of the Union, either 
 singly or two or three of them united, 
 have formed bee-keepers' associatioiis,but 
 hitherto no national association has ex- 
 isted in this country. The impetus given 
 to bee-culture by the discoveries of Huber, 
 the distinguished Geneva apiarist, at the 
 close of the last century, has sent hun- 
 dreds into that pursuit. The progress of 
 skill and kiiowfedge in it has not lagged 
 behind the advance made by science and 
 skill In other departments of knowledge 
 and industry since the blind Huber died. 
 The necessity of associated action and 
 effort for tlie bfenefit of bee-culture has 
 been widely felt and that feeling has been 
 manifested 'in forming numerous local 
 
 fliS S O (* i 3. t lOQ S 
 
 "About a'year ago, two of these associa- 
 tions, at nearly the same time, conceived 
 the idea of issuing a call for a convention 
 to form a national organization. One of 
 them was the Miphigan, the other the 
 Northeastern Bee-Keepers' Association. 
 The North American Bee-Keepers' Asso- 
 ciation, organized at Indianapolis last 
 December, and the American Bee-Keep- 
 ers' Association, organized here, are the 
 results of calls issued by the above local 
 bodies respectively, viz : the Michigan 
 
 and the Nort^jea stern. Between these 
 associations there has been some con- 
 troversy—with but little, if any, ill feeling 
 —as to tlie claim of priority in issuing ther 
 call forthe National Convention. 
 
 " The Convention called by the Michigan 
 Association met in December last ; that 
 called by the Northeastern Association is 
 the one in session now in this city. Both 
 associations have the same man, the Rev. 
 L. L. Langstroth, of Oxford, 0., for Presi- 
 dent. Many members of the Association 
 formed yesterday are members of the 
 North American formed at Indianapolis. 
 Mr. Langstroth, of the former body, in re- 
 .tiring from the active duties of the chair 
 last evening, called to oflBciate as Chair- 
 man of the American, the Rev. Mr. Vaw 
 Slyke, of the Northeastern Association. 
 The union of the two National Associa- 
 tions at their next meeting, which, for 
 both, is at the same time and place, is a 
 moral certainty." 
 
 About 150 delegates from various States 
 assembled in Convention at 1 p.m., and an 
 organization was effected by electing Rev. 
 Wm. F. Clarke, of Toronto, Chairman. 
 
 Gen. D. L. Adair, of Kentucky, moved 
 to adopt a constitution, which he pre- 
 sented, and make this convention an 
 association, to be known as the Ameri- 
 can Bee-Keepers' Association. 
 
 This was objected to as needless, since 
 we have already a North American Bee- 
 Keepers' Association. Mr. H. A. King, 
 of New Tork,favored Gen. Adair's motion. 
 This would be the first step toward uniting 
 the North American Association and the 
 one proposed to organize here. 
 
 Dr, Bohrer, of Indiana, a delegate to the 
 Convention that met at Indianapolis, Dec. 
 31, 1870, spoke in favor of maintaining 
 good feeling. He desired that there should 
 be out one Association, i. e., the North 
 American or the American, as should be 
 agreed. 
 
 Mr. B. C. Otis, of Wisconsin, moved, as 
 an amendment to Gen. Adair's motion, to- 
 appoint a committee to negotiate for 
 union witl) a like committee of the North 
 American Bee-Keepers' Association. 
 
 Mr. H. A. King, of New York, moved to- 
 amend the amendment, that the Conven- 
 tion should first orttanize by adopting ai 
 Constitution, and then propose a union. 
 
 By carrying the previous question, the 
 debate was cut off. 
 
 Mr. King's amendment to Mr. Otis'' 
 amendment was adopted. 
 
 The " American " Society organized by 
 adopting a Constitution similar to the 
 "North American," adopted at Indian- 
 apolis, and elected the Rev. L. L. Langs- 
 troth President, Rev. H. A. King, Secre- 
 tary, Gen. D. L. Adair and L. C. Waite, 
 Assistant Secretaries, N. C. Mitchell, 
 Treasurer, and 15 Vice-Presidents. 
 
 The Rev. L. L. Langstroth took the 
 chair, but being feeble, he called the Rev. 
 E. Van Slyke, Vice-President for New- 
 York, to preside. 
 
NORTH AMEEICAN 
 
 Rev. W. F. Clarke, tbe retiring tem- 
 porary President, offered the following 
 resolution, which was unanimously 
 adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, That this Association, when It ad- 
 journs, adjonrn to meet at Cleveland, O., at 9 a.m., 
 on the first Wednesday In December. I87I, at the 
 same time and blace as the North American Bee- 
 Keepers* Association ; when, provided the other 
 organization shall Instruct its officers to do the 
 same, the officers of this body shall resign, with a 
 view of there and then consolidating both associa- 
 tions into one." 
 
 On motion of Mr. Peclc.amended by Mr. 
 Clarke, Mr. King, Mr. Peck and Mr. Otis 
 were appointed a committee to confer 
 with a similar committee appointed by 
 the North American Bee-Keepers' Assc 
 elation, with a view to a union of that 
 with tnis organization, and report the 
 same to this Association. 
 
 The topics discussed were : Winter 
 management of bees: artificial swarming; 
 prevention of natural swarming ; Italian 
 •bees vs. hybrids and black bees ; hin- 
 drances to bee-culture ; drones ; honey- 
 plants ; introducing queens ; extracted 
 ioney, etc. ^.^, ^ 
 
 Mr. E. Gallup read an essay entitled, 
 "Successful bee-keeping in a nut-shell." 
 
 The following were made honorary 
 members : T. W. Woodbury, Mount Rad- 
 ford, England; F. W. Vogel, Lekman- 
 shofel, Prussia ; Rev. George Kleine, 
 Luethorst, Prussia ; Andreas Schmidt, 
 Eichstadt, Bavaria ; Rev. John Dzlerzon, 
 Karlsmarkt, Silesia ; Baron A. and Baro- 
 ness L. Von Berlepsch, Munich, Bavaria ; 
 Prof. C. T. E. Von Siebold, Munich, 
 Bavaria ;• Maj. F. Von Hmschka, Dolo, 
 Italy ; Dr. A. Dubini, Milan, Italy ; Vis- 
 count De Salioeto, Milan Italy ; A. S. 
 Packard, Salem, Mass. ; C. V. Reily, St. 
 liOuis, Mo. 
 
 Statistics : 120 bee-keepers reported 
 that they owned 5,051 colonies of bees ; 
 and the honey produced amounted to 
 «3,065 pounds, and the average price it 
 sold at, was about 30 cents per pound. 
 Beeswax,l,046 pounds — 4,613 colonies were 
 in movable frame hives, and 439 in box- 
 liives. 
 
 The Rev. L. L. Langstroth was the re- 
 cipient of an expression of the gratitude 
 of bee-keepers (in the shape of a well- 
 filled purse), and, by unanimous vote, he 
 was accorded the special privilege of 
 speaking when, and as long as he chose 
 to do so, on any subject. He solved many 
 knotty questions, and often " poured oil 
 on the troubled waters." 
 
 This Association adjourned to meet 
 with the North American, at Cleveland, 
 O., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1871, at 9 a.m. 
 
 The Two Associations Consolidated. 
 
 Pursuant to adjournment of bofh, the 
 " American " and " North American " Bee- 
 Keepers' Associations met in joint session 
 at Temperance Hall In Cleveland, 0., at 
 10 a.m., on Dec. 6, 1871. The President of 
 tooth societies, the Rev. L. L. Langstroth, 
 being absent on account of illness, Vice- 
 President W. F. Clarke called the meeting 
 to order, and, by unanimous vote, both 
 associations were dissolved for the pur- 
 pose of consolidation. 
 
 Moses Quinby was elected temporary 
 chairmanraud Rev. H. A. King temporary 
 secretary. 
 
 By vote, all the offlcers of the dissolved 
 associations present, were created a com- 
 mittee to present a constitution for perma- 
 nent organization. This conimittee were: 
 Rev. W. F. Clarke, Dr. G. Bohrer, A. F. 
 Moon, Dr. T. B. Hamlin, S. Hoagland, 
 Aaron Benedict, L. C. Waite, Gen. D. L. 
 Adair, and N. C. Mitchell. The committee 
 reported the following constitution, which 
 was then unanimously adopted. 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ARTICLE 1.— This organizBtion shall be known as 
 the North American Bee-Keepers' Society, and 
 shall meet annually. ^ . ^ 
 
 ART. -2.— Its object shall be to promote the inter- 
 ests of bee-culture. , , 
 
 ART. 3.— The officers of this Society shall be a 
 President, one Vice President from each State, 
 District, Territory or Province represented, Secre- 
 tary, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secre- 
 tary, and Treasurer, whose duties shall be those 
 usually performed by such officers. They shall be 
 elected by ballot, and hold tbeir offices for one 
 year, or until their successors shall be elected. 
 
 ART. 4.— The President, Secretaries and Treas- 
 urer shall constitute an Executive Committee. 
 
 ART. 5. — Any person may become a member by 
 giving his or her name to the Secretary and paying 
 one dollar, excepting ladies, who shall be admitted 
 free of charge. 
 
 ART. fi.— This Society may from time to time 
 elect suitable persons as honorary members. 
 
 ART- 7.— No member shall he entitled to the floor 
 more than five minutes in the discussion of any 
 motion, resolution or petition, without the consent 
 of the Society. 
 
 ART. 8.— All committees shall he elected by bal- 
 lot, by a plurality vote, except by special resolu- 
 tion. 
 
 Art. 9.— Each annual meeting of this Society 
 shall be held atsuch time and place as shall be des- 
 ignated by a majority vote at the preceding regular 
 annual meeting. 
 
 Art. 10. — A special meeting may be called by the 
 Executive Committee at any time on requisition of 
 five of the Vice Presidents. 
 
 ART. 11.— This Constitution maybe amended at 
 any annual meeting, by a two-thirds vote of all 
 the members in attendance. 
 
 The following were elected a committee 
 on honorary members : Messrs. Root, 
 Moon and Bohrer. Their report was 
 adopted. It read thus : 
 
 " Such persons as were made honorary members 
 of both the North \merican Bee-Keepers' Asso- 
 ciation, held at Indianapolis, and the American 
 Bee-Keepers' Association, at Cincinnati, be, and 
 they are hereby declared, honorary members of 
 this Society." 
 
 The Society then proceeded to the elec- 
 tion of officers for the ensuing year, which 
 resulted as follows : 
 President— M.Quinby,St.Johnsville,N.T. 
 
 Vice-Presidents — Aaron Benedict, O. 
 J. E. Hetherington, N. Y. ; E. J. Peck, n! 
 J. ; Seth Hoagland, Pa. ; D. L. Adair, Ky. 
 T. B. Hamlin, Tenn. ; G. Bohrer, Ind. 
 Ezra Rood, Mich. ; M. M. Baldridge, Ills. 
 R. C. Otis, Wis. ; J. W. Hosmer, Minn. 
 E. S. Tupper, Iowa ; S. A. Stillman, Mo. 
 L. J. Dallas, Kans. ; W. D. Roberts, Utah 
 W. F. Clarke, Ont. ; Hugh Cameron, D. C' 
 
 Secretary— H. A. King, N.T. Recording 
 Secretary— A. J. Cook, Mich.: Correspond 
 ing Secretary, A. I. Root, O. ; Treasurer, 
 N. C. Mitchell, Ind. 
 
 The following business committee was 
 appointed to serve during the session : 
 Messrs. Clarke, Waite, Adair, Hoagland, 
 Hosmer, Moon, and Mrs. Tupper. 
 
BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 
 
 Dr. Bohrer, of Indiana, offered the fol- 
 lowing resolution, which was adopted : 
 
 " Betolved, Tbat tbe proceedlnRs of the North 
 Amerloan Bee-Keepers* AsBoolatloa held at In- 
 dianapolis, and the American Bee-Keepers* Asso- 
 olatlon held at Clnolnnatl. also of this session of 
 the North American Bee-Keepers* Society, be pub- 
 lished In pamphlet form, and a copy sent to each 
 member of this Society free of onarge ; the ex- 
 penses to be paid out of the funds of the treasury.*' 
 
 Mr. Kood, of Michigan, offered the fol- 
 lowing, which was adopted : 
 
 " Resolved^ That a committee on publication, con- 
 sistiUK of Messrs Adair, Mitchell and King, be ap- 
 pointed, and that they be empowered to employ 
 assistants In reporting.^'. 
 
 It was resolved, that when this Society 
 adjourns it will adjourn to meet at the 
 city of Indianapolis, Ind., on the first 
 Wednesday in December, 1872, at 10 a.m. 
 
 The meeting was pleasant and instruc- 
 tive, and great harmony prevailed. 
 Among others, the following resolutions 
 were passed unanimously : 
 
 ** Whereas, Millions of wealth have been an- 
 nually lost to tbe poeple, through Ignorance of bee- 
 culture ; and 
 
 " Whskb AS, It is the deelre and object of this 
 Society to enhance Improvement and prosperity in 
 this regarr) ; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That we earnestly recommend the 
 appointment of an apiarian professor in each of 
 the Agricultural Colleges on the Continent, and 
 that we respectfully call the attention of State and 
 ■other executives to this subject. 
 
 " Resohied, That the Secretary be instructed to 
 forward copies of these resolutions to tbe Gover- 
 nors of all the States, Territories & Provinces In 
 North America. 
 
 "Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be 
 tendered to our worthy President, Mr. M, Quinby, 
 for the satisfactory manner In which he has pre- 
 sided over our meeting.'* 
 
 The topics discussed were : Why do 
 bees swarm ? why do bees rear queens ? 
 artificial swarming ; can swarming be 
 prevented ? best method of handling bees 
 to prevent anger ; bee-pasturage ; bee- 
 keeping experience ; transferring bees ; 
 honey-dew ; extracted honey ; comb 
 honey ; marlieting honey ; controlling the 
 fertilization of queens ; mortality among 
 bees ; wintering Dees ; feeding bees with 
 rye meal, etc. 
 
 Addresses were given as follows : 
 Oathering the nectar, and how to market 
 it, by President Quinby ; popular bee- 
 keeping, by Rev. H. A. King ; prize poem, 
 by Rev. W. F. Clarke ; the experiences of 
 a beginner, by Mrs. Savery ; bee-keeping 
 for ministers, by Rev. W. F. Clarke; re- 
 constructed comb, by Gen. Adair ; honey 
 from the linden, by Le Roy Whitford. 
 
 Adjourned to meet at Indianapolis, Ind„ 
 on Dec. 4, 1873. 
 
 The Third Annual Convention 
 
 was held at Indianapolis, Ind., on Dec. 4, 
 5 and 6, 1872. The Rev. W. F. Clarke was 
 elected president, and the Rev. H. A. 
 King, secretary. 
 
 At this meeting the office of Recording 
 Secretary was abolished by amendment to 
 the constitution, and Art. v . was changed 
 to, "Any person may become a member by 
 giving his or her name to the Secretary, 
 and paying an annual fee of $1, except 
 ladies, who shall be admitted free of 
 charge." 
 
 This resolution was also passed : 
 
 "Resolved, That no member shall be entitled to 
 the fioor more than five minutes in the discussion 
 of any motion, resolution or petition, without con.' 
 sent of the Society, nor a second time, unless by 
 consent of the President or a majority of the 
 members present.*' 
 
 The report proceeds as follows : 
 
 " Dr. Bohrer, from the committee to settle with 
 the Treasurer, made a report, showing that the 
 Treasurer*B receipts at the three former meetings 
 had been $296, and that he bad paid out $295.27, 
 leaving a balance of 7S cents due the Society. On 
 motion tbe report was received and adopted. 
 
 "Dr. Bohrer proposed to petition for some plan 
 of registration, by which the security of queens 
 sent by mall may be guaranteed. 
 
 "Mr. King, of New York, said that the Post- 
 master General had lately decided that bees were 
 not mailable matter." 
 
 Resolutions were adopted as follows : 
 
 " Resolved, That the President of this Society be 
 authorized in its name and behalf, to addressaclr- 
 cular to all tbe bee-keepers of this Continent, 
 urging the formation of neighborhood, county. 
 State, territorial and provincial associations, aux- 
 iliary to this Society. 
 
 " Resolved, That D. L. Adair be paid $50 for his 
 services as reporter of this Society. 
 
 " Resolved, That the thanks of this Societer be 
 tendered to our worthy President, Eev. W. F. 
 Clarke, for his able opening address, and the im- 
 partial manner in which he has presided over our 
 deliberations," 
 
 President Clarke, gave an Interesting 
 address on the prospects of bee-keeping, 
 and referred to the loss which apiculture 
 had sustained in the death of Mr. Samuel 
 Wagner, the able and talented editor of 
 the Ambeican Bee Jotjbnal. 
 
 Dr. Bohrer read an essay on "The 
 objects of the Society," recommending 
 that the proceedings of each annual Con- 
 vention be printed in pamphlet form. 
 
 Gen. D. L. Adair read an essay ou "The 
 capacity of a colony of bees for producing 
 honey," and concluded with this remark : 
 
 "Now 15 square inches of comb. will, on an aver- 
 age, hold one pound of honey, so that each square 
 foot of honey In the comb will weigh nearly nine 
 pounds and two-thirds, and. If they continued at 
 that rate, they would construct the comb for nine 
 hundred pounds in about ninety-three days, or 
 about three months. 
 
 " Another and stronger proof of their capacity 
 tosuppty thecomb, is the tact known to all, that 
 20,000 bees that constitute the working force of an 
 ordinary colony, do produce the comb in which 100 
 pounds of honey is stored, and 1 can see no reason 
 why nine times as many cannot build comb to hold 
 nine times as much honey." 
 
 The following topics were discussed : 
 Will right management of bees develop 
 peacefulness of disposition, as we know 
 wrong management develops the oppo- 
 site ? bee-keeping on farms and suburban 
 homes ; prevention of losses of bees in 
 winter ; Italian bees compared with black 
 bees ; increase ; feeding bees ; getting 
 surplus honey ; wintering bees ; queen- 
 rearing, etc. 
 
 Adjourned to meet at Louisville, Ky.,on 
 the first Wednesday in Dec, 1873. 
 
 The Fourth Annual Convention 
 
 was held at Louisville, Ky., on the first 
 Wednesday in December, 1873. Seth 
 Hoagland was elected President, Abner 
 Pope, corresponding secretary, and D. L. 
 Adair, recording secretary. Vice-presi- 
 dents were elected for 28 States and 
 Provinces. 
 
10 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 Owing to the inclement weather and 
 sickness o£ several members, but few 
 persons were in attendance, and to meet 
 current expenses, it was voted that each 
 member present, pay an additional dollar 
 to the regular annual fee, which was to be 
 credited to them as a year's payment in 
 advance. 
 
 Gen. Adair stated that it was proposed 
 to hold a Centennial Exposition in Phila- 
 delphia, and moved that a committee of 
 three be appointed to correspond with the 
 managers, and see what arrangements 
 could be made for having the bee-interests 
 represented. The resolution was adopted, 
 and subsequently the chair appointed a 
 committee, and authorized them to ap- 
 point sub-committees in such States as 
 they should deem proper. 
 
 The topics discussed were : clipping 
 queens' wings; the quantity of brood 
 produced by a prolific queen ; the cause 
 and cure of foul brood ; the cause of 
 queens deserting their hives ; bee-pastur- 
 age ; introducing queens ; the use of the 
 honey-extractor ; swarming ; cure for bee- 
 stings, etc. 
 
 Gen. Adair read an essay on " The 
 ■wings of the bee, physiologically con- 
 sidered, as organs of flight and of special 
 sensation." 
 
 Adjourned to meet at Pittsburgh, Pa., 
 on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1874. 
 
 The Fifth Annual Convention 
 
 assembled at Pittsburgh, Pa., on Wednes- 
 day, Nov. 11, 1874, at 10 a.m.. President 
 Hoagland in the chair, who delivered an 
 opening address. 
 
 The JKev. W. F. Clarke was elected 
 President ; Eev. H. A. King, correspond- 
 ing secretary ; Dr. L. Brown, recording 
 secretary ; J. S. Hill, Treasurer; and Vice- 
 presidents for 9 States ; in other States the 
 former officers were to " hold over." 
 
 The committee appointed to make ar- 
 rangements for exhibits at the Centennial 
 in 1376, reported that space had been 
 obtained, and that every arrangement was 
 made for adisplay of apiarian implements. 
 
 The topics discussed were: Advan- 
 tages of bee-keeping; queen-rearing; 
 securing swarms ; moving bees ; breeding 
 m the fall ; introducing queens ; bee- 
 Kirage; wintering bees; prevention of 
 honey-granulation ; selecting a locality 
 for queen-rearing ; spring management of 
 bees, etc. 
 
 TheKev. W. F. Clarke delivered an 
 address on " The sting of the honey-bee." 
 
 '^'Jpjf®^- ^■ ^- ^'"S gave an address 
 on "The adulteration of honey," and 
 resolutions condemnatory of the practice 
 by honey dealers in large cities, were 
 
 The death of Vice-President Hamlin 
 vpas announced, and resolutions passed, 
 enumerating his many virtues. 
 
 Adjourned to meet in Toledo, O., Dec. 
 
 1} la75. 
 
 The Sixth Annual Convention 
 
 met at Toledo, O., on Dec. 1, 1875. None 
 of the ofBcers were present, except the 
 Treasurer, and after much discussion tlie 
 
 general opinion was that the Society- 
 should hold one more meeting (at th& 
 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia^ 
 Pa.), and then cease to exist. 
 
 Some discussion on general topics was 
 indulged in, and G. W. Zimmerman was 
 elected President ; B. B. Overmeyer re- 
 cording secretary ; J, W. Lindsey, cor- 
 responding secretary ; and J. S. Hill 
 Treasurer. Philadelphia,Pa., was selected 
 as the place for the next meeting. 
 
 Pres. Zimmerman remarlced : "After 
 holding the meeting at Philadelphia, I 
 think the Society had better adjourn, sine- 
 die." 
 
 Adjourned to meet at Philadelphia, Pa., 
 atjthe call of the Secretary. 
 
 The Seventh Annual Convention 
 
 convened on the Centennial Grounds at 
 Philadelphia, Pa., on Oct. 25, 1876. Owing 
 to the interest displayed by those in 
 attendance in the Centennial Exhibition, 
 sessions were only held on two evenings. 
 
 The following topics were discussed : 
 Introducing qneens ; wintering weak 
 colonies ; how to control swarming ; how 
 to produce the most surplus honey ; how- 
 to obtain industrious bees ; home market 
 for honey ; and how to promote the in- 
 terests of the National Society. 
 
 The Northeastern (N. T.) Bee-Keepers'' 
 Association offered a prize of $25 for "the 
 best and most practical essay on how to- 
 keep bees successfully during winter and 
 spring;" open for competition to the 
 world. The essays were to be read at the 
 Centennial sessions of the North Ameri- 
 can Bee-Keepers' Society. The judges- 
 on the essays were : J. P. Moore, of New 
 York : Henrv-AUey, of Massachusetts ; 
 and J. S. Hill, of Ohio. Essays were- 
 presented and read from Prof. A. J. Cook, 
 Eev. E. L. Briggs, Dr. W. B. Rush, and 
 W. H. S. Grout. The judges awarded the 
 prize to Prof. Cook's essay. 
 
 Capt. W. J. Andrews was elected Presi- 
 dent ; N. N. Betsinger, J. S. Coe, E. R. 
 Murphy, 6. W. Zimmerman and J. Van- 
 dervort, Vic^-presidents ; J. H. Nellis, 
 Secretary : and J. S. Hill, Treasurer. 
 
 The Secretary was instructed to issue- 
 an address to the bee-keepers of America, 
 earnestly advising them to organize and 
 protect their interests ; and albo request- 
 ing each organization to send one or more 
 delegates to the next North American 
 Convention instructing them concerning: 
 their views of how the continental body 
 can best subserve the interests of tiie 
 fraternity at large. 
 
 .u-^^JS,"''"^^ t" "eet in New York on the 
 third Tuesday in October, 1877. 
 
 The Eighth Annual Convention 
 
 convened in Cooper's Institute, New 
 York, on Oct 16, 1877. President W. J> 
 Andrews occupied the chair, who gave 
 the usual annual address. 
 
 The Constitution was amended, so that 
 only one Vice-President and one Secretary 
 
 rf^ifoi^r?^ ■^}'"'}^'^irr J- H. Nellis was 
 elected President ; W. J. Andrews, Vice- 
 president ; Thomas G. Newman, Secre- 
 tary ; and A. J. King, Treasurer. 
 
BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 
 
 11 
 
 The following were appointed a com- 
 mittee to consider the best means of pro- 
 moting the interests of the National So- 
 ciety, and to increase its u-iefulness : W. 
 J. Andrews, Thomas G. Newman. A. J. 
 King, J. E. Hetherington, and E. D. 
 Clark. This committee reported through 
 its President as follows : 
 
 " Your committee on the best means of promot- 
 ing and advancing the interests of onr Society, 
 would recommend the organization of local socie- 
 tiec), and as a further Incentive to the organization 
 of these local societies, we would recommend an 
 Insurance feature therewith. That In addition to 
 the annual fee of one dollar now provided by our 
 Constitution, that every member of the Society, 
 upon being notified of the death of a member, 
 shall forward to the Secretary the sum of one dol- 
 lar, and that such fund when so collected shall be 
 paid over to the beneSclary designated by the de- 
 ceased member while living. As the time allotted 
 your committee will not permit a full written 
 report at this time, we would therefore recommend 
 that your committee be continued until the next 
 regular annual meeting, to prepare plans, etc." 
 
 The report of the committee was re- 
 ceived and further time granted— but it 
 was never heard from afterwards, nor 
 were any " plans " ever presented by it. 
 
 The following essays were read,f ollowed 
 by discussions : Marketing honey, by 
 Prof. A. J. Cook ; honey dealers, by W. 
 M. Hoge ; the honey market, by ¥. B. 
 Thurber ; comb foundation, by Capt. J. 
 E. Hetherington ; organization and its re- 
 lation to the sale of honey, by Thomas G. 
 Newman ; importing foreign races of bees, 
 by Dr. E. Parmly; rearing of Italian 
 queens, by Martin Metcalf ; preparing 
 brood-combs for winter, by N. N. Bet- 
 singer ; management of an apiary, by 
 Prof. Hasbrouck; and introducing queens, 
 by Silas M. Locke. 
 
 A letter was read from Mr. S. C. Dodge, 
 of Chattanooga, Tenn., requesting that a 
 petitioif be circulated; asking the Post- 
 master General to rescmd his ruling which 
 excluded queen-bees from the mails of the 
 United States. 
 
 After some discussion Ex-president W. 
 J. Andrews was appointed a committee 
 to wait on the Postmaster General in per- 
 son to endeavor to have the ruling in 
 question reversed. 
 
 The Secretary was instructed also to get 
 up a petition to Congress praying for a 
 modification of the postal laws of the 
 United States, so as to allow the trans- 
 mission of living bees through the mails, 
 when properly caged and protected, and 
 to have it numerously signed by bee- 
 keepers, and presented to Congress. This 
 was done early in January, and by March 
 1, having secured several thousands of 
 signatures, the Secretary sent it to a con- 
 gressman, requesting him to present it to 
 Congress, and also wrote to other mem- 
 bers of the House, from several districts, 
 requesting them to use their influence to 
 secure the passage of a law, granting the 
 use of the mails for the transmission of 
 living bees. The Hon. G. B. Loring re- 
 plied that he had consulted with the Post- 
 master General, and found that no law 
 was necessary. House Bill No. 3850 being 
 sufficiently liberal to admit bees to the 
 mails, at the discretion of Postmaster 
 General, when properly caged. Here the 
 matter rested, awaiting the action of the 
 Postmaster General. 
 
 An address to the bee-keepers of Amer- 
 ica was presented by the Kev. J. W. 
 Shearer (who was appointed a committee 
 for that purpose), and it was unanimously 
 adopted, and 835 was appropriated to de- 
 fray the expense of having It printed and 
 circulated. 
 
 Dr. Parmly offered the following prizes: 
 $25 for a successful method of fertilizing 
 queens in confinement, and $10 for the 
 best method of rearing and fertilizing- 
 queens, with the use of fewer worker-bees 
 tlian the present methods— making queens- 
 cheafjer, and the purity of the race certain.. 
 
 Adjourned to meet again in New Tork 
 on the second Tuesday in October, 1878. 
 
 The Ninth Annual Convention 
 
 convened at Cooper's Institute, New York,, 
 on Tuesday, Oof. 8, 1878. PresidentNeliis- 
 occupied the chair, and in his annual 
 address counseled energetic measures to- 
 place the Society on a permanent basis, 
 and to increase its usefulness. 
 
 Thomas G. Newman, chairman of " the 
 committee on the best means of promoting- 
 and advancing the interests of the Na- 
 tional Society, and to increase its useful- 
 ness," reported, recommending ; 
 
 1. That the Society be made a representative 
 body, and that delegates from local societies be 
 sent to the National Society with Instructions as to- 
 the needs of apiculture at large. 
 
 2. That it should encourage a local State exhibi- 
 tion once a year, having public manipulations with 
 bees. 
 
 3. That the National Society award suitable 
 medals for the best exhibit of honey in the most . 
 marketable shape, and a diploma for the most ex- 
 pert public handling of bees. 
 
 The committee also recommended that a Vice- ' 
 President be elected In every State and Territory, 
 to co-operate with the Society in awarding prizes 
 at these Bee and Honey Shows. It also recom- 
 mended that a representative of this Society at- 
 tend these Bee and Honey Shows, and that his 
 traveling expenses be borne by this Society, and 
 that a committee be appointed to procure medals ■ 
 and diplomas. 
 
 The report was adopted, and Articles 
 III and X of the Constitution were re- 
 instated as recommended. T.G.Newman, 
 L. C. Koot, and E. J. Oatman were ap- 
 pointed a committee to carry out the 
 arrangements. 
 
 Thomas G. Newman was unanimonsly 
 elected President ; Dr. Parmly, recording 
 secretary ; Professor Hasbrouck, corres- 
 ponding secretary; and J. H. NelliSj, 
 Treasurer ; Vice-Presidents were elected, 
 for 36 States, provinces and territories. 
 
 The newly elected President, upon 
 taking the chair, gave an address, recom- 
 mending co-operation and concert of 
 action. 
 
 The President was, by unanimous vote^ 
 requested to correspond with the principal 
 bee-keepers of America, and try to in- 
 duce them to take a greater interest in 
 Conventions and Bee and Honey Shows ; 
 and to give the Vice-Presidents all the 
 assistance in his power to make Bee and 
 Honey Shows everywhere a success. 
 
 The President was appointed to repre- 
 sent this Society at the meetings of Eu- 
 ropean bee-keepers during the following 
 summer, and to endeavor to open up a 
 European market for our honey crop. 
 
 A petition to Congress praying for a law 
 against adulteration was presented by Mr 
 
12 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 A. J. King, and adopted. An address to 
 honey producers and consumers was 
 adopted and ordered to be printed and 
 distributed, and signed by the president 
 and secretary. 
 
 Tlie executive committee was requested 
 to get up diplomas or medals, to be awarded 
 at Bee and Honey Shows and thus endea- 
 vor to elevate honey-production. i 
 
 The following essays were read and 
 discussed : Rise and progress o( bee- 
 oiilture, by A. J. King ; bee-pasturage, by 
 Prof. A. J. Cook ; rational system of win- 
 tering bees, by H. H. Flick ; our honey 
 m>irkets, by C. P. Muth ; comb founda- 
 tion, by N. N. Betsiuger ; bee-keeping in 
 California, by C. J. Fox ; introduction of 
 t ireign bees, by Dr. S. P. Parsons ; hints 
 to beginners, by L. C. Root; Italian bees, 
 bv James Heddon ; extracted honey, by 
 H. A. Burch ; fertilization in confinement, 
 by Prof. ,1. Hasbrouck. The prize of S25 
 was awarded to Prof. Hasbrouck, by Dr. 
 Parmly, but he desired it to be held till 
 another year, for further experiments. 
 
 Adjourned to meet at Chicago, Ills., on 
 Oct. 21, 1879. 
 
 The Tenth Annual Convention 
 
 oonvened at Chicago, Ills., on Oct. 21,1879. 
 President T. G. Newman occupied the 
 chair, and gave the annual address, re- 
 marking as follows on the subject of Bee 
 and Honey Shows : 
 
 Creating a home demand for honey was a subject 
 4<;reatly recomiuended aA our last meetine. lam 
 happy to announce that this advice has very large- 
 ly been acted upon, and 1 think it quite safe to say 
 that the "home demand" has been more than 
 doubled during the past year. 
 
 Many of our Vice-Presidents have nobly at- 
 tended to their duties in the di£ferent States, Ter- 
 ritories and Provinces. They have used commend- 
 able zeal in getting the attention of Managers of 
 State, County and District Fairs, and having prizes 
 for honev and bees inserted in many oC the Pre- 
 mium Lists. To many of them this Association 
 should give the encouraging "Well Done;" and 
 we hope that those Vice-Presidents who have so 
 nobly spent their time, money and energy to fur- 
 ther the interests of their constituents may be re- 
 elected, to still further " help on the good work " 
 during the coming year. 
 
 The Executive Committee thought best to begin 
 ■slow, and so have only gotten up Diplomas for the 
 use of Vice-Presidents in awarding prizes, though 
 the last Convention gave them discretionary 
 powers, as to the getting up of medals, &c. Another 
 year medals may serve a good purpose. The 
 ■" Programmes " for this Convention, which you all 
 "have for use, have been produced without cost to 
 the Society— the advertisers paying the entire ex- 
 pense. 
 
 The Treasurer reported $29.50 as a 
 halanee in the treasury. 
 
 Essays were read and discussed, as fol- 
 lows : The tongue of the honey-bee, by 
 Prof. A. J. Cook; patents on implements 
 for the apiary, by A. E. Wenzel; winter- 
 ing bees on the summer stands, by J. E. 
 Moore; monstrosities among bees, by S. 
 ■C, Dodge ; moving bees, by Dr. N. P. 
 Allen ; bee-forage of the South, by Dr. J. P. 
 H. Brown ; cure of foul brood, bv C. F. 
 Muth; foul brood, by Dr. L. C. Whiting; 
 ilie bee of the future, by Rev. W. F. 
 €laxke; the next progressive step, by 
 Frank Benton: wintering bees, IjyH. H. 
 Flick; sub-earth ventilation in wintering 
 bees, by J. Wilkinson ; humanity to the 
 bees, by A. J. King ; increasing the de- 
 
 mand for honey, by Rev. O. Clute; bee- 
 diarrhea, by E. Rood; qualities m bees, 
 by James Heddon; bee-enemies, by JN. 
 Cameron; are cheap queens the most 
 profitable? by D.A.Pike; comb founda- 
 tion, bv J. W. Porter; national apiary and 
 queen-rearing establishment, by Wm. 
 Williamson; how to prevent swarms, by 
 D. D. Palmer; shall we induce people to 
 keep bees ? by W. M. Kellogg; introduc- 
 ing virgin queens, by Rev. M. Mahin; can 
 bee-culture be made profitable ? by J. H. 
 Nellis; preparing comb and extracted 
 honey for the market, by C. C.Cofflnberry ; 
 fertilization in confinement, by Professor 
 Hasbrouck. To the latter Dr. Parmly 
 awarded the prize of $25. 
 
 President Newman reported that, in 
 accordance with the instructions of the 
 last Convention, hehad attended three Bee 
 and Honey Shows in England, one in 
 Scotland, one in Switzerland, and one In 
 Austria; had visited many of the most 
 prominent apiarists of England, Scotland, 
 Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and 
 France; had endeavored to remove the 
 
 Erejudice existing against American 
 oney, and believed that avenues had been 
 created for the disposal of the surplus 
 honey crop of America. 
 
 This report was referred to a committee 
 of 3, who reported as follows : 
 
 *' Resolved, That this Association has listened 
 with much pleasure to President Newman's report 
 of his trip to Europe, and hereby expresses its 
 high appreciation of the able and successful man- 
 ner in which he has represented the interests of 
 American apiculture at the Honey Shows and 
 Apiarian meetings of the Old World. It heartily 
 approves of tbe efforts he has made to disseminate 
 broad views as to the cheap production and en- 
 larged consumption of honey, and thereby aided 
 in securing a larger market for this important pro- 
 duet. In view of the fact that President Newman's 
 tour was wholly at his own expense, the special 
 thanbs of this Association are due, and are here- 
 by tendered, to him for the eminent service he 
 has performed. 
 
 "Besolved, That this Association rejoices in the 
 cordial and enthusiastic reception accorded to 
 President Newman by the apicultural societies 
 and leading bee-masters in Britain and on the 
 Huropean continent, trusting that the harmonious 
 feeling evinced may always be cherished by the 
 bee-keepers o£ the world towards each other. 
 This Assuclation hopes that* the friendly visit 
 which has been made, will ere long be returned by 
 some one or more of prominent apiculturists of 
 Europe, to whom it will be our pride and pleasure 
 to extend as hearty a welcome as that given to our 
 Representative. 
 
 " Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be 
 sent by the Corresponding Secretary to the apicul- 
 tural societies of Europe visited by our Repre- 
 sentative." 
 
 Thomas G. Newman was unanimously 
 re-elected President, Dr. Parmly, Secre- 
 tary, and Mrs. Dunham, Treasurer. Vice- 
 presidents were elected for 36 States and 
 provinces in North America. 
 
 A substantial testimonial consisting of 
 S153.50 was presented to the Rev. L. L. 
 Ijangstroth,"who being sick was unable to 
 
 Mrs. F. A. Dunham and Mr. T. F. Bing- 
 ham were made honorary members in 
 recognition of their valuable inventions. 
 
 Prof. Cook exhibited and described a 
 botanical collection of plants adapted to 
 fuuishlng nectar to bees. His favorite 
 plant was the Bokhara, melilot, or sweet 
 clover. A large number of other plants 
 were exhibited. 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 13 
 
 T. F. Biniirham, of Michigan, was called 
 upon and gave his experience with migrating 
 hee-culture. He had found that the loss of 
 hrood was the most serious obstacle which 
 he met with, in shipping hy rail. He had 
 come to the conclusion that he would have 
 lost less by leaving his bees at home in the 
 North. 
 
 The Northeastern Wisconsin Bee-Ke epers' 
 Association having had some correspond- 
 ence with the Post-office Department on the 
 subject of sending bees In the malls, had 
 sent it to the Convention to be read. Mr. 
 Detwiler also presented a letter on the 
 subject, which was read. After some dis- 
 cussion It was 
 
 Resolved, That Prof. Cook, D. A. Jones and Pres- 
 ident Newman be appointed a committee to bring 
 the matter before tbe Postmaster General and 
 endeavor to have the rullnis reversed. 
 
 Besolved, That the Executive Committee be 
 instructed to prepare badges for those who may 
 hereafter attend the National Conventions ; also 
 thtft they be Instructed to procure medals to be 
 awarded for tbe best exhibition of bees, honey 
 and implements for the apiary. 
 
 Adjourned to meet in Cincinnati, O., on 
 Sept. 28, 1880. 
 
 The EleTenth Annual CouTention 
 
 convened at Cincinnati, O., on Sept. 28, 
 1880, President Newman in tlie cliair. 
 After the routine business, the Secretary 
 read letters from the Rev. Herbert R. 
 Peel, of England, and Mens. Ed. Bertrand, 
 of Switzerland, regretting their inability 
 to attend, offering their congratulations, 
 and stating that they were much interested 
 in reading the proceedings of the North 
 American Bee-Keepers' Society. The 
 following was unanimously adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That we return our thanks to the Rev. 
 Herbert B. Peel, of England, and to Mons. E. 
 Bertrand, of Switzerland, for the fraternal feel- 
 ings expressed by them towards the bee-keepers 
 of Norui America. 
 
 In the annual address, the President 
 urged unity of thought and harmony of 
 action. He advocated the adoption of 
 some plan for obtaining statistics of the 
 honey crop, to regulate prices ; and added : 
 
 It is certain that "in union there Is strength." 
 That which In an individual capacity none of us 
 could accomplish, is easily done by a strong, 
 united and influential body. As an illustration, 
 the last meeting of this Society appointed a com- 
 mittee to wait on the postal authorities to get a 
 reversal of the order prohibiting the use of the 
 mails for transporting queen-bees, and though 
 many individuals had often petitioned that func- 
 tionary, it was not accomplished until this body 
 took the matter in hand. We are now in the en- 
 joyment of the result of our united action in this 
 particular. 
 
 The general prosperity of tbe Society Is a subject 
 for congratulation. It Is steadily increasing in 
 numbers and Influence, and each successive meet- 
 ing has been adjudged better than its predecessor; 
 I therefore trust this will eclipse the meeting 
 held at Chicago, a year since. ^ », 
 
 In conclusion allow me to thank you for the 
 honor of being twice unanimously elected as your 
 
 ? residing ofBoer. I have endeavored to serve you 
 aithfully, and have left no work undone, that, 
 according to my judgment, would advance the 
 interests of this Society and be advantaeeous to 
 the apiarists of America. To make this Society 
 national in Its character, and world-wide in its 
 influence has been my aim. How far this hasbeen 
 accomplished I leave it to you to determine. When 
 my successor is elected, I shall be most happy to 
 welcome him to this chair, with all its honors and 
 responsibilities. 
 
 The executive committee made the fol- 
 lowing report, which was adopted : 
 
 The executive committee would. respectfully 
 report that they have. In accordance with the 
 
 instructions given at the last meeting, prepared 
 badges for the use of members to designate them 
 from others. They have also prepared letter 
 heads, programmes and membership tickets, and 
 made all necessary arrangements for the present 
 meeting, and hope that it will be, in practical 
 value, second to no Convention ever held by this 
 Society. In reference to the letter headings we 
 caused to be printed for the use of the . ofiQcers of 
 this Association, Dr. Vf. W. Hlpollte, Vice-Presi- 
 dent for Arkansas, remarks as follows : 
 
 " Notlongslncel received some printed letter 
 heads for the use of Vice-Presidents of the 
 National Bee-Xeepers' Association, and Und them 
 exceedingly well gotten up. I think the person 
 who originated the idea is entitled to tbe thankj^ 
 of the Association. When communicating with 
 the ofiflcers of our State Fair or other Associations, 
 or with others In the interests of our Society, it 
 looks as though we had an existence as such, and 
 not merely in name." 
 
 The election of ofBcers for- the ensuing 
 year resulted as follows : President, Dr.. 
 N. P. Allen; recording secretary, Dr. 
 Parmly; corresponding Secretary, C. F. 
 Muth: Treasurer, Mrs. F. A. Dunham. 
 Vice-Presidents for 35 States and Prov- 
 inces were elected, and Lexington, Ky., 
 was selected as the next place of meeting. 
 
 President Allen, on taking the chair, 
 thanked the Society for the honor con- 
 ferred on him, and congratulated it upon 
 its prosperous condition. 
 
 Mr. Williamson then offered the follow- 
 ing resolution, which was adopted unani- 
 mously : 
 
 ReeoVoed, by the North American Bee-Keepers' 
 Society, in convention assembled, that the thanks 
 of this Association are due, and are hereby ten 
 dered to Thomas Q-. Newman, Esq., our retiring 
 President, for the zealous, untiring and successful 
 manner in which he bas conducted the afRiirs of 
 this Association : and we further thank him for 
 his great liberality In traveling through Europe in 
 the past year at his own expense, thus being 
 the means of opening up avenues of trade for 
 American honey, and advancing the interests of 
 American apiculturists in a manner that could not 
 he reached by any other method. 
 
 The essays read and discussed were aa 
 follows : Honey-plants of Kentucky, by 
 Dr. N. P. Allen ;. Tsee-pasturage, by L. H. 
 Pammel, Jr.; improved races of bees, by 
 Thomas G. Newman; yellow bees, by G. 
 W. Demaree; queens— their fertilization 
 and peculiarities, by Dr. J. P. H. Brown; 
 comb foundation, by C. C. Coffinberry; 
 
 germanence of the bee-keeping industi-y, 
 vA. J.King; the coming frame, by S. 
 M. Locke ; honey— past, present andf uture, 
 by J. H. Nellis; now to make honey a 
 staple product, by B. Bacon; best metiiods 
 of marketing honey, by Thomas G. New- 
 man; extracted vs.'comb honey, by Chas. 
 Dadant; foul brood, by C. F. Muth; api- 
 cultural failures, by James Heddon: win- 
 tering bees, by T. P. Bingham ; and rational 
 increase in the apiaiy, by C. F. Muth. 
 
 Dr. J. P. H. Brown, of Georgia, chairman 
 of the committee to draft resolutions con- 
 demnatory of adulterations, reported the 
 following resolutions, which were unani- 
 mously adopted : 
 
 Resolved, By the North American Bee-Eeepers^ 
 Society in convention, that we most sincerely 
 deplore the.almost universal system of adultera- 
 tions in articles of food, and particularly all 
 attempts at adulterating honey, or the use of 
 glucose in any manner whereby it may by any 
 possibility become incorporated with honey. 
 
 2. That the practice of adulterating honey 
 heretofore placed upon the market as " strained " 
 honey, has worked to the detriment of all honest 
 honey-producers, and thrown great discredit upon 
 our product ^ , ,. 
 
 3. That we demand a stringent law be passed by 
 the general Congress of the United States, impos- 
 
14 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 Ing heavy penalties, or making it a criminal offense 
 to 80 adulterate, or vend adulterated honey. 
 
 Mr. D. A. Jones presented the Society 
 with a Cyprian queen ; to be placed in 
 charge of 0. F. Muth, the bees to be tested 
 by him for superiority, and a report to be 
 made. 
 
 A vote of thanks was given to Mr. D. A. 
 -Jones and Frank Benton for their explora- 
 tions inithe Island of Cyprus and the Holy 
 Land in search of better races of bees. 
 
 M. Hayes, of Ohio, offered the following 
 resolutions, which were unanimously 
 adopted : 
 
 Resolved, By the North American Bec-Keepers* 
 ■ Society in convention assembled, that the importa- 
 tion Of pure Italian, Cyprian, and Holy Land bees 
 into North America, ought to be encouraged for 
 the sole purpose of adding new and diflerent 
 strains of blood to that we already have. 
 
 2. That the strain of Italian blood we now have 
 has reached a higher standard of excellence than 
 is to be found in the native home of the Italian, 
 
 3. That queens reared from pure selected home- 
 bred Italian mothers, should command at least as 
 high a marliet value as those bred from imported 
 mothers, where pure Italian stock is the sole 
 object desired. 
 
 Prof. Cook, who was appointed at the 
 meeting at Chicago to wait on the Post- 
 master General to secure the use of the 
 United States mails for the transmission 
 of bees (and the Hon. Edwin Willetts who 
 nobly assisted him in his mission), received 
 a vote of thanks for their successful im- 
 dertaking. 
 
 C. H. Deane, of Kentucky, offered the 
 following resolution, which was adopted 
 unanimously : 
 
 Besolved, That all bee-keepers in this Conven- 
 tion, who feel competent, are hereby requested to 
 write for their local papers on the subject of bee- 
 keeping. 
 
 Adjourned to meet in Lexington, Ky,, on 
 Oct. 5, 1881. 
 
 On the third day, those who could make 
 it convenient to remain, went in a body to 
 the residence of Mr. J. S. Hill, at Mount 
 Healthy, O., about ten miles from Cincin- 
 nati, and spent the day with that veteran 
 apiarist, examining his apiary and imple- 
 ments, and hearing him describe nis 
 management. 
 
 The Twelfth Annual Convention 
 
 convened in Lexington, Ky., on Oct. 5, 
 1881. President N. P. Allen, m his annual 
 address, earnestly recommended the Con- 
 vention to take steps to make the Sooiety a 
 representative body, by obtaining delegates 
 from State apiarian societies or District 
 associations. 
 
 The Treasurer reported a balance of 
 133 60 in the Treasury. 
 
 The statistics obtained at this meeting 
 were only partial. Those present reported 
 1,499 colonies in the spring ; increased to 
 a,700; extracted honey, 67,632 pounds; 
 comb honey, 5,005 pounds. 
 
 The fertilization of queens in confine- 
 ment was discussed, and Dr. J. P. H. 
 Brown, Prof. Cook, 6. W. Demaree, D. A. 
 Jones, and Prof. Hasbrouck were ap- 
 pointed a special committee to make 
 further experiments and report results at 
 the next meeting. 
 
 The election of officers for the ensuing 
 
 Sear resulted as follows : President, Prol 
 ook; recording secretary, Dr. E. Parmly ; 
 corresponding secretary, C.F.Muth ; Treas- 
 
 urer, Mrs. Dunham, Vice-presidents were 
 elected for 35 States and provinces. 
 
 Ex-president Newman having been de- 
 layed oy the trains missing connection, a 
 committee of reception was appointed to 
 meet him at the depot. " Dr. L. E. Brown, 
 of Kentucky, alluded to the eminent ser- 
 vices of Mr. Newman to further the cause 
 of apiculture in North America." and said 
 that ■''to his labors, more than those of any 
 other, could the North American Bee- 
 Keepers' Society attribute its success, and 
 that he had done more than any man 
 living to create a market for honey, and to 
 make it a marketable commodity." He 
 moved that the convention receive their 
 guest standing. On his arrival T)r. N. P. 
 Allen moved " that a recess of ten minutes 
 betaken to allow the members to greet 
 him," which was carried unanimously. 
 
 Kesolutions were adopted, as follows : 
 
 " Resolved, That the President and Secretary be 
 empowered to issue life-membership certificates 
 to all bee-keepers tbey may approve, upon the re- 
 ception of afeeof $10for such membership, with- 
 out f urthpr annual dues. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Vice-Presidents be espe- 
 cially instructed to appoint suitable persona in the 
 prominent towns of their respective States to en- 
 courage exhibits of honey, bees, etc., at the local 
 fairs, and to secure the offering of suitable pre- 
 miums for the same. 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to 
 
 grepare a pamphlet containing statistics of the 
 oney crop, and general information about ex- 
 hibits of bee^, honey and apicultural implements 
 at fairs and expositions, and advice about the best 
 way of conducting the same; said pamphlets to 
 be supplied to the Vice-Presidents and others, and 
 that the committee have power to draw on the 
 Treasurer of this Society for all necessary ex- 
 penses. 
 
 "Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention 
 are tendered Mr. D. A. Jones, of Ontario, for the 
 valuable Information be has so freely imparted, 
 and tbe interest he has awakened in the present 
 and former meetings by giving his experience and 
 views on so large a range of topics.*.' 
 
 D. A. Jones and T. G. Newman paid $10 
 each, for life-membership in the Society. 
 
 President Cook gave an eloquent tribute 
 to "the Rev. L. L. Langstroth, the inven- 
 tor of the movable-frame hive." 
 
 The following essays were read, follow- 
 ed by discussion : The new races of bees, 
 by Prof. Cook ; can honey be made a staple 
 product? by C. C. Coffinberry; in-and-in 
 breeding, by P. P. Collier; prevention of 
 swarming, by C. P. Dadant; obstacles to 
 progressive bee-culture, by G.W.Demaree; 
 influence of honey on wintering bees, by 
 Chas. Dadant; swarms vs. comb honey, 
 byDr. C. C. Miller; how to make bee- 
 keeping pay, by Dr. E. Drane; wintering 
 bees in Texas, by Dr. W. R. Howard ; 
 causes of winter losses of bees, by A.. J. 
 King; wintering bees, by C. F. Muth; 
 diseases of bees, by W. Thomas ; cultiva- 
 tion of honey-plants, by W. T. Stewart; 
 Albino bees, by D. At Pike; bee-keeping . 
 as a means of support, by W. J. Davis; 
 stepping-stones towards apicultural per- 
 fection, by Thomas G. Newman; a partial 
 review, by T. F.Bingham; bee-keeping for 
 women, by Mrs. L. Harrison ; foul brood, 
 by C. F. Muth ; Cyprian bees, by Eev. A. 
 Salisbury: progressive bee-culture, by 
 Kev.L. Johnson;winteringbees in clamps, 
 by C. J. Robinson; origin of our present 
 races of bees, by E. E. Hasty. 
 
 Adjourned to meet in Cincinnati, O.. on 
 Oct. 3, 1883. ' ' 
 
BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 
 
 15 
 
 The Thirteenth Annual Conrentiou 
 
 convened at Cincinnati, O., on Oct. 8, 
 1882. President A. J. Cook called the 
 meeting to order at 9:80 a.m. The Secre- 
 tary being absent, A. I. Root was ap- 
 pointed secretary, pro tern. President 
 iCool!: delivered the annual address, and 
 after selecting Toronto, Canada, as the 
 next place of meeting, D. A. Jones was 
 elected President, A. I. Koot, Secretary, 
 and C. F. Muth, Treasurer. Vice-presi- 
 dents were appointed for 24 States. 
 
 Dr. Parmly, of New York, sent a check 
 of $50 as a nucleus for a Langstroth fund, 
 which those present increased to over $100. 
 
 The statistics of this meeting were as 
 follows : 3,087 colonies in the spring, 
 increased to 4,748; comb honey 47,451 
 pounds ; extracted honey, 99,808 pounds. 
 
 The essays were : Experiments with 
 bees, by Prof. Cook ; bee-culture in Texas, 
 by Dr. J. E. Lay; chaff hives, by O. O. 
 Poppleton ; advancing the science of api- 
 culture, by J. E. Pond, Jr, ; honey-plants 
 and their culture, by A. I. Root; iioney- 
 plants of Canada, by D. A. Jones ; obtain- 
 ing queen-cells for nuclei, by P. L. Vial- 
 ion; rearing queens, by Dr. J. P. H.Brown ; 
 ■courtesy in journalism, by A. I. Root; 
 control of fertilization, by G.W. Demaree ; 
 experiments of comb-building, by P. L. 
 Vlallon; foul brood, by D. A. Jones and 
 C. F. Muth; comb vs. extracted honey, by 
 Dr. Miller; bee-management, J. M. Hicks. 
 
 Adjourned to meet at Toronto, Canada, 
 on Sept. 18, 1888. 
 
 The Fourteenth Annual Convention 
 
 assembled at Toronto, Canada, on Sept. 
 1'8, 1888, President Jones in the chair, who 
 gave an Address of Welcome, it being the 
 first time that the North American Society 
 had assembled on Canadian soil. 
 
 When the Rev. L. L. Langstroth arrived 
 he was received with a rising expression 
 of welcome, and conducted to the Mayor's 
 chair as a token of respect, amid loud and 
 prolonged cheers. He gave an interesting 
 account of his early mistakes and diffi- 
 culties, and of the invention of the mov- 
 able-frame hive, and added greatly to the 
 interest and enthusiasm of the meeting. 
 
 The election of officers for the ensuing 
 year resulted as follows : President, Rev. 
 L. L. Langstroth ; First Vice-president, L. 
 C. Root; Secretary, Dr. Miller; Treasurer, 
 C. F. Muth. Vice-presidents for several 
 States and provinces were also elected. 
 
 The following topics were discussed, 
 <there being only one essay presented, and 
 that was on teaching bee-culture in Agri- 
 cultural colleges, by Rev. W. F. Clarke) : 
 comb foundation; laying workers; size of 
 sections for comb honey; getting bees out 
 of sections; ripening honey; when to 
 make increase ; hives tor extracting honey ; 
 tee-veils; obtaining statistics; clipping 
 queens's wings; superseding queens; 
 feeding bees; rendering wax; preserving 
 combs from the moth; temperature m 
 winter repositories, and wintering bees; 
 barrels for shipping honey; granulation of 
 honey; introducing queens, etc. 
 "A well-filled purse was presented to the 
 Bev. L. L. Langstroth. Adjourned to meet 
 in Rochester, N. T., on Oct. 28, 1884. 
 
 The Fifteenth Annual Convention 
 
 assembled at Rochester, N. Y,, at 2 p.m., 
 on Oct. 28, 1884, Vice-president L. C. 
 Root in the chair, who gave an interesting 
 Address of Welcome, in the absence of 
 President Langstroth, who was detained 
 at home by his old malady. , 
 
 In the absence of the Secretary and 
 Treasurer, C. F. Benedict was appointed 
 secretary pro tem, and R. Bacon, treasurer 
 pro tem. The Report reads as follows : 
 
 A call was made for the minutes of the 
 last meeting, which led to explanations to 
 the effect that no ofiBclal report bad ap- 
 peared, and that the only one available was 
 the report which was published in the 
 American Bee JotmNAL. It was further 
 stated that a report was in existence in 
 short-hand, made bv a phonographer who 
 was engaged by Mr. D. A. Jones, the ex- 
 Presldent, for the sum of $100 ; but that 
 owing to some misunderstanding, the report 
 had never been completed In long-hand, the 
 reporter considering that he had a claim on 
 the Society for compensation, and the prob- 
 ability was that more would be heard about 
 the matter at a later stage of the meeting. 
 
 The President then produced the Amebi- 
 OAN Bee Journal's report, and asked if it 
 was the pleasure of the meeting to have that 
 read by the Secretary, as the minutes of the 
 last meeting. No motion being made on the 
 subject, the Secretary proceeded to read the 
 American Bee Journal's editorial sum- 
 ming up of last year's meeting. 
 
 Farther on, the Report says : 
 
 The question of the bill of the stenographic 
 reporter, who took the minutes of the laat 
 Convention, was brought up and referred 
 to a committee consisting of Messrs. Pettit, 
 Pierce. J. Van Beusen, W. F. Clarke, and W. 
 E. Clark. 
 
 The committee reported as follows : 
 The committee on Mr. Bengough's claim 
 on the Society for short-hand reporting at 
 the last meeting, recommended settlement 
 on Mr. Bengough's proposition submitted 
 through Wm. F. Clarke, offering to take $25 
 for work already done, and hand over the 
 short-hand notes to the Secretary of the 
 Society, to be put on file. The report was 
 adopted. 
 
 A motion was then m.ade to reduce the 
 membership fee of the Society from $1 to 50 
 cents ; but on a question being raised as to 
 the constitutionality of the motion, there 
 being no copy of the Constitution at hand, 
 the matter was laid on the table, to be con- 
 sidered later on. 
 
 The Report records the following : 
 A motion was made by W. B. Clark, and 
 seconded by S. T. Pettit, that a committee 
 of five be appointed by the chairman to 
 consider what modifications, if any, should 
 be made In the National Society. 
 
 Rev. Wm. F. Clarke, of Ontario, spoke at 
 some length ou this resolution. He said 
 that he was the only member present who 
 was at the organization of the Society, and 
 claimed the Indulgence of the meeting in a 
 brief review of its history. It was first in- 
 tended to call the Society hj the name 
 " National," but at his request It was called 
 " North American," so as to Include Canada. 
 It was often called the " National Society," 
 but It would be more proper to call It the 
 "Inter-National," for such was its real 
 character, and such he hoped It would con- 
 tinue. At the Inception of the Society, there 
 was a ring or clique among bee-keepers, 
 which the organization was the means of 
 
16 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 breaking up, and he boldly affirmed that 
 there had never been a ring- or uliqne man- 
 aging the •Soolety. Some appeared to think 
 that the Society had had its day, and that 
 there were those who wished to split it into 
 three f ragments,the Northeastern,the North- 
 western, and the Southern ; personally, he 
 hoped that this would not be done. It was 
 true that the constituency was a vast one, 
 and we usually had a large local attendance, 
 with but a small distant representation. But 
 there was a prestige about a Continental 
 body which gave it a good influence, and 
 rendered its meetings important. It was an 
 educating power wherever held. He would 
 deprecate a division of the Society into 
 three, mainly because it would destroy its 
 international character. Canada and the 
 United States had been happily united in 
 this apicultural fellowship, and he hoped 
 that it would continue. He had no doubt 
 that the Society might be modified and im- 
 proved in various respects, but he would 
 not like to see it broken up. 
 
 Mr. Clarke's remarks were well received, 
 and several members expressed concurrence 
 in the opinion that the integrity of the 
 Society should be maintained, and that it 
 should continue to embrace both Canada 
 and the United States. The resolution was 
 unanimously passed, and the President 
 appointed the following committee : Ira 
 Barber, Wm. F. Clarke, W. B. Clark, Arthur 
 Todd, and J. Van Deusen. 
 Tlie Report continues to read thus : 
 The committee on revision of the Con- 
 stitution, on consultation with Mr. Bet- 
 singer, who was present at the meeting held 
 in Philadelphia in 1876, find that the North 
 American Bee-Keepers' Society should be 
 composed of delegates from all the local 
 societies throughout North America. They 
 would, therefore, recommend and urge that 
 the local societies do carry out this feature, 
 and send delegates to the meeting of this 
 Society at Detroit, in 1885. The local socie- 
 ties will please correspond with the execu- 
 tive committee in reference to this matter. 
 
 On motion, the report was received, and a 
 discussion on it sprung up. The fear was 
 expressed that this action might discourage 
 personal attendance at future meetings. It 
 was also urged that if the Society became 
 representative, a much larger attendance 
 might be expected. 
 On mailinK queens, the Eeport says : 
 The committee on programme reported 
 recommending the reading of a communica- 
 tion to the Convention, from Mr. Frank 
 Benton, accompanying a sample of his 
 queen shipping-cages, to be followed by a 
 discussion on sending queens by mail. On 
 assent being given to the rieport, the Secre- 
 tary read Mr. Benton's essay, after which a 
 number of members spoke on the subject, 
 all expressing their appreciation of Mr. 
 Benton's efforts and success. Among these 
 was Mr. Peet, originator of the queen ship- 
 
 Eing-cage which bears his name, who spoke 
 ighly In praise of Mr. Benton's device. Mr. 
 W. F. Clarke prepared a resolution, which, 
 at his suggestion, was moved by Mr. Peet 
 and seconded by its author. After some 
 highly appreciative remarks by the Presi- 
 dent and others, the resolution passed 
 unanimously. It reads as follows : 
 
 Beeolved^ That we have listened with much 
 pleasure to Mr. Benton's essay, and have 
 inspected his sample cage; rejoice in his 
 success in mailing queens to long distances, 
 and we tender him our sincere thanks. 
 
 The election of officers for the ensuing 
 year resulted as follows : President, L. 
 
 . Root; First Vice-president, H. D. Cut- 
 
 ting; Secretary, W. Z. Hutchinson ; Treas- 
 urer, C. F. Muth. Vice-presidents for 22 
 States and provinces were elected. 
 
 It was voted that a committee be appointed 
 by the President to fill vacancies in the list 
 of Vice-Presidents. The following were so 
 nominated : Messrs. Peet, Vaudervort, and** 
 C. C. Van Deusen. 
 
 It was moved by Wm. F. Clarke, seconded 
 by J. B. Hall, and unanimously 
 
 Besolved, That the President, First Vice- 
 President, Secretary, Treasurer, Miss Luoy 
 A. Wilkins (Cyula Linswik), of Farwell, 
 Mich., and A. B. Weed, of Detroit, be the 
 executive committee for the ensuing year. 
 
 The programme committee reported the 
 subject of bee-literature for discussion. 
 Many things " wise and otherwise " were 
 said, and finally it was 
 
 Resolved, That, while by no means dlspara^n^ 
 the value and usefulness of other bee-papers, we 
 as bee-keepers in convention assembled recognize 
 in the American A^culturist a paper worthy of 
 our support, and would recommend it to the bee- 
 keepers as one of the best bee-periodicals pub- 
 lished in the interest of bee-keeping. 
 
 The question was asked, whether any 
 ofScial report of this meeting would be pub- 
 lished ? President Root stated that the 
 Amekioan Bee Joukital had made arrange- 
 ments to give a full report, and he presumed 
 that Mr. Locke would have a report in his 
 paper. It was not the Intention to get out a 
 report at the expense of the Society, but the 
 Secretary of this meeting, Mr. Benedict, 
 would write out the minutes which he had 
 made, and transmit them to the newly ap- 
 pointed Secretary, who would produce them 
 for reference at the Detroit meeting. 
 
 Mr. Clarke, of Ontario, said that this 
 would entail a codsiderable amount of after- 
 work upon Mr. Benedict, which it was not 
 fair for us to expect him to do for nothing. 
 He, therefore, moved that the Secretary be 
 allowed $20 for his services. The motion 
 was seconded and carried unanimously. 
 
 The questions discussed were: pre- 
 vention of swarming; use of comb foun- 
 dation in surplus honey; marketing ex- 
 tracted honey ; reversible frames, etc. 
 
 Thomas G. Newman sent a letter to the 
 Convention asking that a committee be 
 appointed to demand of the railroad com- 
 panies a revised classification of bees, 
 honey, wax, etc. This brought out con- 
 siderable dftcussion. President Root re- 
 marked that lie believed that the point 
 made by Mr. Newman, regarding railroad 
 freights, was well taken, and that a com- 
 mittee be appointed as suggested. 
 
 Mr. Bacon moved the appointment of a 
 committee ot three to consult with the 
 railroad authorities regarding rates. It 
 was agreed to leave it to the Vice-presi- 
 dents of the Society. . 
 
 The following essays were read and 
 discussed : Hibernation theory, by Rev. 
 W. F. Clarke; comb foundation, by C. Van 
 Deusen; foul brood, by D. A. Jones. 
 
 President Root gave a brief address 
 expressive of his satisfaction at the suc- 
 cess of the meeting. Though it was not 
 fS ^*^® ^® ^^^h owing to the absence of 
 the Western brethren, it had been most 
 harmonious, and there had been many 
 interesting and useful discussions. H« 
 hoped that there would be a general rally 
 at Detroit, next year. 
 
 Dm'^8° 1^*^ to meet at Detroit, Mich., on 
 
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 
 of the North American Bee- Keepers' 
 Society met at Detroit, Mich., on 
 Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m., President 
 L. C. Eoot in the chair. Quite a large 
 number of bee-keepers were present 
 from 10 States and Canada ; all were 
 very enthusiastic, and as " sweet as 
 honey." 
 
 After an impressive invocation by 
 the Eev. L. L. Langstroth, the Sec- 
 retary called the roll of members for 
 last year. Those present paid their 
 dues and received their badges, 
 among them being six ex-presidents 
 of the Society. 
 
 The following were duly recorded as 
 members for the present year : 
 
 &. A. Adams, Perrysburg, O. 
 J. H. Andrus, Almout, Mich. 
 Geo. H. Ashby, Albion, N. Y. 
 H. J. Ashler, M. D., Machlas, N. Y. 
 0. S. Avery, Millard, Neb. 
 Bicbard Bangham, Windsor, Ont. 
 Ira Barber, De Kalb Junction, N. Y. 
 O. J. Bedell, Kawkawlin, Mich. 
 A. D. Benham, Olivet, Mich. 
 
 E. Berkey, Savannah, 0. 
 
 H. R. Boardman, East Townsend, 0. 
 Sani'l H. Bolton, Benton, O. 
 
 F. C. Burmaster, Irving, N. Y. 
 W. H. Burr, Detroit, Mich. 
 
 Mrs. V. B. Burton, Detroit, Mich. 
 Hiram Chapman, Versailles, N. Y. 
 
 A. B. Cheney, Sparta, Mich. 
 L. T. Christiancy, Toledo, O. 
 F. S. Clark, Bowling Green, 0. 
 W. E. Clark, Oriskany, N. Y. 
 Eev. W. F. Clauke, Guelph, Ont. 
 
 F. S. Comstook, North Manchester, Ind. 
 
 B. F. Conley, Brighton, Mich. 
 
 A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich. 
 
 E. J. Cook, Owasso, Mich. 
 
 Henry Gripe, North Manchester, i Ind. 
 H. D. Cutting, Clinton, Mich. 
 O. P. Dadant, Hamilton, Ills. 
 
 G. M. Doolittle, Borodino, N. Y. 
 Frank A. Eaton, Bluffton, O. 
 Will Ellis, St. Davids, Ont. 
 Martin Bmigh, Holbrook, Ont. 
 Jaa. Forncrook, Watertown, Wis. 
 A. M. Gander, Adrian, Mich. 
 
 F. A. Gemmill. Stratford, Ont. 
 H. C. Gibson, Burr Oak, Mich. 
 
 Geo. B. Goodell, McGee's Corners, N. Y. 
 John G. Gray, St. Catherines, Ont. 
 A. W. Greene, Florence, Ont. 
 J. B. Hall, Woodstock, Ont. 
 Benj. Harding, Kent, 0. 
 
 Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria, Ills. 
 M. Higgins, Windsor, Ont. 
 Geo. B. Hilton, Freemont, Mich. 
 E. L. Hubbard, Water Valley, N. Y. 
 M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, Mich. 
 H. F. Hunt, Villa Mastai, Quebec. 
 W. Z. Hutchinson, Eqgersville, Mich. 
 
 C. E. Isham, Peoria, NT Y. 
 
 D. A. Jones. Beeton, Ont. 
 August Keoften, Flint, Mich. 
 
 A. w. Kistenbroker, Oak Park, Ills. 
 Otto IClelnow, Detroit, Mich. 
 Eev. L. L. Langstroth, Oxford, O. 
 Silas M. Locke, Wenham, Mass. 
 N. W. McLain, Aurora, Ills. 
 James McNeill, Hudson, N. T. 
 J. J. McWhorter, South Lyon, Mich. 
 A. B. Maiium, Bristol, Vt. 
 J. J. Martin, North Manchester, Ind. 
 Dr. A. B. Mason, Wagon Works, O. 
 
 D. F. Moe, Parma, Mich. 
 Ellas Mott, Norwich, Ont. 
 C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O. 
 Thomas G. Newman, Chicago, Ills. 
 S. F. Newman, Norwalk, O. 
 
 Geo. A. Ouram, Berlin Heights, O. 
 S. T. Pettit, Belmont, Ont. 
 Thos. Pierce, Gansevoort, N. Y. 
 P. M. Puhl, South Toledo, O. 
 John Eey, Bast Saginaw, Mich. 
 M. G. Eeynolds, Williamsburg, Ind. 
 J. A. Eobison, Pindlay, O. 
 L. C. Eoot, Mohawk, N. Y. 
 C. M. Euland, Kockton, Ills. 
 George Schook, Three JJivers, Mich, 
 C. W. Shepard, he Eoy, N. Y. 
 Geo. Smitn, Amadore, Mich. 
 G. W. Stanley, Wyoming, N. Y. 
 James P. Sterritt, Sheakleyville, Pa.. 
 
 E. L. Taylor, Lapeer, Mich. 
 Mrs. E. L. Taylor, Lapeer, Mich. 
 
 F. J. Temple, Eidgeway, Mich. 
 
 E. W. Thompson, Hinsdale, N. Y. 
 
 N. O. Thompson,' Cold Water, Mich. 
 
 W. O. Titus, Toledo, O. 
 
 James Ure, Bast Saginaw, Mich. 
 
 J. Vandervort, Laceyville, Pa. 
 
 J. Van Deusen, Sprout Brook, N. Y, 
 
 T. L. Von Dorn. Omaha, Neb. 
 
 E. Walker, Berlin Heights, 0. 
 
 Byron O. Walker, Capac, Mich. 
 
 Mrs. Byron Walker, Capac, Mich. 
 
 H. L. Wells, Defiance, O. 
 
 W. C. Wells, Phillipston, Ont. 
 
 M. S. West, Flint, Mich. 
 
 L. C. Whiting, Bast Saginaw, Mich. 
 
 Edwin Willetts, Agricultural Coll., Mich. 
 
 Wm. Wilson, Burr Oak, Mich. 
 
 A. D. Wood, Eives Junction, Mich. 
 
 L. C. Woodman, Grand Eapids, Mich. 
 
 Mrs. L. C. Woodman, Grand Eapids, Mich. 
 
 M. D. York, Millington, Mich. 
 
 The Treasurer reported $48.90 in 
 the treasury. It was voted to omit 
 the reading of the minutes of the last 
 meeting, as they had been published 
 
18 
 
 NOETH AMERICAN 
 
 in all the bee-papers, and it was not 
 necessary to lose time in reading 
 them. 
 
 Reports from Vice Presidents were 
 called for, and some were read ; others 
 ■were not ready and asked for more 
 time. They will appear hereafter. 
 
 The Rev. L. L. Langstroth was 
 called upon for a speech, and upon 
 arising he was greeted with a storm 
 of applause. He gave a very inter- 
 esting account of the rise of modern 
 ' bee-culture in this country, and of the 
 invention of the movable-frame hive. 
 He spoke with much feeling of the 
 help he had received in introducing 
 his hive, from such men as Mr. 
 Quinby; gave many amusing and in- 
 teresting anecdotes of his childhood, 
 which showed his love of insects ; and 
 told how he had built ants' nests, and 
 fed the ants bread and meat. Instead 
 of encouragements his parents and 
 teachers scolded and shut him in a 
 dark closet. He had no books treating 
 of bees, and received his knowledge 
 of them by observation. He had 
 driven bees from box -hives by putting 
 the hives into tubs and gradually Ail- 
 ing the tubs with water. lie gave a 
 long and interesting account of the 
 invention of the movable-comb hive. 
 The times were ripe for the invention, 
 and had not he (Langstroth) invented 
 it, some one else would probably have 
 soon done so. He showed how nearly 
 he had come to inventing the honey- 
 extractor. To kill dronelarvse he 
 had poured water into the cells, 
 allowed it to remain until the larvae 
 were dead, then removed the con- 
 tents of the cells, by swinging the 
 •combs around. He had the idea, but 
 4id not think of the practical con- 
 nections between it and the extract- 
 ing of honey, and all honor should be 
 given to the man who did think of it. 
 Mr. Langstroth had never made any 
 money from his invention, but he felt 
 more than repaid in what was of far 
 greater value, viz., the good-will of 
 bee-keepers. 
 
 Pres. Root appointed the following 
 committees : 
 
 On Finance.— G. M. Doolittle, W. 
 p. Clarke, and Prof. A. J. Cook. 
 
 On Statistics.— Thos. G. Newman, 
 D. A. Jones, and Silas M. Locke. 
 
 On Resolutions.— Prof. A. J. Cook, 
 W. P. Clarke, and R. L. Taylor. 
 
 On Exhibits.— Dr. A. B. Mason, ,T. 
 B. Hall, and G. M. Doolittle. 
 
 Prof. Cook suggested that a birth- 
 day present be purcliased for Mr. A. 
 
 I. Root, by his friends contributing 
 10 cents each. He was expected the 
 next day, which was his birthday. 
 
 He also suggested that a purse be 
 made up to buy a present for Mrs. 
 Quinby, consisting of a portrait of 
 her late husband, whom we all de- 
 light to honor. 
 
 Thereupon the meeting adjourned 
 until 2 p.m. 
 
 AFTERNOON SESSION. 
 
 Pres. Root called the meeting to 
 order at 2 p.m., and announced that 
 the first business would be the address 
 of welcome by Hon. Edwin Willetts, 
 President of the Michigan Agricul- 
 tural College. President Willetts, on 
 arising, was greeted with enthusiastic 
 applause. His address was as follows : 
 address of welcome. 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies And Gen- 
 tlemen : — It becomes my duty, and 
 it is a pleasure, to welcome you to 
 the State of Michigan. I know of no 
 reason why I should be asked to do 
 so, save, perhaps, because for fifty 
 years I have been a citizen of the 
 State, and at present represent the 
 Michigan Agricultural College, which 
 institution makes a specialty in bee- 
 culture and instruction in the habits 
 and propagation of bees. 
 
 We have those present who can 
 more fitly represent that feature of 
 the institution than myself, but 
 neither they nor any one else can 
 welcome you to our State with a 
 more liearty greeting than can I. We 
 are glad to see you in our midst. 
 There is a growing interest here in 
 the industry that you represent to- 
 day. Michigan easily ranks high in 
 the production of honey. The breezes 
 are tempered by our inland seas, and 
 our soil is generous in foliage and 
 flowers. We are strangers to extreme 
 drouths and pestilential moisture. 
 We are not in the path of the blizzard 
 or the tornado. . Nearly every foot of 
 land in our Southern Peninsula takes 
 kindly to the plowshare, and rejoices 
 in a fertility that responds heartily to 
 the demands of the husbandman. We 
 are a busy people, in busy homes, and 
 we harmonize easily with the " busy 
 bee." We understand each other — 
 we and the bees— and each pursue our 
 vocations without antagonism. Hence 
 there is room for both, without hos- 
 tility and mutual profit ; and all we 
 need is the dissemination of such in- 
 formation as you can give, to lead us 
 to a more general pursuit of your 
 industry. 
 
BEEKEEPEES' SOCIETY. 
 
 19 
 
 We shall expect an impulse in that 
 direction as the result of your delib- 
 erations. You represent no mean 
 vocation. Ever since and before 
 Jacob sent as a present to propitiate 
 the hard master in Egypt, a little 
 balm, and a little honey, spices and 
 myrrh ; ever since Columella wrote, 
 and Virgil and Horace sang, the 
 sweet elixir has tempted the palate of 
 mankind. There is no substitute for 
 it ; the analysis of the chemist is un- 
 able to produce it ; man cannot make 
 it, or grow it, or rectify it, and till 
 Millennium's dawn it will be nectar 
 to men and gods. 
 
 Yours is no insignificant industry. 
 You represent 3,000,000 colonies of 
 bees, with an annual product of sur- 
 plus honey of 100,000,000 pounds. 
 Under the impulse of this and kindred 
 associations, the product is increasing 
 annually. The cheap sugar of to-day 
 has no perceptible influence upon the 
 demand or the price of the com- 
 modity. As the country increases in 
 wealth and luxury, the demand grows 
 with its growth, and increases with 
 the means to gratify the appetite. 
 The best minds in" the field of science 
 have contributed to the more success- 
 ful promotion of the industry. Aris- 
 totle, Virgil, Columella, Pliny, Swam- 
 merdam, Ray, Latreille, and a host 
 of others, ancient and modern— not to 
 forget Langstroth, Cook, Quinby, 
 Root, and others of our day — have 
 studied, observed, experimented and 
 written about bees and their habits, 
 till we know how best to rear them, 
 and- how best to utihze their harvest 
 of sweetness ; so that to use the 
 words of a learned Judge of one of 
 our Courts, who said. " In modern 
 days the bee has become almost as 
 completely domesticated as the ox or 
 the cow. Its habits and and its in- 
 stincts have been studied, so that it 
 can be controlled with nearly as much 
 certainty as any of the domestic 
 animals." 
 
 You have almost taken it out of the 
 class ferae natuTCB. The propensity to 
 mischief has been so diminished, that 
 serious injury is almost as rare from 
 a bee as from the horse, and far less 
 ttjan from the dog. The Courts take 
 kindly to the bee. They, look with 
 favor upon animals or insects that are 
 useful to man; with disfavor upon 
 such as are purely noxious or useless. 
 There is no question of the utility of 
 bees. I note this fact, as I observe a 
 little apprehension among apiarists, 
 about the attitude of Courts occa- 
 sioimily, and the fear tliat there may 
 grow up some legal limitation or 
 liabih'ty that shall destroy your in- 
 
 dustry. Bees were here before Courts 
 or juries, and they have the right of 
 way, and will keep it so long as- their 
 product is desirable. The reeent case 
 that has caused some apprehension, 
 will be found, I hope, to be based 
 upon an utter misponception of the 
 bee and its habits. It will be found, 
 I have no doubt, that a sound grape is 
 absolutely armor-proof to the attack 
 of the bee. It is only when^the armor 
 is broken that the attack is made. A 
 grape with a broken shell is prac- 
 tically valueless— worthless, except 
 for the wine-press ; and for one, I 
 frankly say, gentlemen, that as be- 
 tween the wine-press and the bee — as 
 between ailcohol and honey — I am for 
 the bee and for the honey, and I be- 
 lieve the Courts will give the bee the 
 case. 
 
 But. gentlemen, I am not here to 
 keep you from your deliberations. I 
 again welcome you to Michigan, and 
 trust that your stay with us shall be 
 so pleasant that your recollection of 
 it shall be a life-long joy. 
 
 Pres. Root said that he strongly ad- 
 vocated the location of this meeting 
 at Detroit, and he was fully satisfied 
 that there was wisdom in the,choice. 
 He had always been much interested 
 in Michigan bee-keepers, and was 
 very glad to meet with so many of 
 them here. The matter of defense of 
 our rights as bee-keepers liad been 
 mentioned by Pres. Willetts, and he 
 was much in lavor of uniti^dlv defend- 
 ing our rights. As Mr. T. G. Newman 
 is the General Manager of the Bee- 
 Keepers' Union, an organization 
 created for this purpose, he would 
 call upon Mr. Newman to make a 
 statement concerning what had been 
 done, and what was expected to be 
 done in the future, by the organiza- 
 tion of which he was manager. Mr. 
 T. G. Newman then delivered the fol- 
 lowing address, on the 
 
 NATIONAL BEE-KEEPERS' UNION. 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies and GentJernen— 
 During the past year it has become 
 necessary to form a Bee-Keepers' 
 Union. As this society is a Con- 
 tinental one, it would seem to be 
 appropriate that some notice should 
 be taken of it by this Convention. 
 With your permission I will state a 
 few facts, and leave it to those present 
 to say whether the work of the Union 
 shall be approved bv them or not. 
 
 Last June Mr. S. I. Freeborn, an 
 extensive apiarist of Wisconsin, was 
 sued by a neighbor, who kept a flock 
 of sheep, for alleged annoyance to 
 his sheep by trespassing bees. 
 
20 
 
 NOETH AMERICAN 
 
 It was understood that this was to 
 be a "test case," and if the plaintiff 
 succeeded in obtaining a verdict in 
 his favor, either by the ignorance or 
 prejudice of a jury, other bee-keepers 
 would be likely to be sued to recover 
 damages done to pastures, vineyards, 
 and gardens by -bees; and any one 
 owning a few square rods of land, 
 devoted to almost any purpose, may 
 try to recover damages from all the 
 owners of bees in the vicinity. 
 
 Mr. James Heddon suggested the 
 formation of a Bee-Keepers' Union in 
 defense of their rights, and to protect 
 their interests. Such a Union was 
 formed, and officers elected as follows: 
 
 President— James Heddon. 
 
 Five Vice-Presidents— (t. M. Doolittle, 
 G. W. Demaree, A. 1. Koot, 
 
 Prof. A. J. Cook, Dr. C. C. Miller. 
 
 Manager, Seo'y & Treas.— T. G. Newman. 
 
 The officers were made an Advisory 
 Board, with full power to act. 
 
 This Union, as soon as organized, 
 employed attorneys, obtained " opin- 
 ions of law" from bee-keepers who 
 were also attorneys, and made such a 
 stir in the sheep-bees case, showing 
 such fighting enthusiasm, that the 
 Judge made a thorough examination 
 of the laws of the State, and con- 
 cluded that their existed no laws or 
 rulings upon wliich he could instruct 
 the jury ; and bee-keepers have cause 
 for pride in the success that attended 
 their eiforts in this matter. 
 
 In California a suit has been tried 
 in a Justice's Court against Mr. Bohn 
 for alleged damage done to grapes by 
 his bees. This suit was lost in the 
 lower Court, because witnesses were 
 obtained who testified that they had 
 seen the perforation and destruction 
 of the grapes done by Mr. Bohn's 
 bees. In vain did the defendant's 
 attorneys prove by a score of wit- 
 nesses that the bee's tongue' could 
 only be used to extract sweets from 
 the flowers — not to bore after them. 
 The evidence of the eye-witnesses of 
 the plaintiffs had weight with the 
 jury, and they accordingly returned a 
 verdict against the defendant for $75 - 
 and costs of suit, which amount to 
 over $60. The damages claimed were 
 
 The National Bee-Keepers' Union 
 advised Mr. Bohn to appeal from the 
 decision of the Justice's Court, and 
 assured him that the Union would 
 stand by him, and aid in the appeal 
 by sending money, obtaining legal 
 advice, depositions from scientific 
 experts as to the incapability of bees 
 to puncture grapes, etc. The appeal 
 lias been taken, and our California 
 
 brethren are now busily at work get- 
 ting members for the Union there. 
 
 A California apiarist says : " It it 
 eoes against us in the higher Court, 
 there will be no end of the trouble 
 that will arise, and our bee-indnsiry 
 will receive a death-blow in Southein 
 California." ., ^ ^ 
 
 An apiarist in Anaheim, Calif., had 
 the fence around his apiary torn 
 down, all his bees killed by sulphur, 
 the hives piled up under a valuable 
 pepper-tree and consumed by fire. 
 Another apiarist was threatened with 
 hanging— all because some fruit- 
 growers had moved into the neighbor- 
 hood after his apiary had been estab- 
 lished several years, and they wanted 
 to compel him to move away with his 
 
 As a Continental body of apiarists, 
 have you no word of encouragement 
 for an organization created tor the 
 purpose of defending the rights and 
 protecting the interests of the bee- 
 keepers of America y Do you say: 
 " Let us co-operate, and, if necessary, 
 maintain our rights as bee-keepers in 
 the highest courts of the land V" That 
 can be done only tfy having sufficient 
 money to defray the expenses, and 
 such are usually' very high. To be 
 sure, it will be a small matter, if all 
 will bear their part of the burden. 
 One thousand dollars of expenses 
 when divided between 1,0C0 persons, 
 is only a dpllar for each, and can 
 easily be borne ; but when one has to 
 pay it all, it becomes a heavy burden ; 
 and, to many, one that would be im- 
 possible to bear. United effort is 
 essential to successfully defend our 
 chosen pursuit ! 
 
 The National Bee-Keepers' Union 
 needs strong hearts, willing hands, 
 and many* shekels. Are you willing 
 to help V Is your name enrolled 
 among the "National Guards." If 
 not, lose no time in becoming a mem- 
 ber, and thus help to fight the battles 
 of our pursuit in defense of its rights ! 
 If we can raise a column of patriots 
 sufficiently strong to present a formid- 
 able front, we shall dare the envious 
 ones to "bring on their lawsuits,'' 
 and by " an imposing array " and 
 " unbroken front," gain a lasting and 
 permanent victory ! 
 
 Chicago, Ills. 
 
 Mr. S. T. Pettit said that it was 
 necessary to band together to defend 
 ourselves. 
 
 Eev. W. P. Clarke said, " United 
 we stand." He would prefer to have 
 the National Bee-Keepers' Union con- 
 solidated with the North American 
 Bee-Keepers' Society if" it was pos- 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 21 
 
 sible. He was one 'of tlie first In 
 Canada to join the Union., and said 
 that if it is not consolidated, we must 
 co-operat« with the Union in the most 
 decided way. 
 
 Mr. W. E. Claris said he agreed 
 with the last speaker— if it can be 
 done, he was in favor of consolidation. 
 
 Mr. C. R. Isham said that the great 
 flght for the Union was to be fought 
 in California in the raisin district. 
 We must sustain the Union, and 
 defend our pursuit. 
 
 Mr. T. L. Von Dorn said that the 
 bee-keepers of Lower California were 
 in danger of being entirely driven out 
 by the raisin-growers. 
 
 Mr. C. E. Muth remarked that the 
 matter was one for the Courts to 
 decide — not that of one pursuit against 
 another. 
 
 Prof. A. J. Cook said that it was a 
 case of bee-keepers and fruit-growers 
 on one side, and ignorance on the 
 other. The bees are the best friends 
 to fruit-growers, to fertilize the 
 flowers, and thereby produce the fruit. 
 In the spring when there are but few 
 insects to fertilize the flowers, the 
 bees are very valuable. 
 
 Mr. H. E. Boardman advised con- 
 ciliation, when there are complaints 
 against bees by fruit-growers and 
 others. A crate of honey given to 
 such complainants, will do much to 
 cause them to feel differently. 
 
 Eev. W. F. Clarke said that in 
 Court, a crate of honey would do no 
 good — law must decide the case. He 
 then offered the following resolution : 
 
 Besolved, That a committee of seven 
 be appointed to consider and report 
 upon the best methods of protecting 
 the interests of bee-keeping from 
 legal attack prompted by ignorance. 
 
 The resolution passed, and the com- 
 piittee was appointed as follows : W. 
 F. Clarke, T. G. Newman, W. E. 
 Clark. James Heddon, C. F. Muth, S. 
 T. Pettit, and Prof. A. J. Cook. 
 
 peesident's annual address. 1 
 
 Brothbk Beb-Keefers of North 
 America :— We have ^assembled here 
 at our annual convention to consider 
 that which pertains to the best in- 
 terests of our pursuit. I shall not 
 occupy your time with an exhaustive 
 address, for the programme is full, 
 and very complete, and our time is 
 short at best to consider the many 
 important subjects which will be 
 presented. I am here as a member of 
 this Society to assist as best I may in 
 throwing light upon the topics brought 
 before us. I take it as an expression 
 
 of good-cheer and great generosity in 
 those who have arranged the pre- 
 liminaries for these meetings, that 
 everything for the comfort of us all 
 has been so amply provided, and that 
 all arrangements are so thorough and 
 complete. Let us see to it that we 
 endeavor to perform our part in as 
 faithful and unselfish a manner as 
 our Committee has done. 
 
 We have reached a crisis in the 
 history of bee-keeping which must be 
 met by those who are interested in 
 the pursuit, in a broad, honest, and 
 unselfish way. Every well-informed 
 bee-keeper is reminded in the most 
 unmistakable manner that the time 
 when large profits may be realized 
 from keeping bees, has passed. Each 
 year, the prices of our products have 
 been reduced, until at the present 
 time we find many of our markets 
 overstocked, and our honey selling at 
 rates which allow us little profit for 
 producing it. These are stem facts 
 which must be fairly met. It is not 
 my purpose to attempt to instruct 
 those who are already experts in the 
 business. Their lessons have been 
 taught them by dearly bought experi- 
 ence, the results of which are due to 
 the beginner, and to those whose ex- 
 perience has been more limited. 
 
 We have passed through a period 
 of great enthusiasm, and have in- 
 dulged in much that has been un- 
 warranted and injudicious. We 
 have been far too selfish. As supply- 
 dealers and publishers of bee-litera- 
 ture, we have been far too anxious to 
 present the bright side of our callling. 
 If we have been unwise in the past, 
 we should be thankful that by the 
 light of these past experiences we are 
 able to see more clearly our way for 
 the future. Many years ago, begin- 
 ners were heard to ask if it were ad- 
 visable to engage in bee-keeping as ' 
 an exclusive business. The answer 
 should have been then as now— "Com- 
 mence moderately, and let experience 
 decide as you advance." The real 
 question now seems to be, "Shall 
 we commence at all?" or "Shall 
 those of us who are already engaged 
 in it, continue V" 
 
 In answer to such questions I 
 would offer the following suggestions: 
 1. Our calling is an honorable one, 
 and is an essential branch of agricul- 
 ture, in that the honey-bee is indis- 
 pensable to the fertilization necessary 
 in the vegetable kingdom. Wherever 
 civilization advances, there the honey- 
 bee js found. 2. Honey is a whole- 
 some and desirable article of food. 
 3. It is furnished to us at our very 
 doors, and if we fail to preserve it. 
 
22 
 
 NOKTH AMEBICAlSr 
 
 tke odor of wasting sweetness con- 
 stantly reminds us of our neglect and 
 loss. 
 
 With these points in view, is it not 
 evident that a great work is to be 
 accomplished in applying tbe lessons 
 of economy and industry taught us 
 by the bees themselves, to the accu- 
 mulation of this freely-given produc- 
 tion in the most desirable and profit- 
 able way ? 
 
 We have been extravagant in many 
 of our expenditures. These we must 
 endeavor to reduce, to correspond as 
 much as possible with the reduction 
 in prices. We have incurred a large 
 expense by the great amount of labor 
 which we have required in unneces- 
 sary manipulation. In this I antici- 
 pate a change as we advance, which 
 will result not only in economy of 
 time and labor, but also in avoiding 
 many serious consequences. It is 
 evident that we yet need much light 
 upon many of the simple and prac- 
 tical, as well, as on the scientific 
 phases of our calling. With every 
 advance made in apiculture, it be- 
 comes more apparent that there are 
 new fields of investigation and re- 
 search, which promise to yield infor- 
 mation, and are destined to work 
 marked changes in our methods of 
 managing bees. Only those will suc- 
 ceed who are willing to practice the 
 most rigid economy, and who will be 
 satisfied with moderate pay for honest 
 work performed. 
 
 It is evident that the effort has been 
 too much in the direction of increas- 
 ing the production, rather than to 
 create a corresponding demand for 
 the same. I think I am safe in the 
 assertion that no effort of ours is 
 needed which shall tend to an in- 
 creased production of honey for our 
 present, general, overstocked market. 
 Last season extracted honey was 
 shipped to New York from California 
 by car-loads. The market was already 
 overtocked with the best grades of 
 Eastern honey, and the result was 
 such that California bee-keepers will 
 hardly care for a repetition of the 
 experience. The present season has 
 afforded another illustration. Honey 
 has been shipped very largely from 
 the Eastern and Middle States to New 
 York, and the outcome of this has 
 been that the choicest white honey in 
 sections has sold at ruinously low 
 rates, and some of it has actually 
 been returned to grocers in our own 
 vicinity. By these methods we prac- 
 tically establish these unprofitable 
 prices ourselves. ' 
 
 The resource seems to be that we 
 must enlarge our field of consumption. 
 
 This can be done by each bee-keeper, 
 by encouraging home consumption in 
 his own immediate vicinity, and also 
 by opening up new avenues for the 
 uses of honey. A demand thus created 
 would measurably relieve the over- 
 burdened city markets ; and in this 
 way we would be able in some degree 
 to maintain reasonable prices. With 
 the present facilities for disposing of 
 our products, it is difficutto avoid the 
 conclusion that there is an over-pro- 
 duction. Whether this will grow to 
 become a positive fact, or whether 
 bee-keepers will succeed in causing 
 the demand to keep pace with their 
 success in producing, is the problem 
 to be solved in the near future. 
 
 Much will depend upon the answer 
 to still greater questions which are 
 agitating the best minds of the day. 
 It the thousands of dollars which are 
 annually spent in nearly every com- 
 munity for that which tends to de- 
 grade, and to the production of evil, 
 could be turned to the purchase of 
 that which is wholesome and bene- 
 ficial, the danger of over-production 
 in this, as in other useful callings, 
 would be little to be feared. My faith 
 in the fact that in the end the right 
 will prevail, leads me to the conclu- 
 sion that any calling which presents 
 such a wide field for the intelligent 
 and patient worker, and student of 
 nature, and which is so productive of 
 a harvest of good, must always com- 
 mand those who will find it pleasant 
 and profitable to continue in the work 
 until the harvest is complete. 
 
 Mr. C. P. Muth remarked that in 
 New York they principally demanded 
 honey in glassed sections or in paper- 
 boxes. In the West, such are un- 
 salable. We, here, require it in un- 
 glassed sections with the crates 
 glassed. 
 
 Mr. C. R. Isham said that our 
 honey-producers can sell all their 
 honey in glassed sections, and it is 
 desirable to do so in order to preserve 
 its beauty and puritv. 
 
 E. W. Thompson said that he wrote 
 to New York asking for a bid for best 
 glassed honey, and he was offered 
 only 10 cents per pound for it delivered 
 in New York. 
 
 D. A. Jones— We should not forget 
 that there are other markets besides 
 New York. We should not neglect 
 the small towns nor the farmers. 
 Toronto was once an excellent honey 
 market, but it has been overloaded. 
 I now sell my honey somewhere else. 
 
 S. T. Pettit— Whether there is a 
 
 darkness " or not, depends upon the 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 23 
 
 color of the glasses through which we 
 look— whether -^e look through the 
 producer's glasses or through those of 
 the supply dealers. If honey is so 
 easily sold, why does Mr. Jones find it 
 necessary to send his circulars broad- 
 cast all over the land ? If It meets 
 with such a ready sale, why are so 
 many embarrassed in paying their 
 debts, asking us to wait until they 
 get their pay for the 1884 crop ? 
 
 T. G. Newman— The market has 
 been discouraging, but prices are now 
 improving. High prices must not be 
 expected when sugar is cheap. 
 
 J. B. Hall— The trouble is that our 
 
 Eursuit is a beautiful one, and its 
 eauties have been magi)ifled many 
 fold, while the dark side— the dis- 
 couragements—have been carefully 
 kept in the background, and many 
 have engaged in the business who 
 never would have done so had it not 
 been for this putting the bright side 
 out. 
 
 Mr. J. B. Hall proposed a vote of 
 thanks to Pres. Root for his able 
 address. 
 
 Mr. G. M. Doolittle then read the 
 following on 
 
 THE PKODUCTION OF COMB HONET. 
 
 It has been announced that I am to 
 lead in the discussion regarding the 
 production of comb honey. Before 
 doing so I wish to quote the words 
 found on page 723 of the American 
 Bee Journal, for 1885 : " Long arti- 
 cles seldom profit those who have to 
 do with them. Life is short; time is 
 short ; moments are precious." Espe- 
 cially is this last true at a bee- conven- 
 tion, and many a person has become 
 tired on account of the long essays 
 read at the same. What we want is 
 animated discussion, rather than long 
 essays, no matter how ably written. 
 Therefore the best part of this essay 
 will be its brevity. 
 
 There are four things of importance 
 in the production of comb honey: 
 First, a good queen ; second, the get- 
 ting of the bees at the right time to 
 gather the harvest ; third , a skillful 
 apiarist ; and fourth, the right kind of 
 a hive. 
 
 I put the queen first, for the whole 
 of bee-keeping centres upon her. 
 Without a queen it would be impossi- 
 ble to produce a pound of comb honey; 
 hence it becomes apparent that tlie 
 better the queen is, the more honey 
 we obtain. When we come to fully 
 realize the great value of really good 
 queens, we shall have less queens which 
 cost the apiarist nothing. I wish to 
 
 leave the impression that good queens- 
 cost something, and are valuable in 
 proportion to the pains taken in rear- 
 ing them. 
 
 I put the getting of the bees at the 
 right time to receive the harvest sec- 
 ond, for this is paramount to all else 
 in the production of comb honey— ex- 
 cept the gueen. Unless we can have 
 the bees in our colonies by the tens of 
 thousands at the right time, the 
 flowers will bloom in vain, as far as 
 filling our sections with honey is con- 
 cerned. When all realize the second 
 proposition, and work for the same to 
 its fullest extent, one-half of the colo- 
 nies will gather as much surplus as 
 the wljole do under our present man- 
 agenvent. 
 
 I place a skillful apiarist third, as he 
 is only second to the bees and queen, 
 and unless he is skillful enough to do 
 things at the right time and in the 
 right place, both bees and flowers will 
 be in vain, as far as getting a good 
 yield of comb honey in sections is 
 concerned. The apiarist must study 
 hard, work early and late, and "leave 
 no stone unturned " that will produce 
 a potmd more honey, if he is to be 
 successful in producing comb honey 
 at the present low prices. 
 
 I place the right kind of a hive 
 fourth, for this comes last in the cate- 
 gory of our subject. To be sure, bees 
 will store honey in a nail-keg. but the 
 day of putting honey upon the mar- 
 ket in the shape it must present if 
 taken . from such a repository, has 
 passed away, so that if we would re- 
 alize the most from our bees and our 
 labor, we must get our honey stored in 
 neat and attractive receptacles. The 
 hive that will admit of getting the 
 largest number of bees in the right 
 time for the honey liarvest, and then 
 get "all hands " to work in the surplus 
 arrangement as soon as the harvest 
 arrives, is the one to use. We could 
 divide and sub-divide these four head- 
 ings, especially the last three, yet the 
 above four fundamental principles 
 would not be changed. I therefore 
 leave the subject for your decision. 
 G. M. Doolittle. 
 
 E. W. Thompson— Is it profitable 
 to fill sections full of foundation ? 
 
 J. B. Hall— After many;experiments 
 I have decided that it is. 
 
 H. R. Boardman— During the past 
 season I hived 100 swarms with no 
 foundation in the brood-nest, except- 
 ing starters, I have n& data to sbow 
 whether or not it was a profitable 
 experiment, but I was well pleased 
 with the results. I cut out the new 
 
■24 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 ■comb from the brood-nest, leave it 
 lying upon the grass until the eggs, if 
 theie are any in it, have lost their 
 "vitality, then I fasten this new comb 
 in the sections instead of foundation. 
 The honey is beautiful and tender, 
 but will not bear shipment so well. 
 
 J. B. Hall— I have tried this plan of 
 hiving swarms without foundation, 
 but I get too much drone-comb. 
 
 W. Z. Hutchinson— Are your brood- 
 nests large or small V 
 
 J. B. Hall— Large. 
 
 W. Z. Hutchinson — That explains 
 it. I hive my swarms upon only 5 
 Langstroth frames, and not more 
 than one comb in 25 is drone-comb, 
 -and this occurs only when the gueen 
 is an old one. 
 
 H. R. Boardman— I was surprised 
 ,at the small amount of drone-comb 
 built in my frames. My swarming 
 and hiving were managed upon the 
 Heddon plan. 
 
 G. M. JDoolittle— Comb foundation 
 gives honey greater strength, but this 
 very strength impairs its eating 
 qualities. 
 
 C. F. Muth — There is no necessity, 
 of using foundation heavy enough to 
 detract from the palatableness ot our 
 comb honev. 
 
 The discussion on comb foundation 
 took a general and rather desultory 
 course. Mr. J. B. Hall was asked to 
 state his method, and conQned him- 
 self to his experience with comb 
 foundation. 
 
 Rev. W. F. Clarke said that Mr. 
 Doolittle's essay was professedly on 
 the production of comb honey, but 
 what he said was just as applicable 
 to the production of extracted honey. 
 A good queen , plenty of bees to gather 
 in the honey harvest, a skillful api- 
 arist, and a good hive— were not these 
 just as needful for the production of 
 extracted as comb honey ? What we 
 want is the points of a skillful apiarist 
 required to get large crops of comb 
 honey. We want to know how to do 
 it. Our most successful producers of 
 comb honey rather tell us " how not 
 to do it." They appear not to like to 
 explain things. They take Burns' 
 advice to his friend Andrew : 
 
 " still keep a secret in your breast 
 Ye.never tell to any." 
 
 Por several years at these conven- 
 tions he had tried to get Mr. Hall to 
 explain how he gets such large crops 
 of splendid comb honey, but he had 
 never done it. 
 
 Mr. Hall: "I should have to make 
 the man." 
 
 Mr. Clarke : " Well, here he is ; 
 take the raw material and make the 
 man. That's just what I want." 
 
 Much 
 Messrs. 
 the how, 
 come to 
 
 Amid 
 was laid 
 order of 
 
 amusement and bantering of 
 Doolittle and Hail to explain 
 but the wily veterans did not 
 the scratch, 
 much laughter the subject 
 
 on the table, and the next 
 
 the day taken up. 
 
 Mr. C. P. Dadant, of Hamilton, HI., 
 read the following, on 
 
 EXTRACTED HONEY. 
 
 Nothing is more appetizing than a 
 pretty section of white comb honey. 
 But comb honey will always be a 
 fancy article, and will have to sell 
 much higher than extracted honey, in 
 order to nay. the bee-keeper that pro- 
 duces it. The aim of bee-culture, in 
 its progressive condition, is to pro- 
 duce honey for the masses — for the 
 laborers — who cannot afford to pay for 
 it any more than they can pay for the 
 average grades of sugar. 
 
 Besides, comb honey, although it is 
 a ready selling article, will not fill the 
 place of li(juia honey in a great many 
 instances— to make pastry or cakes, or 
 to use in teas, in case of sickness. It 
 is therefore an evident fact that the 
 sale of comb honey will always be 
 limited, and that the sale of extracted 
 honey will increase in proportion to 
 its production, provided the bee-keep- 
 er will take pains to introduce the use 
 of it among his neighbors. This we 
 have ascertained personally by our 
 own sales. In 1868 our sales of ex- 
 tracted honey of about 500 lbs., were 
 difficult and slow ; now, our crops of 
 10,000 to 35,000 lbs. are easily disposed 
 of, and although the prices "are lower 
 than formerly, yet we find the pro- 
 ducing of it to be a remunerative 
 business. ■ We sell more honey to-day 
 in our town of 1,500 inhabitants than 
 we could sell 20 years ago in the city 
 of St. Louis. 
 
 We consider the production of ex- 
 tracted honey, exclusively, as of much 
 advantage to bee-keepers, for a num- 
 ber of reasons, prominent among 
 which are the following : 
 
 1. The apiarist who aims to produce 
 honey only for his own yse, can pro- 
 duce much more of this honey than 
 of comb. 
 
 2. The outlay for combs, crates and 
 boxes is not an oft-repeated expendit- 
 ure, since when once supplied the 
 stock remains. 
 
 3. The bees need much less watch- 
 ing. The almost total prevention of 
 swarming by the production of ex- 
 tracted honey is no longer a matter of 
 doubt. Por this purpose, it is only 
 necessary to provide the colonies with 
 
BEE-KEEPEE8' SOCIETY. 
 
 25 
 
 a large quantity of empty combs 
 ahead of their needs. Tliese combs 
 are not wasted, but are preserved from 
 year to year. ' 
 
 4. By the production of extracted 
 honey, exclusively, an apiarist can 
 take care of more than four times as 
 many colonies, as he can by the pro- 
 duction of comb honey ; thereby en- 
 larging his profits greatly, even if he 
 has to sell the extracted honey 
 much cheaper than comb honey. 
 
 It would be a great mistake to im- 
 agine, as some have asserted, that 
 there is already an over-production of 
 honey. Honey of all grades is only 
 
 fetting to be a staple. We do not 
 ave to look back many years to the 
 time when its sale was so insignificant 
 that it was only occasionally quoted in 
 the market reports of the large dailies. 
 When honey is found as often as is 
 sugar, molasses, or as butter, on the 
 tables of the average farmer and of 
 the average laborer ; when it is found 
 by the barrel or by tbe keg in our 
 wholesale and retail groceries— then, 
 and only then, can we say that we are 
 producing as much honey as the 
 countrv can use. 
 
 The '' revolution in bee-keeping," of 
 •which Father Langstroth speaks, in 
 his book, has taken place, but the 
 bee-keeping fraternity is only begin- 
 ning to find out all the advantages and 
 all the growth which the bee-business 
 must derive from this revolution. 
 C. P. Dadant. 
 
 Dr. Mason described his method of 
 getting extracted honey, but com- 
 plained that he could not get more 
 than 65 pounds per colony. He was 
 asked how many combs he used, and 
 replied, "eight." 
 
 Dr. L. C. Whiting said, If you will 
 " tier up " your hives, and use plenty 
 of combs, you can get twice as much 
 honey. 
 
 Mr. C. F. Muth could not compre- 
 hend how the Doctor could manage 
 with so few frames. He wanted at 
 least 10 frames for the brood-nest, and 
 then another story for extracting. 
 Even his bees, kept on the house-top 
 in the city of Cincinnati, had given 
 him averages double and even treble 
 what Dr. Mason had obtained, and 
 from hives in the country where they 
 had not so far to fly, he got far more 
 honey. 
 
 C. P. Dadant prefers large hives and 
 ^ves to the bees a plenty of combs in 
 advance of their needs. Honey should 
 not be extracted until ripe. Many 
 bee-keepers think that honey must be 
 sealed before it is ripe. This is a mis- 
 
 take ; honey may be ripe before it is 
 sealed, and it may be sealed before it 
 is ripe. 
 
 S. T. Pettit— If we leave enough 
 honey in the hives, we do not have to 
 feed sugar, which prevents that much 
 honey being put upon the market, and 
 relieves the market to that extent. 
 
 H. E. Boardinan— I have given 8 
 empty frames to a colony of bees in 
 the fall, fed them 50 lbs. of sugar syrup 
 (two parts of sugar and one of water), 
 and they built comb, stored the syrup 
 and wintered well. I have done this 
 with several colonies. 
 
 Mr. W. E. Clark said that the 
 President had been the most success- 
 ful producer of extracted honey in the 
 East, and he would call on him to 
 explain his methods. 
 
 Pres. Boot, in response, said that 
 it was perfectly true, as Mr. Clarke 
 had said,that Mr.Doollttle's requisites 
 for producing comb honey were just 
 as applicable to the production of 
 extracted honey. A good q^iieen, for 
 example,' was just as necessary for the 
 one as the other. In both cases wise 
 manipulation was needed, and it took 
 a large amount of study to know what 
 is wise manipulation. Certainly we 
 must have large colonies of bees to 
 gather the honey, then we must ex- 
 tract it at the time when it could be 
 done to the best advantage and with 
 the least hindrance to the bees. It 
 was hard to lay down specific rules— 
 every bee-keeper must be a law to 
 himself, and find out the methods 
 best adapted to his own locality. 
 Experience must be bought by prac- 
 tice, and at considerable expense ; he 
 only hoped that it would not cost 
 others as much as it had cost him. 
 The secret of success lies in having 
 plenty of workers at the right time, 
 and in order to do this we must liave 
 good queens. Then comes the ques- 
 tion of manipulation. We have had 
 good results from extracting unripe 
 honey, thus saving the bees the labor 
 of ripening it, but the question is, will 
 it pav to do this y I think not. Then, 
 again, there is spring manipulation ; 
 spreading the brood, and the like. — 
 In'my opinion, we have manipulated 
 many a colony to death. I am getting 
 to think less and less of manipulation. 
 In feeding, we look, not at immediate 
 results, but at the future. We have 
 heard much about adulteration, and 
 we must avoid the very semblance of 
 it. Oar product must be even above 
 suspicion. Some of the lower grades 
 of honey are selling so low that it will 
 not pay to sell it and buy sugar.— 
 Bees should never be allowed to "hang 
 out " during a honey harvest ; if they 
 
26 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 do, something is wrong. Our hives 
 have a ventilator, 6x12 inches, in the 
 bottom, -which can be opened or closed 
 at pleasure. 
 
 Mr. S. T. Pettit gave his experi- 
 ence in {)roducing extracted honey. 
 He had missed it by not leaving the 
 honey in the hive long enough to 
 ripen. One season his honey was all 
 of an inferior quality, owing to this 
 cause. He did not believe that we 
 could ripen the honey as well as the 
 bees themselves do it. He said that 
 we should have at least one-third of 
 the honey capped before extracting, 
 and he believed it was better if all 
 was capped over. He then asked : 
 Do you think, Mr. President, that you 
 can ripen honey artificially as well as 
 the bees can do it y 
 
 President Root— I am not sure. I 
 know we can ripen it more thoroughly, 
 and I can discover no difference in 
 the taste. 
 
 8. T. Pettit— Some have not as keen 
 a sense of taste as have others. I have 
 ripened honey artificially, but it never 
 had the fine, rich, oily, aromatic flavor 
 which honey ripened by the bees had. 
 It is my opinion that bees add, in the 
 ripening process, ^ome animal product 
 (formic acid, perhaps), which the 
 honey can get in no other way. 
 
 Rev. L. L. Langstroth did not know 
 that he could add much to the ocean 
 of ■ intelligence that was tiding all 
 around, but he wished to say a word 
 or two. He believed there were many 
 things that the bees could do— certain 
 things better than we can — and ripen- 
 ing honey was one of them. There 
 was too much artificial work in bee- 
 keeping. One bee-keeper had in- 
 vented nippers to pull dead bees out 
 of the cells, but live bees would do it 
 better. 
 
 Dr. Mason said that the " big-bugs " 
 of the Convention had been poking 
 fun at him tor getting only 65 pounds 
 of honey per colony, but they would 
 find it impossible to get an average 
 of 300 pounds in his locality- a city on 
 one side and a wilderness on the 
 other. Small as his average yield 
 was, it was larger than that of any of 
 his neighbors. He wished that his 
 critics would show him how to pro- 
 duce 300 pounds per colony, but the 
 trouble was as Mr. Clarke said, they 
 did not to disclose their secrets. 
 
 Rev. W. P. Clarke wished to ask if 
 formic acid in honey was not the 
 element which gave it its keeping 
 qualities. He put the question to 
 Prof. Cook. Por his own part, he 
 believed that the formic acid was 
 added by the bees in the capping pro- 
 cess, which was carried on mainly by 
 
 the use of their tails— the sting— being - 
 the last polishing tool. It was be- 
 cause the formic acid was thus added 
 that honey must be one- third capped 
 to be good, and all capped to be first- 
 Prof. Cook thought that no one 
 knew how or when the formic acid 
 was added. He was also of the opin- 
 ion that too much stress was laid on 
 the matter of taste. Few could dis- 
 criminate as thoroughly as had been 
 suggested. 
 
 The Convention then adjourned 
 until 7:30 p.m. 
 
 EVENING SESSION. 
 
 The meeting was C3,lled to order at 
 8 p.m., by Pres. Root. An essay was 
 read as follows, by Mr. B. F. Holter- 
 mann, of Fisherville, Ont., on the 
 
 CARE OF HONEY FOB MABKET. 
 
 I bring this subject before you, 
 fully aware that it is not of as great 
 importance as many others, being 
 indirectly connected with the pro- 
 duction of honey ; but on that ac- 
 count it has perhaps not received that 
 public attention which it merits. It 
 is our duty when blessed with the 
 means to procure a crop of honey, 
 that we should acquaint not only our- 
 selves but every bee-keeper with 
 what will secure to us the article in 
 the highest state of perfection, and 
 place it thus in the consumers' hands. 
 Have we, as a body, endeavored to do 
 so ¥ Looking at it from a business 
 stand-point, past experience has 
 taught us that in order to realize the 
 best results financially, from any 
 article extensively produced,' it is 
 necessary not only to better our own 
 but we must better that of the entire 
 land. 
 
 Let us imagine the land completely 
 destitute of vegetation. Here is a 
 heavy soil, iii the distance is a sandy 
 one, and between, all grades of soil. 
 Here is a hill, there a swamp, and at 
 other distancfes, intermediate eleva- 
 tions. Now, could our eye stretch 
 from north to south within the honey- 
 producing area, and were this area to 
 be decked with our present vegeta- 
 tion, which of the aforenamed condi- 
 tions would influence the quality of 
 honey ? The heavy soil would give 
 us a richer honey then the lighter ; 
 the more extremes of cold climate 
 would give a better quality than the 
 more equable. Would the high and 
 the low land influence it V We know 
 that honey from every species of 
 flower has its peculiar flavor, no mat- 
 ter how indistinct, and that the sea- 
 
BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 
 
 27 
 
 son, its winds, temperature, and 
 degrees of moisture influence not 
 only the quantity, but the quality of 
 our honey. 
 
 The progress bee-keeping has made, 
 and so many making a specialty or 
 it, has enabled us in a measure to 
 conduct ourselves accordingly ; but to 
 the ordinary bee-keeper most of the 
 previously named conditions cannot 
 be controlled. But, how much lies 
 within our power I 
 
 One of the first questions would be, 
 wheh shall we extract ? Shall we 
 extract before or after the honey is 
 sealed V What are the advantages 
 and disadvantages of the two sys- 
 tems ? If entirely sealed, we require 
 to uncap a; large surface, • the bees 
 must with the ordinary appliances 
 be cramped for store-room, the brood- 
 nest becomes contracted, not alone 
 meaning'loss of time until extracted, 
 but many think they do not regain' 
 their old energy for the remainder of 
 the season. The advantages would 
 be, honey called ripe, subject to the 
 before-named conditions. 
 
 When is honey ripe? With the 
 system of extracting when the honey 
 is unsealed, there is no uncapping, 
 and bees have plenty of store-room, 
 but the quality is inferior ; and right 
 here a friend would step in with his 
 ripening can. But we have made no 
 light mistake; for in the past our 
 honey has been handled too much, as 
 if it could lose nothing by having it 
 come in contact with the air. What 
 imparts that peculiar aroma to honey, 
 and gives each kind of honey a dis- 
 tinct flavor ? Is it not largely a 
 volatile oil 'i Do we not know it is 
 being distilled from every flower, as 
 we pass through a clover-fleld in 
 blossom y and in evaporating and 
 otherwise coming in contact with the 
 air, we lose this. 
 
 Many find that to extract honey 
 when one-third capped, answers well ; 
 the honey to be put into deep tanks 
 or barrels holding about 600 pounds 
 each, and left for a week. This causes 
 the light, thin honey to rise to the top 
 —generally it is not 10 per cent., and 
 this can be disposed of a little cheaper 
 —and the rich, ripe honey remains. 
 One week more of exposure is ample 
 for clover, and it becomes sweet 
 without the flavor ; basswood longer, 
 according to the taste. Thistle honey 
 has a very distinct odor and taste, but 
 it is very volatile, and requires but 
 little exposure. If we handled our 
 extracted honey thus, would it not 
 take the place of comb honey more ? 
 
 What is meant when consumers say 
 that they miss a peculiar richness in 
 
 extracted honey, which the comb will 
 give them ? Is it all fancy ? How 
 many bee-keepers have greeted you 
 with the remark, after tasting your 
 basswood honey, " Ah, that is pure 
 honey." How many have thought, 
 after tasting the long-exposed clover 
 honey, " That is sugar syrup." The 
 former loses its flavor less readily; 
 the latter more readily. 
 
 Has our comb honey been handled 
 with proper care? Should it not 
 always be kept not only dry, but at a 
 temperature that the delicate scales- 
 of wax— cell caps— never crack from 
 too low a temperature ? Does honey 
 ferment in the cells and crack the 
 wax, or does the cell break, permit 
 access to moisture and atmosphere,, 
 and that cause the honey to ferment ? 
 
 E. F. HOLTERMANN. 
 
 Mr. Boardman considered this mat- 
 ter of great importance. That honey 
 was often deteriorated by keeping 
 was undeniable, and he would like to 
 know how it happened so, that it 
 might be guarded against. 
 
 D. A. Jones— I do not think the 
 cappings of honey are impervious to- 
 the air. We sometimes have honey 
 so thickened that it does not fiU the 
 cell more than one-half full. If the 
 capping was air-tight, how could this 
 evaporation take place ? 
 
 H. R. Boardman— I think that honey 
 thickens by " age." 
 
 Prof. Cook explained the difference 
 between evaporation and crystalliza- 
 tion. Honey can only thicken by 
 evaporation, and to evaporate, it 
 must have air ; therefore the sealing 
 is not air-tight. Crystallization is a 
 different affair, and is akin to forma- 
 tion of ice, resulting from the cooling 
 process. 
 
 Mr. Doolittle gave an instance in 
 which honey was spoiled by moisture 
 swelling the honey, so that the cells- 
 were broken, and the honey turned 
 sour in the course of a few months. 
 
 James Heddon — If the honey is 
 cooler than the surrounding atmos- 
 phere, the moisture will be condensed 
 upon the honey, in the same manner 
 as it is when a pitcher is filled with 
 ice-water. If we wish to prevent 
 granulation of the honey, it must be 
 kept in a high temperature. 
 
 H. R. Boardman— I keep the tem- 
 perature of my honey -house at a high 
 point, give ventilation, except upon 
 damp days, when I keep all openings 
 closed, and even build a fire. I also 
 keep lime upon the floor to absorb the 
 moisture. 
 
 Mr. Thompson, of New York, said 
 that he had been greatly troubled 
 
28 
 
 NORTH AMERICAlSr 
 
 with the moth getting into comb 
 honey. He had tried sulphur fumi- 
 gation with them, but had not suc- 
 ceeded as he conld have wished. 
 
 C. F. Muth— The fumes of burning 
 sulphur will settle, hence the honey 
 should be at the bottom of the room. 
 
 H. R. Boardman— In fumigating 
 honey with sulphur, nothing should 
 be used to fire the sulphur that will 
 give off any smoke. 
 
 S. r. Newman— I think much of 
 this trouble arises from taking ofE the 
 honey too soon. If left upon the hive 
 it is safe from the attacks of moths 
 and dampness, and will become thor- 
 oughly ripened. It might be left on 
 for three weeks after it is finished 
 without its being much dissolved. 
 
 Mr. J. B. Hall, of Ontario, on being 
 called upon, gave his experience and 
 practice. He said that the moth 
 would give no trouble unless there 
 was bee-bread in tha Sections. He 
 said : I seldom fumigate my honey. 
 TVhen I do, I put some ashes into a 
 kettle, put in the sulphur (one pound 
 for a room 8x10 feet), and hang the 
 kettle near the top of the room ; then 
 throw in a piece of iron heated to a 
 white heat, and close the doors. I 
 would keep the honey-room as near 
 ■90° as possible. 
 
 Mr. Heddon said that there was but 
 little danger of deterioration, if 
 honey was taken proper care of. It 
 should be kept in a temperature 
 higher than the common atmosphere, 
 else it would attract and absorb mois- 
 ture, and thus be injured. He had no 
 trouble with the moth-worm, and did 
 not believe that the moth would live 
 on pure beeswax. There must be 
 some pollen— some nitrogenous mat- 
 ter in order to form animal tissue. 
 
 Dr. L. C. Whiting— When I have 
 some old honey that I wish to put 
 upon the market, I place it over a 
 strong colony of bees allowing them 
 access to it. They soon put it in such 
 a' condition that it cannot be distin- 
 guished from new honey. 
 
 D. A. Jones— Would not simply heat 
 answer the same purpose ? 
 
 Dr. Whiting— I cannot say. 
 
 G. M. Doolittle— I know of a man 
 who kept his honey in his sitting- 
 room near the coal-stove all winter ; 
 it kept perfectly, and the next season 
 it sold for as high a price as new 
 honey. 
 
 0. P. Dadant— The bee-moth's larvse 
 will starve upon wax alone. 
 
 D.;';A. Jones— Have Messrs. Hed- 
 don and Dadant never seen the holes 
 in beeswax made by the bee-moth's 
 larvae ? 
 
 James Heddon — Yes, but some 
 beeswax contains large quantities of 
 pollen. 
 
 Prof. Cook said that there could not 
 be animal life, without nitrogen, and 
 there could not be putrefaction with- 
 out nitrogen. 
 
 Mr. Heddon said that we should 
 take such precautions as would keep 
 out flies, wasps and other insects. By 
 this means the moth-worms would be 
 effectually excluded. He had his 
 honey-house protected with wire- 
 screens, and the moth gave him no 
 trouble. 
 
 The following essay by Mr. E. M. 
 Hayhurst, of Kansas City, Mo., was 
 read, on 
 
 SHIPPING BEES BY THE POUSTD. 
 
 The possibility of shipping bees 
 without hives or combs, was first 
 brought to the attention of the bee- 
 keepers by an editorial in Gleanings 
 for May, 1879. In this editorial, Mr. 
 Root suggested the use, as a shipping- 
 cage, of a common dish-screen, pro- 
 vided with a wooden bottom and sup- 
 plied with candy and water. Soon 
 after reading this, I prepared a half- 
 pound of bees and a queen, as thus 
 suggested, and sent them to Mr. Root 
 as an experiment. They were re- 
 ceived without the loss of a single 
 bee. This settled the matter with 
 me, that bees could be sent safely in 
 this way, if all the conditions were 
 right. 
 
 I sent a number of half and one- 
 pound packages that season, with 
 good success. The dish-screen was 
 soon abandoned for the much more 
 convenient section-box and wire-cloth 
 cage, as |idvised by Mr. Root in OUan- 
 mgs for June, 1879. Here I would 
 like to call attention to the fact that 
 our common friend, Bro. Root, is 
 father of this business, and that 
 nearly every advancing step made by 
 his now healthy "youngster," has been 
 made at his suggestion. 
 
 Without detailing to you the manv 
 heavy losses and great discourage"- 
 ments which I met with during the 
 following three years, and owing to 
 which I very nearly abandoned the 
 business as ruinous, I will state that 
 1 now have the matter so well under 
 control that it is as safe and profitable 
 to me as any other department of bee- 
 keeping. 
 
 I still use the well-known section- 
 cages, each being crated so as to 
 protect it somewhat from accidents 
 When a number of packages are to 
 be sent to one .address, several of 
 them are placed in one crate ; I have 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 29 
 
 sent as many as 2'5 one-pound pack- 
 ages in one crate, but generally I 
 divide large, shipments into crates 
 containing 12 or 15 packages. These 
 crates are so arranged as to admit of 
 ample ventilation for each package of 
 bees. 
 
 •Eor feed, I use the " Good " candy, 
 made of the best pulverized sugar and 
 clover or basswood honey. This candy 
 enables us to dispense with the water 
 which was necessary with the can- 
 dies formerly used. When the bees 
 are not likely to be confined more 
 than 24 hours, no feed is rea^y neces- 
 sary, although a little candy is put 
 into all cages, to guard against pos- 
 sible delays. The proportion used 
 for long distances is about 4 ounces 
 of candy per day for each pound of 
 bees. 
 
 I now think that most of my heavy 
 losses in former years were due to 
 over -feeding, or rather, to gorging 
 the bees with honey. I used to be so 
 afraid that they would starve in win- 
 ter, that I would feed them all the 
 honey that they would take, after 
 they were caged ; notwithstanding the 
 well known fact that bees when 
 gorged with sweets are much more 
 likely to become panic-stricken when 
 confined, and disgorging, smother 
 themselves. On the other hand, I 
 now use every precaution possible to 
 prevent the bees from filling them- 
 'selves while being caged. Bees caged 
 without a queen have this same 
 tendency to panics, and will often run 
 themselves to death ; hence I send no 
 more bees without queens. 
 
 Next to over-feeding, perhaps the 
 greatest cause of losses is the ex- 
 posure of the bees to the hot sunshine 
 by the carriers ; on this account I 
 place/ conspicuous cautionary cards 
 on each crate, calling attention to 
 this fact. I also send printed 
 " Directions " attached to each cratp, 
 for the benefit of the purchasers, 
 many of whom are quite inexperienced 
 in handling bees;" these are very 
 necessary, but do not always save the 
 bees. One friend wrote me this sea- 
 son that I had failed to put queens 
 into 4 or 5 packages sent him ; he said : 
 " I know this to be so, because all of 
 the bees clustered in one place." 
 Eurther correspondence developed the 
 fact that after preparing his five hives 
 as directed, he turned all the bees 
 loose at once by throwing them into 
 the open air, expecting each nucleus 
 with its appropriate queen to find the 
 hive intended for it ! Another friend 
 lost 3 out of 5 nuclei by turning them 
 into hives containing their full com- 
 plement of combs, smeared and be- 
 
 fouled by the bees that died during 
 the winter, and without giving them 
 any brood to care for. Only two of 
 the lot had grit enough to stay in their 
 new quarters and clean up. 
 
 In regard to the profits to be derived 
 from the business : After an experi- 
 ence of seven years, I believe that 
 when we can retail extracted honey 
 at home for 8 or 10 cents per pound, 
 we cannot afford to retail our bees 
 for less than $3 per pound, in May, 
 and assume all the risks now required 
 of the shipper. Probably the persons 
 most benefited by the business, are 
 those who have trouble in introduc- 
 ing queens, and they are not few ; to 
 such it is certainly a very great ad- 
 vantage to buy a half-pound of bees 
 with each queen, so as to enable them 
 to obtain the improved kinds without 
 the risk of introducing. These little 
 nuclei can be made working colonies 
 at once, by giving them 2 or 3 combs 
 of brood and stores (without bees) 
 from other hives. By adding other 
 combs of brood' as fast as the bees 
 can care for them, the^ can be quickly 
 built into full and profitable colonies : 
 indeed 2 or 3 combs of brood and 
 stores, is help enough in ordinary 
 seasons, if the bees are purchased 
 early, and in extra good seasons a 
 half-pound of bees with a good queen 
 will often grow into a fine colony for 
 winter— a small beginning, but not 
 quite so helpless as the one made by 
 one of my neighbors. He sent to me 
 for an untested queen ; shortly after- 
 wards he called at my yard and com- 
 plained that the queen did not do 
 very well— in fact, had deserted her 
 hive. It seems that he had put her 
 with the few bees sent with her in the 
 mailing cage, into a large, cracked 
 box into which he had fastened a one- 
 pound section containing comb, but 
 no honey. He said that there were 
 just 9 bees with her, and that he 
 thought 4 of these were a plenty to 
 stay with the queen while the other 
 5 went Out to gather honey and wax 1 
 
 At the risk of incurring the charge 
 of being " enthusiastic " in regard to 
 the immense profits to be derived 
 from purchasing bees by. the pound, I 
 will close by giving an extract from 
 a letter received from an Iowa custo- 
 mer ; it sounds a. little extravagant, 
 but it is by no means an uncommon 
 report— he probably had an extra 
 good run of honey. Here it is : 
 
 " I kept 11 of those one-pound 
 nuclei, put each into a full- si zed' 
 chaff hive with empty combs ; this is 
 all the help they had, except a little 
 feed when they first came, and a little 
 foundation. They filled up their 
 
30 
 
 NORTH AMEBICAJSr 
 
 hives, increased to 20 good, strong 
 colonies, and gave me about 400 
 pounds of nice comb honey. A swarm 
 from one of them took the first pre- 
 mium ($10) at our District Fair." 
 Kansas City, Mo. 
 
 A. I. Root— I do not think the letter 
 extravagant; such reports are quite 
 frequent. The original half-pound of 
 bees that Mr. Hayhurst sent me was 
 put upon combs, and made so strong 
 a colony that it was, I believe, divided 
 in the fall. We must have young 
 bees, and the bee-keeper must be an 
 expert. Mr. Root then described 
 what could be done in a single season 
 with a half-pound of bees and a fertile 
 queen in May. 
 
 There was general concurrence in 
 the utility and convenience of selling 
 bees by the pound. 
 
 BEPOBTS OF VICE-PRESIDENTS. 
 
 Mr. A. F. Mauum, Vice-President 
 for Vermont, reported the honey crop 
 of that State, for the present season, 
 to be 160 tons. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Gr. Gibbons, Vice-Presi- 
 dent for Delaware, in his report, says: 
 
 The year 1885 has been an exceed- 
 ingly unpropitious one for bee-keep- 
 ers in this part of the country. The 
 warm weather which usually sets in 
 by April 10, was procrastinated until 
 near the beginning of May, and dur- 
 ing both April and May cold rain- 
 storms were frequent. The result 
 was that the bees got to work 15 days 
 later than usual. The white clover 
 which is in this section the best and 
 almost only bee-pasturage, did not 
 seem to be well supplied with nectar, 
 and the season of its bloom was ex- 
 ceptionally short; consequently the 
 colonies gathered a very small supply 
 of surplus honey, and few -swarms 
 issued. Generally the colonies are in 
 good condition for entering upon the 
 coming winter, and seem to be 
 healthy. 
 
 Mr. Arthur Todd, Vice-President 
 for Pennsylvania, made the following 
 report for the year 1885 : ' 
 
 The winter of 1884-85 proved dis- 
 astrous to many bee-keepers in the 
 State of Pennsylvania, and as regards 
 a honey harvest— practically there 
 was none. The fall crop of honev has 
 likewise been a complete failure", and 
 bees go into winter quarters in bad 
 
 condition, unless fed on sugar syrup. 
 I have taken pains during my busi- 
 ness journeys, and in my correspond- 
 ence, to learn the actual results of 
 bee-keeping this year in this State for 
 many a mile distant from Philadel- 
 phia, and I think that the word 
 "disastrous" will best express the 
 general feeling as to the results. 
 
 I regret that I am unable to meet 
 the brethren in convention assembled; 
 it is a great disappointment to me. 
 
 Mr. H. F. Hunt, Vice-President for 
 Quebec, Canada, reported as follows : 
 
 The knowledge of bee-culture, by 
 the improved methods of manipula- 
 tion, is still in its extreme infancy in 
 Quebec, and has only within the past 
 few years begun to be disseminated 
 among the people, the southern and 
 southwestern parts having more bee- 
 keepers than the other parts. There 
 are numerous box-hive bee-keepers 
 throughout the country, who still take 
 their honey by the old-fashioned 
 method of " brimstoning,"— a method 
 which I hope is now on its "last 
 legs." My report, therefore, will not 
 bear comparison with that of our 
 sister Province— Ontario— but I hope 
 that in the not far distant future, we 
 shall be able to make as good a show- 
 ing. The success attending the labors 
 of bee-keepers in Ontario, will act as 
 a stimulus to those in Quebec. 
 
 In common with the rest of the 
 North American Continent, the 
 losses last winter were heavy, but 
 bee-keepers, as a rule, have not been 
 much discouraged, and are hoping 
 for better success this winter. Our 
 losses were not so heavy as those 
 farther- south, which I attribute to 
 our being compelled to protect the 
 bees well, on account of the severe 
 cold which once or twice every winter 
 touches 30° below zero, the average 
 being 5° to 10° above. 
 
 I have not received as many re- 
 sponses as I could wish, to my request 
 for reports, but I generalize from 
 what I did receive. The past season 
 has been a very poor one indeed 
 owing to the extraordinary cold sea- 
 son, which seriously curtailed brood- 
 rearmg and the secretion of nectar, in 
 some parts of the Province, notably 
 m the vicinity of Lake Megantic, and 
 m the county of Beance. The spring 
 was so dry that certain crops had to 
 be replanted, and would, no doubt, 
 have acted unfavorably to the secre- 
 tion ot nectar in the white clover, 
 borne honey was gathered from bass- 
 wood, which yields more freely to the 
 
BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 
 
 31 
 
 .soutli than to the north of the St. 
 Xiawrence. Fall flowers also have 
 not given much, and many colonies 
 have had to be fed for winter. 
 
 Mr. 0. O. Poppleton, Vice-Presi- 
 dent for Iowa, made the following 
 report of the results of bee-keeping 
 - in Iowa during the past 12 months : 
 
 Bees were put into winter quarters 
 last fall in very poor condition gen- 
 erally, as regards numbers of bees in 
 each colony and amount of stores. 
 The winter was a very hard one, fol- 
 lowed by one of the worst— if not the 
 -worst— springs experienced during a 
 long term of years. The result has 
 been to entirely destroy nearly or 
 ■quite % of the total number of colo- 
 nies put into winter quarters last 
 fall, and to leave many of the colonies 
 that were saved in very poor condi- 
 tion at the commencement of the 
 honey harvest. 
 
 The honey harvest itself was much 
 TdcIow the average, and from the best 
 information I can get, I estimate the 
 total production of honey in Iowa, in 
 1885, at about }4 the amount obtained 
 last year. 
 
 Foul brood, which was reported 
 last year as being present m our 
 locality in this State, is not reported 
 as being in existence anywhere in the 
 State this year. What is known by 
 some as the " trembling disease," by 
 others as the " nameless disease," has 
 been reported from several apiaries 
 this year. As the causes and charac- 
 teristics of this disease, as well as its 
 prevention and cure, has never, so 
 Tar as I know, been thoroughly in- 
 vestigated by any competent person, 
 I would respectfully request that this 
 Society either appoint a committee to 
 make such an investigation, or form- 
 ally request Prof. N. W. McLain, of 
 the United States Entomological Sta- 
 tion at Aurora, Ills., to make such 
 investigation. 
 
 Mr. H. L. Jeffrey, Vice-President 
 for Connecticut, gave the following 
 report : 
 
 Connecticut has not produced over 
 two-thirds as much honey this year 
 as last (1884), and perhaps not over 
 half the amount, last year being the 
 best season for white clover and buck- 
 wheat that we have known for eleven 
 years. It gave us two unusually good 
 honey-flows, which made almost an 
 incessant flow from May 8 to Sept. 27, 
 or more than 140 days of average 
 
 abundant honey-flow, against less 
 than 60 days in 4 flows this season, 
 with no white clover or buckwheat. 
 
 Though it has been common for 
 well-cared-for colonies of bees of good 
 blood to produce 100 pounds each, this 
 year, it is also more common for the 
 uncared-for "scrub" colonies to be 
 deficient in winter stores, without 
 yielding any surplus. Although Con- 
 necticut annually consumes from 100 
 to 125 tons of honey, and although 
 bee-keeping is in a growing condition, 
 yet it would be extremely difficult to 
 collect 40 tons of surplus Connecticut 
 honey. Judging the State by an effort 
 to obtain a close canvass of 13 towns, 
 it g,ives only a return of 12,400 pounds, 
 which is far less than half what the 
 grocers sell in some of the towns. 
 Learning that the local producers 
 have customers, and retail their pro- 
 duct, and that the store supply is 
 almost exclusively an import (the 
 production being 'from 40 to perhaps 
 70 tons as a minimum and maximum 
 amount), and that well-cared-for api- 
 aries of selected colonies will give a 
 surplus of 100 or more pounds per 
 colony, it shows that Connecticut is a 
 remunerative location for the skilled 
 apiarist. 
 
 Connecticut possesses a few well- 
 read apiarists, but not one specialist, 
 that I know of, as a honey producer. - 
 In all cases it is only a " side-show," 
 and yet not a few could cast a vote on 
 either the reversible frame, 4^ sec- 
 tion-box, skeleton honey-board, or on 
 any of the other modern fixtures, and 
 all of them tried extensively enough 
 to warrant an impartial decision. One 
 apiarist has tried the 1%-inch-wide 
 end-bar, with the reversible wire, to 
 the extent of 25 hives, and they have 
 been tried to stay : there are about 150 
 of such constructed hives put into 
 winter quarters, and trying a few by 
 the side of other hives for 8 years, the 
 number has gradually grown until 
 another season will see a few thou- 
 sand of the % -inch-wide end-bar 
 combs for sale cheap, or some kind- 
 ling wood and wax in the place of 
 the frames and combs. Saw l%'-inch 
 thick plank in %-inch thick strips, 
 and make the tops and bottoms 6-16x- 
 %, let into the ends, and use reversi- 
 ble wires, the hives to be 123^ inches 
 wide, with 2 division-boards scant J4- 
 inch thick, confining the heat between 
 each two combs to Its own space. 
 The advantages are, the prevention 
 of hoar-frost at each end of the combs, 
 the -prevention of each comb being 
 built to the end of the hive at every 
 sudden flow of honey, the possibility 
 to take out any one comb without 
 
32 
 
 NORTH AMEEICAN 
 
 being obliged to move each of the 
 others separately, the convenience of 
 moving a hive without every comb 
 swinging against its neighbor, the 
 ease with which a hive or nucleus can 
 be set up in a hurry, as well as many 
 other superior reasons. 
 
 This is the out-growth of some old 
 cast-off Quinby standing-frames 
 forced into use in 1877, by a sudden 
 call for frames and hives, and from 
 then until now they have been used 
 as standing-frames at one time, and 
 at another time as hanging-frames, 
 by driving a nail in the end-bar; and 
 sometimes one side being up, then 
 the other side up, the twisting and 
 turning for fun and for fact caused 5 
 complete hives after having wedge- 
 sticks placed between the combs to 
 be turned bottom-side up, in 1883, to 
 get.the crates of 18 prize-boxes each 
 as the receptacles of about 3 inches 
 deep of honey under the top-bars of 
 all the combs, because the first crates 
 of boxes were not taken off soon 
 enough, and np went the honey. The 
 same tiling was tried in 1881, with 4 
 American hives whose combs were 
 half full, and, lo, the honey was 
 moved. 
 
 The objections to a stationary or 
 single-position, spaced frame, are all 
 converted into advantages by using 
 • it reversibly, and there will yet be 
 living proof that the Quinby stand- 
 ing-frame, of the Langstroth size, and 
 with reversible wires to combine the 
 labors of Fathers Langstroth and 
 Quinby in an established union of 
 obliteration to the confused multi- 
 tude, and give us all peace and same- 
 ness to perfection in frame and hive. 
 
 Mr. Wm. Muth-Rasmussen, of In- 
 dependence, Calif., reports as follows 
 for that State : 
 
 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. 
 
 While the southern counties, accord- 
 ing to all published reports, have had 
 a very poor honey harvest, the season 
 here has been about an average one. 
 The reason is that while the southern 
 counties depend almost altogether 
 upon wild vegetation for bee-forage, 
 our principal honey scource, here, is 
 alfalfa, which is irrigated and never 
 fails to yield some honey. Although 
 alfalfa is grown to some extent in the 
 southern counties, it is used there 
 mostly as cattle-feed, and is cut as 
 soon as the bloom appears, 4 to 6 
 
 times, according to the season. It is 
 therefore of no avail to bee-keepers. 
 Such hay is, however, not suitable 
 for horses, being to " washy ;" and as 
 alfalfa is here used also for horse- 
 feed, it is not cut until it has formed 
 seed, or is nearly out of bloom. On a 
 few farms alfalfa seed is raised for 
 the market, and therefore our bees 
 have the full benefit of the bloom 
 while it lasts. 
 
 In " dry " seasons, when there is a 
 scarcit;^ of wild flowers, tlie alfalfa, 
 honey is stored in its purity, and. 
 equals any honey in color, flavor and 
 body, being about as clear as white- 
 sage honey. In " wet" seasons it is,, 
 however, mixed with honey from 
 other flowers, and is of an amber 
 color. Our honey invariably granu- 
 lates when frosty weather sets in, 
 but until then it remains liquid, and 
 will be so thick that a dish of it may- 
 be turned upside down, without its. 
 running out. 
 
 Alfalfa, if rightly treated, is, to my 
 mind, equal, if not superior, to any 
 other plant which can be cultivated 
 for honey, hay and seed. The stub- 
 ble also affords fine pasture for stock, 
 but cattle are liable to become bloat- 
 ed, if allowed to graze on it while it. 
 is wet or frosted. This is the only 
 danger that has to be guarded against.. 
 All grass-eating animals are exceed- 
 ingly fond of it, whether it is green 
 or cured. It also affords fine pasture 
 for hogs and poultry. As the tap- 
 root penetrates from 20 to 40 feet 
 down into the soil, the plant is not 
 affected by drouth, and, when in- 
 tended for seed, is not irrigated. 
 When it once has secured a " stand," 
 it will hold its own forever after, re- 
 seeding itself, and choking out, by its 
 dense growth, all other plants which 
 may attempt to share the soil with it. 
 
 I hope that you may have a pleasant 
 and profitable meeting. 
 
 The committee to whom was refer- 
 red the address of Mr. T. G. Newman 
 on the National Bee-keepers' Union 
 reported in favor of uniting the two 
 societies. Mr. Heddon, president of 
 the Union, remarked that he did not 
 quite see how it could be done, and 
 the resolution was tabled, after some 
 discussion. 
 
 Some other observations were made 
 on the subject, when the convention 
 adjourned until 9 a.m. of the follow-" 
 ing day. 
 
BEE KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 33 
 
 SECOND DAY— WEDNESDAY. 
 
 MORNING SESSION. 
 
 The Convention was called to order 
 at 9:30 a.m.. by Pres. L. C. Root, who 
 announced the following as a com- 
 mittee to answer any questions that 
 might be placed in the question-box : 
 S. P. Newman, S. T. Pettit and H. 
 R. Boardman. It was found to be 
 impossible to get through with the 
 regular programme^ if . the questions 
 were brought up for discussion, and 
 hence the appointment of the above- 
 mentioned committee. 
 
 The Secretary read a letter from 
 Mr. Turner Buswell, of Solon. Me., 
 asking the Society to consider the 
 advisability of publishing, in a 
 pamphlet forih, a report of its pro- 
 ceedings, and the matter was referred 
 to the committee on questions. 
 
 Pres. Root — I have requested that 
 samples of honey be sent to me, that 
 . I might send them to the government 
 chemist. Prof. H. W. Wiley, at Wash- 
 ington, for analysis ; but the report 
 that the Professor has already made 
 of samples of honey that he has ana- 
 lyzed, leads me to doubt the advisa- 
 bility of such a course. Too large a 
 percentage of the samples were pro- 
 nounced impure. 1 should not like 
 to send my honey there and have it 
 prf^nounced adulterated.' 
 
 C. F. Muth — Myself and some 
 friends sent some honey there that 
 wefcne-ioto be pure, and it was pro- 
 nounced impure. I do not think that 
 we shall send any more. 
 
 Prof. A.J. Cook then read a portion 
 of the published report of Prof. H.W. 
 Wiley, of the Department of Agricul- 
 ture at Washington, giving his anal- 
 ysis of different samples of honey 
 furnished him by bee-keepers. In his 
 annual report he put down many 
 samples as " apparently pure," and 
 many as " probably impure." The 
 Professor said that it was the business 
 of a chemist to know; and if he could 
 not analyze such products to a cer- 
 tainty, he should say so in his report. 
 
 The friends of Mr. A. I. Root, hav- 
 ing learned that his 46th birthday 
 occurred on the second day of the 
 Convention, had contributed ten 
 cents each, to Mr. Muth, with which 
 to purchase a suitable birthday- pres- 
 ent for him. A copy of "Milton's 
 Paradise Lost," beaiitifuUy printed, 
 bound, and illustrated, was purchased, 
 and the Rev. W. P. Clarke was select- 
 ed to present it to Mr. A. I. Root 
 during the morning session, which he 
 did in a very pleasant way. Some 
 
 other friends also presented him with 
 a-bouquet of flowers. Mr. Root re- 
 plied briefly by thanking those who 
 had been so thoughtful. He valued 
 the kind thoughts much more than 
 the gift, though that was beautiful. 
 He lelt that such kindness was un- 
 deserved. 
 
 Mr. C. r. Muth, of Cincinnati, OhiOv 
 then read the following on 
 
 THE HONEY MARKET. 
 
 A friend asked me, a few days ago, 
 as many had done before, what the 
 reason was for the low prices of 
 honey, whether, in my estimation, 
 honey would remain cheap, whether I 
 thought beekeeping was overdone, 
 etc. I admit that these are vital 
 questions for us bee-keepers, and it is 
 very proper that we should consult as 
 to the best mod/us operandi as to the 
 improvement of our condition and to 
 elevate our business. 
 
 We know from experience that 
 whenever prices are on a level with, 
 or below, tne cost of production— no 
 difference whether this is in the line 
 of produce or manufacture— margins 
 are unsatisfactory for producers and 
 manufacturers as well as for dealers. 
 Wheat, corn, pork and barley were 
 very low for a number of years; 
 farming was very unprofltable, and 
 the proportion of failures among 
 grain-dealers and pork-packers was 
 perhaps greater than ever. Bee-keep- 
 ing was perhaps not more satisfactory 
 than farming ; yet, in proportion to 
 its labor and investment, it was far 
 more remunerative, even if the prices 
 01^ extracted honey ranged between 3 
 cents and 8 cents per pound, and that 
 of comb honey between 6 cents and 12 
 cents per pound. 
 
 It is bad policy to give up, because 
 we find just as many malcontents in 
 other branches, if we look around us, 
 and it is folly to consider ourselves 
 privileged characters. To indicate 
 our true position, and how to govern 
 ourselves accordingly, is tbe object of 
 this essay. 
 
 It is not over-production which is 
 troubling us, as there was never so 
 much honey consumed as during the 
 past year ; but still, less was pro- 
 duced. Our crop was a short one in 
 most parts of the country. Now, if 
 values are governed by supply and 
 demand, this question is proper, viz., 
 ' • What causes the present low prices '/" 
 
 The maxim that there is no rule 
 without an exception, may be applied 
 to our case under the rule of supply 
 and demand. The low average value 
 of all produce and manufactures, be- 
 
34 
 
 NOBTH AMERICAN 
 
 sides the lack of all speculation in our 
 markets, is, in my estimation, the 
 first cause of the depression of the 
 prices of honey. When times become 
 better, i.e., when a general advance 
 in values takes place, prices of honey 
 will advance with the rest. 
 
 The next factor in the depression 
 of prices is adulteration. It is an 
 established fact that extracted honey 
 has become a staple article. A large 
 number of manufacturers usingsweets 
 have found that pure honey is the 
 best and cheapest sweet they can get.. 
 New converts are made daily. For 
 an illustration I will mention a late 
 case of my own. I have sold, for 
 years, an occasional barrel of honey 
 to pork-packers, but only one would 
 buy with something approaching a 
 regularity. He found that his New 
 Orleans molasses, at times, not sweet 
 enough, while the same quantity of 
 honey would always answer for the 
 same cask of pickle. I sold him 50 
 barrels of honey for curing meats, a 
 few weeks ago. Other packers having 
 heard of the purchase, bought a few 
 barrels for experiment,and one of them 
 approached me with : " Why didn't 
 you tell me about your honey V" 
 " There will be a great deal more 
 honey-cured hams and honey-cured 
 breakfast bacon in our city next sea- 
 son than during the present one. 
 There is no doubt about it ; and my 
 next experience will be that some 
 drummer from Boston, New York, 
 Philadelphia or Chicago, will be 
 around and sell to my friends his 
 glucosed honey )^ cent less per pound 
 than they paid me for pure honey. 
 They will buy, and the following 
 season some one will sav : " Honey 
 is not much sweeterthan New Orleans 
 molasses after all." Such has been 
 my experience before ; it will, repeat 
 itself. We cannot avoid unfair com- 
 petition, and there is no harm in 
 "telling it. Glucose is made to cheat, 
 -and there is money in adulteration. 
 '•Glucose swells the so-called stock of 
 'honey on the market, damages the 
 :good opinion entertained of honey, 
 in the estimation of consumers, and 
 Tarings down the price as a natural 
 • consequence. There is no use for me 
 to tell you how to meet adulteration, 
 : because every one of us is possessed 
 -of more or less of selfishness, and apt 
 .to pursue his own course under any 
 (Circumstances. 
 
 Ttoere is, perhaps, a third cause for 
 Xke low price of honey, which should 
 aJso be mentioned. It is, that very 
 many of our nearest neighbors are 
 not yet aware of the fact that honey 
 is a sugar, and can be substituted for 
 
 cane-sugar in almost every instance. 
 See that our friends are posted on the 
 subject ! • . ,, ■ 4.U .. 
 
 Having shown in the above that 
 the production of and traflBc in honey 
 has its reverses, the same as any 
 other branch of business, permit me 
 now to give some points by which we 
 may promote our interests. 
 
 Cleanliness around and about eat- 
 ables makes a good impression upon 
 consumers. We must exercise clean- 
 liness about our apiaries, about our 
 honey, about extractors and extract- 
 ing. Every quality of honey should 
 be kept by itself, as nearly so as is 
 possible, because most of our manu- 
 facturers make a certain grade of 
 goods with a certain flavor with 
 which the taste of their customers has 
 been cultivated; to lose this flavor 
 means the loss of the custom. I have 
 lost several hard-earned customers 
 because I was unable to supply the 
 same flavor, although with hundreds 
 of barrels of honey on hand. They 
 would resort again to cane-sugar as 
 the only means by which to manufac- 
 ture a regular grade of goods. My 
 latest experience in this direction 
 were my loss of custom for the man- 
 grove honey of Florida. When my 
 supply was exhausted, it was cane- 
 sugar that took its place in the ma- 
 jority of cases, and it will be hard to 
 regain that custom. 
 
 Honey should stand in open vessels 
 for evaporation when it comes from 
 the extractors, and be thoroughly 
 skimmed before it is barreled or 
 canned. No lumps of comb, wax, or 
 specks of other impurities should 
 remain in the honey, as nothing is 
 more annoying to manufacturers. 
 They make no allowance for want of 
 cleanliness, but refuse the honey. A 
 sale is often spoiled when the honey 
 is put up in whisky barrels. The 
 inside of the staves were charcoaled, 
 and it is almost an impossibility to 
 separate the specks of charcoal from 
 the honey. Clean barrels for honey 
 every tirde— or shippers must bear the 
 consequences. 
 
 When putting up honey, bee-keep- 
 ers should at once select packages to 
 suit their trade. If their honey is 
 calculated for the wholesale trade, 
 good, strong cypress, oak or poplar 
 barrels are their best and cheapest 
 packages. I prefer barrels to all 
 smaller packages. Other dealers may 
 require half -barrels or kegs for their 
 trade; but, as stated above, care 
 should be taken by every bee-keeper 
 to have his extracted honey graded, 
 not only according to color, but also 
 according to flavor. I prefer to put 
 
BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 
 
 35 
 
 up my own small packages to suit my 
 jobbinp; and retail trade; these are 
 tin pails of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 3 pounds, 
 and square glass-jars holding 2, 1, W 
 pound and 5 ounces, respectively. I 
 have an excellent retail trade for 
 square glass-jars, for which nothing 
 but the best clover honey will answer 
 the purpose. 
 
 In regard to comb honey, I should 
 say that it must be white and well 
 capped to ttnd a ready sale ; if the 
 quality is clover, it is all the better. 
 One-pound sections sell best, but half- 
 pound sections, if well filled, find a 
 ready sale, as do also two-pound sec- 
 tions. No sections should be glassed; 
 but 20 to 30 pounds of honey in neat 
 sections, placed in a neat case with 
 glass on each side, meets with no 
 objection whatever, while sections in 
 the neatest paper-boxes or glassed, 
 are unsalable by the side of it. 
 
 Purity, cleanliness and neatness are 
 attractions which should be synony- 
 mous with the marketing of honey, 
 and a strict adherence to this princi- 
 ple cannot fail to secure consumers. 
 C. F. MUTH. 
 
 After the reading of the essay, 
 some one asked Mr. Muth what size 
 of section was, with him, the most 
 salable. 
 
 C. F. Muth— The one-pound section. 
 
 Geo. E. Hilton— I have used sec- 
 tions 5x6x13^ inches, and they weigh 
 1^ pounds when filled. I find them 
 very salable. 
 
 S. F. Newman— If Mr. Muth had 
 only large packages, would he not 
 sell just as many of them as of smaller 
 ones V 
 
 C. F. Muth— One pound sections 
 sell the best. A great many want tp 
 buy a " pound " of honey. 
 
 James Heddon— I think it will be 
 an injury to bee-keepers to lead them 
 to use any other size of section than 
 the l^xl'M- A pound is a good size. 
 My fixtures are adapted to that size. 
 Suppose some one should invent a 
 new style of section, how much better 
 it would be if we all used the same 
 size ; how much cheaper they could 
 be furnished us. A comb with a 
 large surface is more attractive, but 
 it will not bear shipment so well ; 
 however, if we get the sections well 
 ■filled and the combs attached all 
 around, as can be done by reversmg 
 the sections, a thin comb will bear 
 shipment very well. 
 
 C. R. Isham— Honey was much 
 more salable when we were using 
 large sections. Bee-keepers them- 
 selves are to blame for the necessity 
 of using small packages. By using 
 
 large packages more honey is sold at 
 each sale. 
 
 T. G. Newman remarked that we 
 needed various sizes to accommodate 
 consumers— but he found the sections 
 holding one-pound by far the most 
 salable. 
 
 A. E. Manum— Two years ago I 
 shipped 15 tons of one-pound sections, 
 and 2 tons of two-^pound sections. I 
 received returns for the pound sec- 
 tions in a very short time ; but it was 
 several months before the two-pound 
 sections were sold. If there was only 
 one siz^ of section used, people would 
 be surprised at the price at which it 
 could be furnished. 
 
 James Heddon— I do not know as I 
 would have everybody use pound sec- 
 tions. I have used thousands of half- 
 pound sections ; I can secure just as 
 much honey, and have sold it at an 
 advance of 3 cents per pound. I pre- 
 fer sections that are 7 to the foot, 
 even when separators are used. 
 
 Pres. Boot— I have found upon a 
 careful examination of the markets, 
 that we need sections of different 
 sizes. 
 
 An address was then delivered by 
 Thomas G. Newman, of Chicago, 111., 
 entitled 
 
 PASTURAGE FOR BEES. 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen. 
 
 A carefully-prepared estimate re- 
 veals the fact that in North America 
 (the territory covered by this Society) 
 there are 300,000 persons who keep 
 bees. The annual product of honey 
 amounts to over one hundred millions 
 of pounds, the value of which is about 
 fifteen millions of dollars ! 
 
 May not these figures give us a full 
 confprehension of the dignity of our 
 mission, the magnitude of the work 
 before us, and the exalted possibilities 
 which may inspire us to fresh zeal and 
 grander achievements in our pursuit i" 
 
 In passing— let us contemplate, for 
 a moment, how invention, art and 
 science, have followed every "pro- 
 gressive step" in apiculture! Just 
 think of the crude methods of our 
 fathers, and then contemplate the 
 wonderful improvements of today I 
 Instead of the tubs and pails of yore, 
 containing broken combs of honey, 
 bee-bread and dead bees, taken from 
 the breeding apartment of the hives, 
 the result of murdering the bees by 
 fumes of sulphur, and then robbing 
 their homes of the " stores " laid up 
 for winter — see the beautiful little 
 sectional-boxes in which we have 
 I educated the bees to build virgin 
 
36 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 combs, and then to fill them with 
 honey from Nature's laboratory— at 
 man's behoof and for man's nourish- 
 ment I This is but one item in the 
 long catalogue of accomplishments, 
 but it illustrates the apicultural de- 
 velopment of the scientific progress 
 and art of this ever-advancing age ! 
 
 Surely, these are grand achieve- 
 ments ! but shall we with them rest 
 and be satisfied '? No! says the im- 
 pulsive and enthusiastic bee-keeper- 
 show us the exalted possibilities of the 
 future ! Teach us how to obtain a 
 crop of honey day after day, month 
 after month, and year after year ! 
 Well, this is ttie duty imposed upon 
 me by 'your committee— why, I know 
 not ; nor did I ask ; but I will seek a 
 solution of the problem by leading 
 you into " green pastures," filled with 
 myriads of " flowers," in which Na- 
 ture distils the honey, drop by drop, 
 and invites the bees, by their gorgeous 
 hues, to come and dip into their tiny 
 fountains, and feast and fiy, and fiy 
 and feast continually. These fields of 
 splendor will point you to success— to 
 shining dollars, and afSuence ! 
 
 Ask the breeders of stock, the 
 shepherds, and the dairymen, for the 
 secret of their success, and they will 
 point you to their well-tiiled fields, 
 green pastures and mountains of hay. 
 They will tell you that they provide 
 corn for their hogs, rich meadows, 
 pastures and hay for their stock, and 
 then naturally expect good results ! 
 
 Ask bee-keepers upon what they 
 depend for results, and they will have 
 to confess that '' luck " has a good 
 deal to do with it ; they depend upon 
 natural forests, neighbors' clover 
 fields, wild 'flowers in the fence cor- 
 ners, roadsides and wild lands ; and 
 if they are " lucky enough " to have 
 these in due proportion to their bees, 
 they will sing a song of gladness ; but 
 if not. their long visages will tell of 
 hopes blasted and prospects blighted ! 
 
 But alas, with advancing civiliza- 
 tion comes the woodman's ax, cutting 
 down the basswood, elm, oak and 
 maple trees. The farmers' plow 
 destroys the magnificent wild floral 
 carpet supplied by nature, and the 
 poor bees often find nothing to gather 
 —the wild flora is destroyed— the 
 honey all gone— and starvation stares 
 them in the face ! Nothing remains 
 for them but to destroy their brood, 
 kill their drones, and if possible to 
 hold out on half-rations, until some 
 stray wild flowers, unmolested by the 
 plow, in fence corners or by the road- 
 side, replenish their scanty stores; 
 but if tnese are denied, they "suc- 
 cumb to the inevitable "—and their 
 
 owner declares he " has no luck with 
 
 b66S I " 
 
 Now, what is the duty of the 
 apiarist, in this state of affairs V The 
 answer is plain, positive and unmis- 
 takable. Pasturage for the bees must 
 be provided— it is an absolute neces- 
 sity. He must study the honey 
 seasons of his locality, and supply the 
 deficiency by planting white, Alsike 
 or sweet clover, mignonette, borage, 
 motherwort, cleome, mustard, rape, 
 etc., and thus provide the bees with 
 honey-producing flora when the nat- 
 ural supply is insuflicient or entirely 
 destroyed. 
 
 Good judgment must, of course, be 
 exercised in the selection of seeds for 
 planting. If white clover is plentiful, 
 and fall-flowers abundant, scatter 
 mints " to fill the gap." If basswood 
 is the main stay for honey, then sow 
 sage, motherwort, and other early 
 nectar-yielding plants or trees. The 
 goldenrods, asters, buckwheat, sweet 
 clover, etc., will always pay to culti- 
 vate for fall honey. The latter (sweet 
 clover) with its white, modest bloom 
 will gladden the eye in June, and the 
 sweet fragrance of its flowers will 
 linger till frost and snow comes and 
 the bees are safely placed in " winter 
 quarters." 
 
 We are well aware that many who 
 keep bees have not enough land to 
 spare to devote to bee-pasturage ; but 
 in the immediate vicinity of every 
 apiary, and within easy flight of every 
 colony of bees in America, there are 
 waste lands enough, covered with 
 unsightly branjbles, burdocks,fennels, 
 mulleins, rag-weeds, etc., which it 
 would pay to seed with suitable plants- 
 for producing honey. Many of the 
 best honey-plants require but little or 
 no cultivation, after scattering the 
 seeds ; and even the poorest honey- 
 producers would be more agreeable 
 to the eye on such waste land than 
 sand-burrs, brambles, fennels, and 
 other weeds which grow spontaneous- 
 ly on roadsides and waste-places. 
 
 In view of the uncertainty of suf- 
 ficient continuous bloom being pro- 
 vided by Nature, and the certainty 
 of annually-recurring periods of cold 
 weather, long and hazardous conflne- 
 ment^to insure success, the apiarist 
 should as carefully and certainly 
 provide pasturage for the bees as to 
 furnish them with hives to shelter 
 them from the cold and storms. 
 
 Do you ask, " Will it pay to plant 
 for-honey V" Let me reply by asking 
 if it does pay to keep bees to gather 
 honey at all? If you answer yes, 
 then let me assert— the more bloom 
 the more honey for the bees to gather; 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 37 
 
 the more honey gathered, the more 
 honey for the market ; the more honey 
 sold, the more money for the bee- 
 keeper, and tlie better the business 
 ■will pay ! 
 
 To further illustrate this point : If 
 a honey-flow of 30 days (which con- 
 stitutes an average honey season, one 
 year with another) will pay— will not 
 150 days pay ^uefimes as mwc/i? If by 
 judicious planting, we can lengthen 
 the honey season, do we not thereby 
 correspondingly increase the honey 
 crop ? and does not this increase of 
 the marketable honey-crop corres- 
 pondingly increase the income of the 
 apiarist, and add just that much to 
 the material wealth of the Nation ? 
 
 Rational replies to these queries, by 
 progressive apiarists, ought to demon- 
 strate that it will pay to plant for honey; 
 and also that as the country grows 
 older and the population increases, it 
 becomes a positive necessity. 
 
 Thomas G. Newman. 
 
 Mr. S. F. Kewman spoke of the 
 great reduction in the number of 
 basswood trees, owing to the demand 
 for the timber by those who were 
 manufacturing sections. Ten years 
 ago there were 50 large basswood trees 
 Within sight of his apiary ; now, all 
 but 5 were gone. He had, however, 
 succeeded in getting them more than 
 replaced by giving away young bass- 
 wood trees to all who would plant 
 them and care for them. A number 
 planted thus 10 years ago, this year 
 vielded a magnificent crop of honey, 
 ihe basswood was a fine shade tree, 
 and if bee-keepers would encourage 
 its multiplication, they would be 
 consulting their own interests. 
 
 M. D. York— I have basswood trees 
 that were transplanted a year ago last 
 spring, that blossomed full this year. 
 I have transplanted a tree 8 inches in 
 
 E. L. Hubbard— Will it pay to use 
 land worth $-50 an acre to raise honey- 
 producing plants ? 
 
 ■ T. G. Newman— In my opinion, it 
 would. 
 
 Rev. L. L. Langstroth mentioned 
 the case of a bee-keeper who was 
 thought by his neighbor^ demented, 
 because he sowed the seeds of sweet 
 clover in a sort of wilderness locality ; 
 but as the result he had now a splen- 
 did range of bee-pasturage. . 
 
 M. D. York— I have raised Alsike 
 clover upon land worth more than $60 
 per acre, aijd the seed alone paid me 
 |25 per acre. 
 
 Mr. E. L. Hubbard mentioned a 
 plant that grew a few miles south of 
 
 Buffalo, N. Y., that was an excellent 
 honey-plant. 
 
 Mr. Hiram Chapman described the 
 plant as resembling plantain. A 
 specimen of it was exhibited. 
 
 Dr. L. C. Whiting— It would be a 
 most excellent and promising plan if 
 some young men would go to work 
 with our red clover.inthe way pointed 
 out by Mr. E. E. Hasty, and develop 
 a' strain with short tubes. 
 
 James Heddou — I do not think it 
 will ever be profitable to raise honey- 
 plants on land worth $50 per acre. 
 Where there are waste-places it may 
 pay to scatter the seeds of honey- 
 plants. One plant that I would 
 recommend is what is called "pleurisy 
 root." 
 
 W.F. Clarke said that Alsike clover 
 would grow and flourish in low, wet, 
 undrained land, where red clover 
 would not take. He also said that 
 bee-keepers should use their influence 
 to have stock prevented from running 
 at large. It was a just apd good law 
 in other views of it, and its passage 
 would double the value of bee-pas- 
 turage. 
 
 A member suggested that all who 
 had tried the Alsike clover and found 
 it valuable, should intimate the same 
 by rising, when about one-third of 
 the members present arose. 
 
 NEXT PLACE OF MEETING. 
 
 Indianapolis, Ind., was selected as 
 the next place of meeting, and it was 
 voted that St. Louis be in contempla- 
 tion for the following year. 
 
 As the hour of adjournment had 
 arrived, the election of officers was 
 postponed until 2 p.m. 
 
 AFTERNOON SESSION. 
 
 The convention was called to order 
 at 2 p.m., Pres. Root in the chair. 
 
 A letter read by Mrs. L. Harrison, 
 from Mrs. Sarah J. Axtell, Roseville, 
 Ills., conveying her salutations to the 
 Society, and detailing her experience 
 as a bee-keeper, was referred to the 
 committee on resolutions. 
 
 The following resolutions were 
 unanimously adopted : 
 
 Besolved, That we appreciate the 
 presence of ladies in larger numbers 
 than ever before, particularizing Mrs. 
 L. Harrison, of the Prairie Farmer, 
 and Miss Johnson, of the Michigan 
 Farmer. 
 
 Besolved, That this Society has felt 
 it an especial privilege and pleasure 
 to have had the presence of the 
 patriarch of American apiculture, in 
 the person of Rev. L. L. Langstroth. 
 It has gratefully appreciated the ac- 
 
38 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 tive part that he has been enabled to 
 take in the discussions at this meet- 
 ing, and rejoices that still, in his old 
 age, he is enabled to do something for 
 his favorite pursuit. The warm 
 affection and best wishes of all pres- 
 ent will hover about him so long as 
 he shall be spared in this life, and his 
 memory will be held dear while honey 
 distils and bees fly. 
 
 Officers were elected, as follows, for 
 the ensuing year : 
 
 Pkbsidbnt— H. D. Cutting, Clinton, Mich. 
 
 Bbookding Seobetary— Frank L. Douglierty, 
 Indianapolis, Ind. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary — Mrs. Cass Bob- 
 bins, Indianapolis, Ind. 
 
 Treasurer— C. F. Mutli, Cincinnati, O. 
 
 VICE-PRESIDENTS : 
 
 Alabama— Nelson Perkins, Princeton. 
 
 Arkansas -Geo. B. Peters, Peters. 
 
 Arizona— J as. H. Brown, Prescott. 
 
 British Columbia— [J. Spears, New Westminster. 
 
 California— R. Wilkin, San Buenaventura. 
 
 Colorado— Philip Reardon, Jamestown. 
 
 Connecticut— H. L. Jeflfrey, Wasbingtou Depot. 
 
 Districtof Columbia— Rev. J. A. Buck,Wa8hington. 
 
 Dakota- J. H. Townley, Ashton. 
 
 Delaware— Geo. Remington, Wilmington, 
 
 Florida— W, S. Hart, Hawk's Park. 
 
 Georgia— Dr. J. P. H. Brown, Augusta. 
 
 Illinois— Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria. 
 
 Indiana— J. Scholl, Indianapolis. 
 
 Iowa— J. M. Shuck, Des Moines. 
 
 Kansas— Chas. Smith, Marysville. 
 
 Kentucky- J. M. Egbert, Salvisa. 
 
 Louisiana— P. !». Viallon, Bayou Goula. 
 
 Maine— J. B. Mason, Mechanic Falls. 
 
 Manitoba— Hon. J. H. Wallbridge, Winnipeg. 
 
 Massachusetts— S. M. Locke, Wenham. 
 
 Michigan— Miss Lucy Wilkins, Farwell. 
 
 Missouri— E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City. 
 
 Mississippi— Dr. O. M. Blanton, Greenville. 
 
 Minnesota— C. P. Greening, Grand Meadow. 
 
 Maryland— Dr. W. G. Phelps, Galena. 
 
 Montana— Chas. Bruce, Wickes. 
 
 Nebraska— T. L. VonDorn, Omaha. 
 
 Nevada— A. A. Leeper, Carson City. 
 
 New Jersey— B. Terryberry, Highbridge. 
 
 New york-Ira Barber, i:)eKalb Junction. 
 
 North Carolina-H. H.Watson, Sladesvllle. 
 
 Nova Scotia— C. T. Jones, Waterville, 
 
 New Hampshire-M. Harie, Keno. 
 
 Ohio- A. I. Root. Medina. 
 
 Ontario— J. B. Hall, Woodstock. 
 
 Pennsylvania— Arthur Todd, Germantown. 
 
 Prince Bdw. Island-Jas. Gourlie, Summerside. 
 
 Quebec— H. F. Hunt, Quebec. 
 
 Rhode Island— Wm. J. Tracy, Burrillville. 
 
 South Carolina— S. C. Boylston, Charleston. 
 
 Tennessee— W. P. Henderson, Murfreesboro. 
 
 Texas —W. H, Andrews, McKinney. 
 
 Utah— John Morgan, Salt Lake City. 
 
 Virginia— J. W. Porter, Charlottesville. 
 
 Vermont— A. B. Manum, Bristol, 
 
 West Virginia- A. W. Cheney, Kanawha, Falls, 
 
 Wisconsin— Christopher Grimm, Jefferson. 
 
 Wyoming-James Fields, Fort Laramie. 
 
 Washington— H. A. Marsh, Fidalgo. 
 
 Mr. A. I. Root, of Medina, O., then 
 read the following on 
 
 EXCELLENCE Or CHEAPNESS— WHICH V 
 
 1 do not icnow but that this subject 
 was given me because some of the 
 brethren think I have been a little too 
 eager to recommend cheap tools and 
 appliances ; and may be they thought 
 I would defend my side of the subject 
 while somebody else would take up 
 excellence rather than cheapness. 
 Now, it seems to me that wisdom and 
 experience should guide us in this 
 matter, and that we cannot very well 
 lay down general rules for purchas- 
 ing bee-supplies, or for purchasing 
 anything else, in fact. Isaiah tells 
 us, in his first chapter, to " learn to 
 do well ;" that is, doing well is pro- 
 gressive ; and I should also say, learn 
 to purchase wisely. If you have a 
 little money that you want to invest 
 in bee-supplies, do not be in a hurry 
 to get rid of it all. It is said that 
 " through wisdom is ahousebuilded;" 
 and I should say, " through wisdom " 
 we make prudent purchases. 
 
 Suppose a boy is large enough to 
 need a knife. What kind of a knife 
 should he purchase— a five-cent knife 
 or a two- dollar knife ? Why, I should 
 say it depends upon who the boy is, 
 his age, and what he wants to do 
 with the knife. Hut with the average 
 boy, I think it would be a pretty good 
 idea to try the cheap knife first. 
 Even if he has laid up a couple of 
 dollars to buy a pocket-knife, I think 
 he will get more satisfaction by try- 
 ing a cheap one first than bv trying 
 the two-dollar one first. ■ If the cheap 
 one does not please him, nor answer 
 his requirements, it would not be 
 very much expense to give it to some 
 other boy, and try a little better one. 
 Let him carefully examine and test 
 each knife he buys, until he becomes 
 a tolerably good judge of knives, and 
 is able to purchase understandingly. 
 
 There are a great many people— 
 and good people too— who have a way 
 of saying, in regard to every purchase 
 that comes up, "The best is the 
 cheapest." A good deal depends 
 upon what you mean by best. Suppose 
 you want a hammer. There are ham- 
 mers in the market for only five cents. 
 They are not loose nor rickety either, 
 for they are made all of one piece of 
 iron ; and although they may be awk- 
 ward and cheap- looking, they will do 
 a vast amount of service for many 
 kinds of work. They cost so little 
 that if somebody borrows one, or loses 
 it, it does not matter much ; and I 
 ■have found it quite convenient to 
 have these cheap hammers scattered 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 39 
 
 all around the premises. We have 
 one down in the barn, and one in the 
 stable out in the lots. The children 
 have them to crack nuts; and, in fact, 
 their are so many of them on the 
 premises that whenever you want 
 some sort of hammer for just a min- 
 ute, you can almost always get hold 
 of one of these, without going a great 
 way or hunting very long. 
 
 But, do you .thjnK I would give a 
 good mechanic such a hammer to put 
 up hives with ? By no means. In 
 putting up hives be uses a hammer 
 almost constantly ; and if I could find 
 a hammer worth five dollars, I would 
 give it to him without hesitation ; for 
 if it were worth only a cent a day to 
 him more than a cheap hammer, it 
 would soon pay for itself. For this 
 same reason a good mechanic ought 
 to have at least three hammers, and 
 three good ones. Now, when I say 
 I would give a hammer worth five 
 dollars if I could find it, I dcf not 
 mean that 1 would buy one that is 
 silver-plated, or has inlaid work in 
 the handle, and things of that sort ; 
 neither would I give him a hammer 
 that had a great amount of unimpor- 
 tant work put on it. One of our large 
 railroad companies paid $60 (I think 
 it was) for a dozen hammers to be 
 used by some of their expensive men. 
 These hammers were all worked out 
 by hand, and were very handsomely 
 made. I do not believe it will pay 
 many bee-keepers to use tools or 
 appliances made in this way. "When 
 he Decomes so well off in producing 
 honey and bees that he has some 
 money he really does not know what 
 to do with (I wonder if there are any 
 such here to-day), it maybe just the 
 thing for him to do, to buy a six- 
 dollar hammer to make hives with, 
 because, you know, " the best is 
 always the cheapest." 
 
 Suppose somebody of limited means 
 wants to try bee-keeping. What kind 
 of a colony of bees should he buy ? 
 Without knowing anything about the 
 
 feneral habits of the man or woman, 
 would say, let them get the cheapest 
 colony of bees that could be found in 
 the neighborhood, thus saving ex- 
 pensive transportation charges, and 
 also making their purchases of friends 
 and neighbors. Then I would advise 
 getting an Italian queen ; but as I 
 have said before, if one is new at the 
 business, and, may be, likely to make 
 blunders at first, I would tell him to 
 get an untested queen. After he in- 
 troduces her all right, and she begins 
 to lay, if she does not turn out well in 
 every way, let him try a higher-priced 
 one next time, working progressively; 
 
 and my experience convinces me that 
 the best way in the world to get any- 
 thing of this kind is to get it progres- 
 sively. ^Learn to do well, not under- 
 take to come up to the highest stan- 
 dard all at oncg. There is far more 
 enjoyment in making a little more 
 improvement every day, than in step- 
 ping into great things, even if it 
 could be done. The same with hives, 
 I would first get a cheap hive. When , 
 winter comes, get a hive suitable for 
 winter, even if it does cost a little 
 more ; but save the old hive for the- 
 increase when spring comes again. 
 
 If you are going to make hives, 
 start out with few tools and purchase 
 judiciously each season, as you find 
 you really need to. Do not get any- 
 thing to be put away on the shelves 
 until you may need it. Purchase 
 what you need, and no more, until 
 you have pretty surely demonstrated 
 that it would be prudence to purchase 
 larger lots for the sake of getting 
 better prices. If you have worked 
 with comb foundation enough to 
 know that you want to use it largelv, 
 you can, from past experience, usually 
 figure out how many colonies you will 
 need to have, to think of buying a 
 foundation machine. 
 
 There is another point to be con- 
 sidered right here. Sometimes cheap 
 tools and cheap machinery make us 
 so much bother and worry that they 
 spoil all the pleasure of trying to keep 
 bees ; whereas a high-priced tool or a 
 high-priced machine would go right 
 along, without any hitch or accident, 
 in suqfi a way that the work would be 
 only pastime or " fun." Where one's 
 time IS valuable, or where he already 
 has many cares and responsibilities, 
 nice tools or nice machinery, all in 
 perfect working order, is by all ipeans 
 "the most satisfactory, and, I believe, 
 the most profitable. This latter point 
 comes in more with tools or machinery 
 that is necessarily somewhat com- 
 plicated. We had some experience in 
 this line in making and sending out 
 rubber plates for making foundation. 
 While we made the machines work 
 nicely in the factory, and while a few 
 of our customers were pleased with 
 them, the majority found there were 
 so many conditions to be observed, 
 and the whole arrangement was so 
 uncertain in its results, that I have 
 always regretted that I advised any- 
 thing of the sort. The same remarks 
 will apply with force to home-made 
 honey-extractors. We have for years 
 sold the inside work, so that the 
 friends who wanted to economize 
 could save something by attaching 
 them to an ordinary tin-can or barrel ; 
 
40 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 but as a rule, I believe they found it 
 more vexation of spirit, and perhaps 
 more' expense in the end, than to liave 
 purciiased an extractor all ready for 
 use. Where one has a great many 
 bees, and a good market for extracted 
 honey, perhaps an automatic extractor 
 will be found to be cheaper than any 
 other. 
 
 In regard to bee-feeders : My ex- 
 perience has been in favor of some- 
 thing very plain and simple. One of 
 our bee-friends once made a remark 
 in jest ill one.of the bee-papers, that 
 every bee-feeder and bee-hive, accord- 
 ing to his notion, ought to have " cog- 
 virheels," slides, and levers, some- 
 where about them. Now, "cog- 
 wheels " work very nicely in a warm 
 room on a winter's day ; but when 
 you get out in the apiary, among the 
 bees, about harvest time, when every- 
 thing is crowding, these cog-wheels 
 seem to be somehow out of place, l^et 
 us have our implements plain, simple, 
 and substantial ; let us pay enough 
 for them to have everything exactly 
 as it should be— hives and frames 
 interchangeable— everything so that 
 It will work easily and surely ; no 
 sticking, nor jamming, nor pounding, 
 to get things in plHce. 
 
 In regard to utensils for honey: I 
 believe the demand seems to be in 
 favor of cheapness— tin pails that are 
 to be given away, as well as crates to 
 hold comb honey. Sell the honey for 
 so much, package and nil. But even 
 though we give them away, let us 
 have them well enough made to be 
 sure there will be no leaking nor 
 daubing. 
 
 In regard to honey-knives : I would 
 advise, as I advised the boy with his 
 first pocket-knife. If you have few 
 bees, and do not expect to go into 
 the business largely, you can make a 
 10-cent garden-trowel do your uncap- 
 ping very well for quite a while. 
 When you need a better uncapping- 
 knife, getit. * 
 
 In regard to perforated zinc and 
 things of this sort, do not include any 
 in your first purchase. Wait until 
 you feel the need of such new imple- 
 ments. May be you will never need 
 them at all. 
 
 Even though I advise economy in 
 purchases, I would have everything 
 painted that stands out in the 
 weather. If you say you cannot 
 afford it, I would have half the num- 
 ber of hives, and have them protected 
 from the weather by paint, rather 
 than increase so fast, and have the 
 weather constantly spoiling mv im- 
 plements. Besides, I would pay some- 
 thing for the sake of having things 
 
 look decent and in order. A great 
 many times, nice-looking implements 
 encourage us to renewed energy; and 
 sometimps just a little extra energy 
 makes all the difference between suc- 
 cess and failure, or profit and loss. 
 
 Every man who has honey to sell 
 ought to have some sort of scales to 
 weigh it on. The family steelyards 
 will do to start with ; but whenever 
 you begin to take time enough in the 
 course of a year, in using steelyards, 
 to pay for a pair of scales, get the 
 scales, but do not get them sooner, if 
 you are cramped for means. When 
 your business increases so that it will 
 pay to have still better scales, get 
 them. Do not waste the price of a 
 good article in bothering with a poor, 
 cheap one. 
 
 In regard to seeds for honey-plants : 
 Go slow, unless, indeed, you are a 
 farmer, and can raise Alsike, buck- 
 whea.t, rape, or raspberries, so as to 
 make it a paying investment aside 
 from the honey. If you can do that, 
 by all means raise honey-plants. I 
 am led to make these remarks, be- 
 cause some of the new bee-friends 
 seem to think that the first thing to 
 be done in starting in bee-culture is 
 to get a pound of figwort seed, and 4 
 or 5 pounds of the spider-plant, just 
 because these plants yield honey in 
 such quantities as to be visible to the 
 naked eye. Buy a five-cent package 
 of these seeds first ; and if they please 
 you, plant more the next year, by 
 which time you should have seed of 
 your own raising. 
 
 In regard to sections for comb 
 honey : As the appearance of this 
 product has a great deal to do with 
 the price obtained, I think it very 
 likely that"' the best is the cheapest 
 every time. 
 
 ■^hen you find that you need a 
 smoker (and you may need it the first 
 day you can call yourself the owner 
 of a small colony of bees), I should 
 say, try a cheap one to start with. 
 But perhaps you can decide what you 
 want before you buy, by examining 
 them at conventions, or testing those 
 used by your neighbors. I say this, 
 taking it for granted that bee-keepers 
 are always neighborly. Is it not so ? 
 
 In regard to hiving-boxes : I have 
 sometime thought I would about as 
 soon have a half -bushel or peck basket 
 fixed to a pole, as to have any of those 
 in the market. May be. after having 
 ^J}£^ *''®n3' though, you will think 
 differently. 
 
 When your business arrives to the 
 dignity of requiring a steam-engine. 
 It will pay you to look into the matter 
 very carefully. If you can, go and 
 
BEE-KEEPEBS' SOCIETr. 
 
 41 
 
 see the engines made near you. But 
 as I said before, be sure you need one 
 before you get it. If you are doing 
 your own work, decide how cheaply 
 you can afford to furnish power by 
 treading a foot-power machine. 
 Whenever an engine would save you 
 $25 a year for power, if you can raise 
 the money to buy it, without cramp- 
 ing yourself, buy one of 1 or 2 horse- 
 power. When you need a larger one, 
 you can. as a general thing, dispose or 
 the smaller one, or turn it toward 
 another one as part payment. 
 
 While some folks get along nicely 
 without any bee-veil at all, others 
 save time and save their nerves, by 
 using veils. The same may be said 
 in regard to gloves, although for my- 
 self I should certainly never use the 
 latter among bees ; and if I had the 
 entire management of an apiary, I do 
 not think I should ever need a veil. 
 Cheap, home-made veils will answer 
 a very good purpose ; but there are no 
 gloves that will do, except the regular 
 rubber gloves made for the purpose. 
 
 Prudence and economy would dic- 
 tate some sort of wax- extractor. But 
 do not buy one until you have dis- 
 covered you need one. If you com- 
 mence on a small scale, as you by all 
 means should do, I would get a cheap 
 one first. 
 
 Now I am going to talk a little on 
 the subject of taking care of tools, 
 €ven if that subject was not assigned 
 me. 
 
 A cheap, low-priced tool may be so 
 well cared for that i\ will always give 
 excellent results ; whereas, the most 
 expensive tool may be so badly used 
 that it will very soon give poor re- 
 sults. Have for your tools regularly 
 assigned places. Where any tool is 
 wanted in different places, I would 
 have duplicates. For instance, cheap 
 brushes for brushing off bees should 
 be in handy places in the honey-house, 
 and in several places about the apiary, 
 at least during the summer time. The 
 same may be said of hammers. Do 
 not leave any kind of tool out in the 
 rain. Keep every kind of tool not 
 only well oiled on the moving parts, 
 but oil it to prevent rust. Oil the 
 hinges to the door of your honey- 
 house. Eub tallow on the windows 
 so they will slide easily up and down. 
 Keep your lawn-mower nicely oiled, 
 and out of the rain. Have your 
 brooms hung up in broom-holders so 
 the ends will not get rolled up and 
 made useless ; and Keep the .brooms 
 out of the rain also. If you use a 
 wrench, keep it nicely oiled and in 
 place. And this matter of oil is of so 
 much importance that I would have 
 
 cheap oil-cans filled with oil, on nice 
 little bracket shelves in the barn and 
 in the stables. A little box should 
 also be there, filled with tallow, 
 where it can be had in a moment. A 
 great many times the oil-can or the 
 tallow will enable you to use a hand- 
 saw so as to do the work in half the 
 time it would if you had not used it. 
 With steam-engines, and machinery 
 for hive-making, oil is a necessity ; 
 and those who neglect to have it 
 handy; will sooner or later have to 
 pay heavy hills for repairs that a few 
 drops of oil might have saved. 
 
 is ails and screws of different sizes 
 should also be kept where you can put 
 your hand on them quickly. Whether 
 you are a bee-keeper or not, you need 
 screw-drivers andadjustable wrenches 
 where any of the children can get 
 them in an instant, if you tell them 
 the tools are wanted in a hurry. And, 
 my friends, as you value the future 
 happiness and comfort of those 
 children, teach them to be sure these 
 things are put back in their places as 
 soon as you are done using them, if 
 you should forget it yourself. A girl 
 five years old can easily save the time 
 of a man and a team, may be, by 
 knowing where to find a wrench or an 
 oil-can ; and the little girl will get it, 
 and put it back, quicker than a big 
 man could. That is one reason why I 
 like little girls, and little boys too, 
 because they can help such a "big 
 lot," when they get into the way or 
 helping, and when their papas make 
 friends with thetp. I wonder how 
 many of the papas to whom I am 
 talking to-day are in the haljit of 
 making friends with the "little 
 chicks" at home. Why, if you do 
 not, you lose half the pleasure of suc- 
 cess in business. When a big crop of 
 honey comes, and the prospect is be- 
 fore you of being able to pay off debts 
 that have worried you, what a rare 
 pleasure it is to be able to tell the 
 children about it when you tell 
 mamma, and have them rejoice and 
 clap their hands too ! 
 
 Mrs. Harrison referred to a remark 
 made in Mr. Root's essay, on wearing 
 gloves when handling bees. She found 
 that gloves were necessary, hut rub- 
 ber ones did not work well, they were 
 too close, and caused inconvenient 
 sweating. She used a speoies o* fine 
 cloth. She cuts the tips of the fingers 
 off, which allows the perspiration to 
 escape,and makes them more comfort- 
 able and durable. 
 
 Eev. W. F. Clarke said that rubber 
 gloves did not last long, the honey 
 and propolis soon rot the material. 
 
42 
 
 NOETH. AMERICAN 
 
 He had experimented largely with 
 gloves, and preferred two kinds, the 
 one a harvest glove, largely used in 
 Canada, and made of sheep-skin; 
 these were very cheap, costing from 
 30 to 40 cents. But he preferred a 
 glove, or rather a gauntlet, made of 
 two separate materials — the inside a 
 species of Canton flannel, a fluffy ma- 
 terial, and the outside, a species of 
 fine linen, very glossy. Such a glove 
 is thick enough to prevent the point 
 of the sting reaching the flesh, and 
 the beauty of it is that when these 
 gloves are on you can dip your hands 
 in water which keeps you cool, and 
 causes the bees to fly as soon as they 
 alight on the glove, for they are dainty 
 and do not like to wet their feet. 
 
 Mrs. Harrison— I do not think that 
 the lining is needed. 
 
 J. B. Hall— Wear smooth clothing, 
 singe the hairs from the hands and 
 wrists, and but tev,- stings will be re- 
 ceived. 
 
 Eev. L. L. Langstroth— Bees dislike 
 to alight upon a cold surface ; have 
 dishes of ice water in the yard, and 
 occasionally plunge the hands into the 
 water when the bees are cross. 
 
 Prof. Cook — I think that a nervous, 
 irritable person may be more likely 
 to be stung ; aside from this, I do not 
 think that bees are any "respecters 
 of persons." I question if sweat of 
 horses is objectionable to bees. If a 
 horse is severely stung, cover it with 
 blankets wet with cold water. 
 
 Mrs. Temple, of Michigan,said that 
 she could handle bees any way she 
 wished, and they scarcely' ever stung 
 her, JVhen they did, she suffered no 
 particular inconvenience. She did 
 not mind a bee-sting more than a 
 mosquito-ating. 
 
 Mr. Heddon was in favor of wearing 
 veils, but would not recommend 
 gloves. They were very much in the 
 way. He did not think there was the 
 difference in people that Mr. Clarke 
 would make out, some being bee-loved 
 and others bee-hated. He thought 
 that the difference was only in the 
 actions and behavior of people when 
 among bees. 
 
 G. M. Doolittle was satisfied that 
 there was a real difference in different 
 persons as to liability to being stung. 
 He had a visit from a gentleman who 
 said that bees never stung liim, and 
 Mr. H. acted so as to irritate the bees 
 They stung him (Mr. D.) very freely, 
 but never touched the visitor. 
 
 James Heddon— I have seen nothing 
 to indicate that bees are more likely 
 to sting one person than another. 
 
 Rev. L. L. Langstroth said that the 
 poison of a bee-sting was very viru- 
 
 lent in the case of some, while others 
 did not mind it at all. At one time 
 of his life he was very susceptible to 
 bee-virus, and dreaded being stung ; 
 but, after having been laid aside from 
 bee-keeping for some time, and cau- 
 tiously resuming, he found to his 
 great surprise and pleasure that he 
 had become so inoculated with the 
 poison that lie scarcely felt any pain 
 whatever. 
 
 Mr. Boardman brought up another 
 point in the essay—" Excellence or 
 Cheapness "—as it respects section- 
 boxes. He said that much might be 
 done to preserve our honey-flora, by 
 using something else than basswood 
 for sections. He never uses bass- 
 wood ; honey stains it, so does water. 
 
 J.B.Hall — I use and prefer white 
 spruce. It is hard, and the honey 
 does not soak into it. 
 
 James Heddon — I do not use bass- 
 wood. 
 
 Rev. L. L. Langstroth— Upon the 
 subject of the essay read, I would say 
 that excellency is cheapness. 
 
 Mr. John Van dervort, of Laceyville, 
 Pa., then read the following on 
 
 COMB FOUNDATION. 
 
 To go back to the origin of comb 
 foundation and trace its history 
 would be a waste of time in repeating 
 what is familiar to all practical bee- 
 keepers. The best and most practical 
 use of foundation is what we need to 
 know. By the use of wired frames 
 for the brood-cliamber, I have ob- 
 tained better results from foundation 
 6 square feet per pound than I form- 
 erly did with 3 square feet to the 
 pound. 
 
 There has been a great deal said 
 and written on the different kinds of 
 foundation, and many tests have 
 been made that, in my opinion, proved 
 nothing. I have made mills of every 
 style in the market (except the Pel- 
 ham) ; I have made foundation on 
 them ; and I have tested all the differ- 
 ent styles of foundation in the hives, 
 and even my bees would not give my 
 pet theories any preference, so far as 
 acceptance was concerned. When it 
 was all made at one time, from the 
 same lot of wax, and used at the 
 same time, it would all be accepted 
 alike ; but if made of different lots of 
 wax, and at different times, they 
 would show a decided preference for 
 the purest and softest wax, and the 
 newest made. 
 
 My experience in the use of comb 
 foundation for surplus differs from 
 many, in the amount of wax that 
 should be used. Many claim that 8 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 43 
 
 to 10 square feet to the pound is light 
 enough ; but I contend that it should 
 not be heavier than 12 square feet per 
 pound . Comb drawn from foundation 
 is much tougher than the natural 
 comb, and for this reason we should 
 use as little wax as possible in the 
 surplus honey. I find by repeated 
 experiments that I can get as ranch 
 honey from the light as from the 
 heavy foundation, and I receive no 
 complaints from my customers about 
 " flsh-bone." J. Vandekvoet. 
 
 D. A. Jones— I have had "flsh- 
 bone " in one part of a case and not 
 in another. One trouble is, the sec- 
 tions are put on too soon, and the bees 
 run over the foundation, and " fool " 
 with it, and it becomes hard before 
 they attempt to draw it out. 
 
 Thos. Pierce — I agree with Mr. 
 Jones. 
 
 Geo. E. Hilton— I also agree, and 
 would further say that when only a 
 " starter " is used, I am more apt to 
 find " flsh-bone " in the upper part of 
 the section, which does not occur 
 when the section is fllled full of 
 foundation. 
 
 N. W. McLain— What shall we do 
 with old foundation ? 
 
 J. C. Van Deusen— Melt it up and 
 make it over ; or if you do not wish 
 to do this, soak it in warm water 
 before using it. 
 
 C. P. Dadant — I have used founda- 
 tion 3 years old in the brood-nest, and 
 could see no difference between it 
 and new foundation. If placed out- 
 side the brood- nest, or where the bees 
 do not cluster upon it readily, it will 
 probably not be used so soon as would 
 new. 
 
 'Dr. A. B. Mason— I agree with Mr. 
 Dadant. 
 
 A. E. Manum— I have tried founda- 
 tion of dijQEerent ages, from one year 
 to flvft years old, and could see no 
 difference. 
 
 G. P. Dadant— When we first give 
 foundation to the bees, the new may 
 be used first a short time, but as 
 soon as the foundation is warmed up 
 there will be no difference. 
 
 D. A. Jones— If foundation is kept 
 for' several years it will acquire a 
 bluish color; if it is put into warm 
 water (say 120°), it will lose this bluish 
 cast and become soft and pliable like 
 new foundation. 
 
 W.E.Clark- 1 have kept founda- 
 tion in a hive for 5 years, then hived 
 a swarm upon it, putting in some 
 sheets of new foundation, and both 
 old and new were worked alike. 
 
 J. Vandervort— Thin foundation can 
 - be made upon a mill for making heavy 
 
 foundation, but I find it better to 
 sheet the wax thin. My objection to 
 a press is that it cannot make thin 
 foundation unless it is sheeted thin. 
 
 James Heddon— I think there is 
 quite a point in regard to whether 
 foundation is exposed to the air, or 
 kept closely boxed, as regards its 
 being soft and pliable when old. 
 Everything considered, I prefer new 
 foundation. Bee-keepers themselves 
 are to blame for all this talk about 
 " flsh-bone." I used foundation for 3 
 years before my honey-customers 
 knew it, and only one ever noticed it. 
 Foundation was then much heavier 
 than now. 
 
 The convention then adjourned 
 until 7:30 p.m. 
 
 EVENING SESSION. 
 
 The meeting was called to order at 
 7:30 p.m.. President Cutting in the 
 chair. Dr. C. C. Miller's essay was 
 read by the Secretary, entitled 
 
 BEE-KEEPING AS A BUSINESS. 
 
 In the Canadian Bee Journal for 
 Ifovember, 1885, the question is asked, 
 " Charging for salaries for work done, 
 for necessary expenses, and for de- 
 preciation in the value of accessories, 
 does bee-keeping pay ?" Replies are 
 given by 19 bee-keepers. Of these, 3 
 are non-committal ; 8 say " yes, if the 
 business is rightly managed;" 1 thinks 
 it will pay if the person is adapted to 
 the business, if compared with other 
 rural pursuits ; 4 give a more or less 
 decided "no;" and 3 give just as 
 decided a " yes." This leaves the 
 question about as unsettled as ever, 
 and it is evident from a close scrutiny 
 of the answers, that in the minds of 
 some of the respondents at least, that 
 the question was looked upon in 
 rather a loose way without consider- 
 ing the limitations put upon it by the 
 querist. 
 
 As 1 have been asked to open the 
 discussion of this subject before the 
 North American Bee-Keepers' So- 
 ciety, it may be well to try t6 get at 
 the exact matter to be discussed ; and 
 in order to do this, it may be neces- 
 sary to ask, what is th e object of the 
 discussion V that is, what good is to 
 come of it ? I am not sure tliat I 
 know,unless it be to answer the ques- 
 tion for that class of persons who are 
 trying to decide whether to adopt bee- 
 keeping as a means of livelihood. In 
 that view of the case the question 
 might be someting like this : Can I 
 make as much money in a series of 
 years, at bee-keeping, as I can at any 
 other business V The more I think 
 about it, the more difficult it seems 
 
44 
 
 NOBTH AMERICAJSr 
 
 to me to give an answer that will 
 meet all cases, and perhaps the only 
 safe one is this : "I ean"t tell. You 
 must try it and find out." But as 
 the question is asked in good faith, 
 some discussion may help. 
 
 It will hardly do to attempt a gen- 
 eral answer, as too many do, by quot- 
 ing the results of a successful year by* 
 a skillful man, saying " Mr. A. made 
 f 3,000 clear, such a year." If Mr. A. 
 had business ability by which he could 
 make $4,000 a year at some other 
 business, then for him bee-keening 
 did not pay. If Mr. B. can average 
 $500 a year keeping bees, and there is 
 no other business at "which he can 
 make more than $400 a year, then for 
 him bee-keeping pays well. 
 
 Perhaps one of the best ways to get 
 the desired information, is to ask 
 those who have had experience in the 
 matter. We will interview Mr. C, a 
 bee-keeper of some note. In reply to 
 our query, Mr. C. says : ' 
 
 " Oh yes, bee-keeping pays well. 
 Adam Grimm rnade a fortune at it." 
 
 " What has been you own experi- 
 ence in the matter, Mr. C. V" 
 
 " Oh, I only keep bees as a matter 
 of recreation. I had, one year, over 
 40 colonies, but my time is so much 
 taken up with professional duties 
 that I only keep about a dozen. I 
 have kept a cash account with them, 
 and find they pay me well." 
 
 " Why don't you keep a larger 
 number, or devote your entire time 
 to it V" 
 
 " Oh, I couldn't afford that. You 
 see I can make so much more as a 
 lawyer. But then there are thou- 
 sands of men who only earn say $400 
 a year, who would be greatly bettered 
 by taking up bee-keeping as an occu- 
 pation. I can easily clear annually 
 $5 per colony. Now one of the men I 
 have spoken of, with 100 colonies 
 could make at that rate $.500 per year, 
 so, you see, he would have his condi- 
 tion bettered $100 per annum." 
 
 "But, Mr. C, have those men the 
 ability to do as well as you 'i"' 
 
 " Well, I don't know. It's 
 tell." 
 
 But I was only to open this discus- 
 sion, and I suppose it may now be 
 considered open. I may just add a 
 word from my own experience. I 
 have been in the business some 24 
 years, making it my sole business for 
 the last 7 years. I have no patent 
 hive to sell, do not sell bees or queens 
 —simply produce honey to sell, and I 
 am obliged to confess that I could 
 make more money to give up bees 
 entirely. If asked why I continue at 
 the business, I answer: I like it. It 
 
 .'s hard to 
 
 keeps me out-doors, and is good for 
 health. It allows me to be with my 
 family more than any other calling at 
 whicli I could make as much, and for 
 the privilege of these enjoyments I 
 am willing to pay the price of the 
 additional money I would make at a 
 more lucrative calling. Whether the 
 price may not become too large for 
 me to afford to pay, is an open ques- 
 tion. . C. C. Miller. 
 
 A. I. Boot — I think that none of our 
 bee-periodicals now advise everybody 
 to keep bees. Dr. Miller sliould have 
 mentioned that he was receiving a 
 large salary when he embarked in bee- 
 keeping. He has frequently told me 
 how he enjoyed bee-keeping. If it 
 brought him health, what more could 
 he ask V 
 
 S. T. Pettit— Mr. Root's speech is a 
 sample of showing the bright side, 
 and leads us to think that there 
 is nothing like bee-keeping for health. 
 
 J. B. Hall— Editors like to tell good 
 news ; if I tell how much honey I pro- 
 duce, the bee-papers publish it, the 
 newspapers take it up and spread the 
 story all over the world, and every- 
 body thinks that " if he can make 
 money in producing honey, I know 1 
 can." I know of many people who 
 have engaged in the business and lost 
 money at it. 
 
 Thos. G. Newman— Editors publish 
 just what bee-keepers write them for 
 publication, and try to fairly repre- 
 sent the pursuit. At least, I know 
 that is the case with the American 
 Bee Journal. 
 
 Martin Emigh, of Holbrook, Ont., 
 was called upon and asked if he had 
 made bee-keeping pay. In reply he 
 said that he had paid for his farm out 
 of the proceeds of his bees. Last 
 year he put 180 colonies in cellars and 
 took out 178 alive ; sold 71 colonies ; 
 and now has 177 colonies, and they 
 produced 6,000 lbs. of comb honey and 
 5,000 lbs. of extracted honey. 
 
 H. K. Boardman asked all those 
 who made an exclusive business of 
 bee-keeping to raise their hands. A 
 very animated discussion arose as to 
 who did make bee-keeping ar exclu- 
 sive business, and some exceedingly 
 fine points were raised, when further 
 discussion was stopped by a motion to 
 lay the subject on the table, which 
 was carried. 
 
 Mr. Nelson W. McLain, manager of 
 the Experimental Station of the U. S. 
 Agricultural Department, at Aurora, 
 Ills., read from the advance sheets of 
 his forthcoming report to Prof. G. V. 
 Riley, U". S. Entomologist ; but he re- 
 quested that what he read should not 
 
BEE KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 45 
 
 be reported, because it had not yet 
 been published by the Department, 
 and it was only by the courtesy of the 
 Agricultural Department that he had 
 been permitted to present it to this 
 Continental Society of Bee-Keepers. 
 He assured them that each one of 
 the bee- periodicals would be furnished 
 with proof-sheets in time so that they 
 could publish the matter simultane- 
 ously with Prof. Riley's forthcoming 
 report. The subjects treated upon 
 were, " Bees and Fruit " and " Artifi- 
 cial Fecundation of Queens." The 
 report detailed the results of investi- 
 gations and experiments carried on by 
 him at the Government's Experimen- 
 tal Station. It demonstrated that the 
 bees cannot injure fruit; and gave the 
 account of several experiments in 
 fecundating queens artificially. 
 
 At the close of Mr. McLain's re- 
 marks, the Rev. L. L. Langstroth 
 offered the following resolution which 
 was unanimously carried : 
 
 Jtesolved, That this Society highly 
 appreciates, the movement now at 
 length . made by the United States 
 Department of Agriculture, in the 
 promotion of bee- culture, and wel- 
 comes its representative, Mr. Nelson 
 W. McLain, to whose explanatory ad- 
 dress and the extracts from his forth- 
 coming report the Society has listened 
 with much interest, especially concur- 
 ring in the suggestion that statistics 
 of the honey crop be included in the 
 report of the Department. 
 
 A. J. Cook— People have several 
 times told me that their grapes had 
 been destroyed by bees, and I have 
 offered to come and see the destruc- 
 tion, if they would let me know when 
 it was going on, but I cautioned them 
 to first be sure that they had a case. 
 I have never yet been called. Bees 
 do sometimes attack grapes, however, 
 but it is when the weather has first 
 caused them to crack, or something 
 else attacked and opened the skins. 
 I cannot believe that queens can be 
 fecundated while in the larval state. 
 
 N. W. McLain— When I gave to 
 Prof. Riley an account of my experi- 
 ments in fertilizing queens in the 
 larval state, he said that it was noth- 
 ing strange ; it had been frequently 
 done with other insects. By exercis- 
 ing the laws of breeding, difEerent 
 varieties of bees can be crossed, the 
 undesirable qualities eliminated, the 
 good qualities preserved and so inten- 
 sified that we really have anew strain 
 of bees that will transmit their char- 
 acteristics. 
 
 James Heddon — Have you the 
 temerity to tell me that I can cross 
 
 the Italian and German bees, and 
 secure a cross possessing the good 
 qualities of both varieties 'i" 
 
 N". "W. McLain.— Most assuredly. 
 
 Mr. Heddon then gave a history of 
 how his strain of bees were originated. 
 In regard to bees being trespassers, 
 he said that people do not look at the 
 matter in its true> light. In some 
 localities cows are allowed to run at 
 large ; what would be said of the land 
 owner who would put poison into a 
 pumpkin, saying, "It is my poison, 
 my pumpkin, and my land, I can do 
 with them as I please, let people take 
 care of their cows if they don't want 
 them poisoned ?" There is as much 
 sense in saying that bees must be 
 kept at home. All bee-keepers should 
 join the Union, and thus help to have 
 bee-keeping recognized as a legitimate 
 industry. 
 
 N. W. McLain detailed in graphic 
 language the treatment to which 
 honey was subjected at the bands of 
 commission men. The remedy is to 
 let people know that you have pure 
 honey for sale. If bee-keepers would 
 take one-fourth the pains that patent 
 medicine men do to advertise, there 
 would now be no complaint of a poor 
 honey market. 
 
 The convention adjourned until 9 
 a.m. of the next day. 
 
 THIRD DAY— THURSDAY. 
 
 MORNING SESSION. . 
 
 The meeting was called to order at 
 9 a.m., Pres. Cutting in the chair. 
 
 It was moved and carried that the 
 Secretary be paid $50 to pay for his 
 expenses and services. 
 
 The President called on Mr. T. G- 
 Newman for a report on 
 
 APICULTUEAL NECEOLOGT. 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
 
 Since last I had the pleasure of 
 meeting with this Continental Society 
 of Apiculturists, many of those who 
 havebeen our companions in these 
 assemblies have ■ passed from the 
 present state of being, and we are 
 now deprived of their gladsome greet- 
 ing and hearty welcome. Much as I 
 would like to mention all their names 
 in tender remembrance, I find it im- 
 possible, because in many cases the 
 surviving friends have not communi- 
 cated the facts to the apicultural 
 public. Allow me, with affectionate 
 regard, to mention a few'of the most 
 prominent of our brothers of America 
 and Europe, who, 'during the past four 
 years, have been added to that vast 
 army now numbered witli the dead ! 
 
46 
 
 NORTH AMEEICAN 
 
 Of these, four were editors of our 
 bee-periodicals, who had, during their 
 lives, done much to raise apiculture 
 up to its present " standard of excel- 
 lence," devoting the best energies of 
 their lives to its development and 
 advancement, often sacriticing their 
 ease, comfort, physical strength and 
 wealth to their favorite pursuit. It 
 is true that each one fought a " hard 
 battle " ; they were often severely 
 criticised, ami sometimes strongly 
 comdemned by those who should have 
 been their constant friends and co- 
 laborers. While admitting that they 
 often erred (for "to err is human") 
 let us cast " the mantle of charity " 
 over " their short-comings," and think 
 only of their good deeds, energetic 
 work, unselfish lives, and the general 
 nobility of their characters ! 
 
 I will now " call the roll " of those 
 over whom death has triumphed : 
 
 A. F. Moon, of Rome, Ga., was one 
 of the founders of this Society, and in 
 the absence of the Rev. L. L. Lang- 
 stroth, its first President, Mr. Moon 
 presided over the Convention. He 
 was the editor of the Bee World, and 
 died on Aug. 2, 1882 ; aged 58 years. 
 He commenced to keep bees when 11 
 years of age, and ever after gave the 
 fullest energies of his mind to the ad- 
 vancement of practical bee-culture. 
 
 Rev. Jasper Hazeu, Woodstock, Vt., 
 after 25 years of progressive bee-cul- 
 ture, died on April 13, 1882, aged 92. 
 He strenuously advocated the use of 
 surplus honey-boxes, invented a hive, 
 and welcomed the introduction of the 
 Italian bees. He was also a vigorous 
 apicultural writer 20 years ago. 
 
 Edward Townley, of Cincinnati, O., 
 died in the 80th year of his age, in 
 .July, 1882. He commenced to keep 
 bees in 1850, and built up a large 
 apiary at Mt. Auburn. He was the 
 author of a book on bee-culture, and 
 devoted his energies to apiculture. 
 
 Jesse C. Estlack, of Littleton, Colo., 
 died on Aug. 5, 1885, at the age of 64. 
 He went from New Jersey to Col- 
 orado in 1859, and there established 
 an apiary in which he took much 
 delight. 
 
 Theodore Honck, of Canajoharie, N. 
 Y., died on June 16, 1883, at Denver, 
 Colo., whither he went on account 
 of failing health. He was one of the 
 editors of the Bee-Keepers' Exchange^ 
 and was never happier than when 
 among his bees. The last Conven- 
 tion he attended was at Albany, N. 
 Y., in January, 1883, and was one of 
 its most energetic members. His age 
 was 26. 
 
 E. r. Cassell, of Illinois City, Ills., 
 was killed on Oct. 6, 1883, while at- 
 tempting to board a moving train. 
 He had been a prominent and en- 
 thusiastic bee-keeper for 15 or 20 
 years. 
 
 William Hewlett, of Beaver Lick, 
 Ky., was killed by lightning on May 
 19, 1884, while at work on his farm. 
 His apiary contained 125 colonies of 
 bees. He attended the Cincinnati 
 meeting of this Society, and took part 
 in the deliberations. 
 
 D. S. Given, of Hoopeston, Ills., the 
 inventor of the Foundation Press, 
 died at the age of 40, on July 10, 1884, 
 at Los Angeles, Calif., whither he 
 had gone for his health. His kind 
 disposition endeared him to all who 
 knew him, and his name will go down 
 to posterity as one who did his part 
 to make apiculture practical. 
 
 John Madden, of Davenport, Iowa, 
 was thrown from his wagon and killed 
 on Sept. 19, 1884. He was one of the 
 organizers of the Eastern Iowa and 
 Western Illinois Bee-Keepers' Asso- 
 ciation, and was filled with energy 
 and enthusiasm. There were 225 
 carriages in his funeral procession 
 (10 being filled with apiarists) ; this 
 proves how much he was beloved by 
 those who knew him. 
 
 William W. Cary, of Colerain,Mass., 
 died on Dec. 9, 1884, in the 70th year 
 of his age — full of years, ripe in ex- 
 perience, and faithful in friendship. 
 At the time of his death he had some 
 300 colonies of bees. He was in- 
 timately connected with the first 
 importations of Italian bees into 
 America, and was the faithful co- 
 worker with Father Langstroth, in 
 all his efPbrts to revolutionize bee- 
 keeping in America. 
 
 K. M. Argo, of Garrard Co., Ky., 
 died of congestive chills, on Feb. 13, 
 1885. As one of the pioneers of 
 modern apiculture, he wrote ex- 
 tensively some 20 years ago. He was 
 a well-posted and practical bee-keeper, 
 and reared many very fine queens. 
 
 William Williamson, of Lexington, 
 Ky., died on Feb. 13, 1885, at the age 
 of 40. Those who attended the meet- 
 ing of this Society at Lexington, in 
 1881, will witness to his zeal and en- 
 thusiasm, as well as his whole-souled 
 disposition. He was one of the pro- 
 jectors of the International Congress 
 at New Orleans, but died just before 
 it convened. 
 
 Rev. Herbert R. Peel died in Eng- 
 land, on June 2, 1885. He was the 
 editor of the British Bee Journal, and 
 Secretary of the British Bee-Keepers' 
 
BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 
 
 47 
 
 Association. In his death our English 
 brethren have sustained an irrepar- 
 able loss. He was a firm friend, an 
 indefatigable worlserand a progres- 
 sive apiarist. 
 
 Prof. Von Siebold died in Germany 
 on April 7, 1886. He was the faithful 
 friend of Father Dzierzon, and was 
 one of the first to accept the theory 
 of parthenogenesis. He was a promi- 
 nent scientist, and rendered much 
 assistance to the development of 
 rational bee-culture. 
 
 Prof. Andreas Schmidt, for 20 years 
 editor of the Bienen-Zeitung, the lead- 
 ing apicultural publication of Ger- 
 many, is also numbered with the 
 dead. He was a co-worker and an 
 ardent admirer of Father Dzierzon, 
 whoseGolden Jubilee was celebrated 
 in Germany last September with great 
 enthusiasm. In his death our Ger- 
 man brethren have lost a master 
 mind, a thorough scholar, an energetic 
 worker, and a faithful friend. 
 
 There are many, many others— but 
 time would fail me to speak of all 
 those who through faith in scientific 
 research, and devotion to experiments 
 and manipulations, have helped to 
 dispel the darkness and scatter the 
 light, — as if by " magic wand " com- 
 manding modern apiculture to " arise 
 and shine " — pulsating and luminating 
 every zone ! 
 
 Men pass away I Monuments crum- 
 ble into dust ! and all that remain of 
 human greatness, are thoughts and 
 deeds. By these we may " lay up 
 treasures where moth and rust cannot 
 corrupt." In death we take nothing 
 with us but that which we really are ! 
 Shrouds have no pockets ! CoflfiDs no 
 coupon-drawers ! Crowns fall off at 
 the touch of death ! Stripped of our 
 robes of state, insignia, uniforms and 
 decorations, we then shall stand for 
 just what we are ! 
 
 Our best thoughts and noble deeds, 
 given to fhe world by the aid of the 
 printed page, may live on and en- 
 ergize a world after we are crumbled 
 to dust. True men live, long after 
 they have passed from this stage of 
 action. The ponderous steam - en- 
 gines which brought this Convention 
 together, are but the spirit of James 
 Watt living again in our very midst ! 
 Modern apiculture is but the embodi- 
 ment of the thoughts and lives of 
 those who have gone before us ; and 
 our thoughts and work, which may 
 add to its practicability, may live on 
 after we are gone ! 
 
 The second President of this Society 
 —the lamented Moses Qulnby (than 
 whom apiculture never had a truer 
 
 and more unselHsh friend), now, in 
 this very assembly, lives again in those 
 who are practicing his thoughts, 
 theories and progressive methods of 
 bee-culture ; as well as In those who 
 love him for his scientiHc research, 
 grand character, and noble life ! 
 
 That band of brothers whose names 
 we have to-day inscribed on our "Roll 
 of the Honored, Dead," live again .in 
 our tender remembrance, and we 
 may almost seem to catch a glimpse 
 of "the Angel of Life," with open 
 scroll, recording their names with the 
 plaudit—" Blessed are the dead ;"— 
 " they rest from their labors and their 
 works do follow them." 
 
 " Breathe soft and low, O whispering wind, 
 
 Above the tangled grasses deep, 
 Where those who loved me long ago 
 
 Forgot the world and fell asleep. 
 So many voices have been hushed, 
 
 So many sougs have ceased for aye, 
 So many hands I used to touch 
 
 Are folded over hearts of clay. 
 
 " I only know that, calm and still. 
 
 They sleep beyond life's woe and wail. 
 Beyond the fleet of sailing clouds. 
 
 Beyond the shadow of the vale. 
 I only feel that, tired and worn, 
 
 I halt upon the highway bare, 
 And gaze with yearning eyes beyond— 
 
 On fields that shine supremely fair." 
 
 Thomas G. Newman. 
 
 Prof. Cook remarked that he was 
 very much interested in the subject, 
 and remembered with pleasure many 
 meetings when those mentioned by 
 Mr. Newman had been present. He 
 spoke particularly of Mj. Moon, the 
 original projector of the National 
 Society, and Mr. Williamson, who so 
 nobly managed the entertainment of 
 the Society at Lexington, Ky. He 
 moved a vote of thanks to Mr. New- 
 man for placing their names and 
 history before the Society, and also 
 that it be spread upon the minutes. 
 Carried unanimously. 
 
 Mr. James Heddon, of Dowagiac, 
 Mich., then read the following on 
 
 BEVEESING COMBS. 
 
 My experience with reversing brood 
 and surplus combs is nearly all con- 
 fined to two seasons ; but as I have 
 had in use 4,000 to 6,000 reversible 
 brood-frames, as well as quite a num- 
 ber of reversible comb-honey-cases, 
 that experience has been somewhat 
 comprehensive. I try to be practical 
 in all my work, never jumping hastily 
 at conclusions, nor adopting methods 
 and fixtures which, although of some 
 little advantage, still are not enough 
 to over-balance the extra cost of con- 
 struction and manipulation. Despite 
 
NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 such endeavors I realize that it is by 
 BO means impossible for me to make 
 mistakes, yft I feel- quite positive 
 that implements arranged for revers- 
 ing brood and surplus combs at will, 
 have come to me to stay. 
 
 During the past year I have been 
 using a hive which I devised for the 
 purpose, with which 1 can reverse, 
 or more properly, invert a whole case 
 of brood or surplus combs at will. 
 While wp all, here, consider this a 
 great improvement over reversing 
 combs singly, yet were I to continue 
 the use of such hives as necessitated 
 reversing each brood-comb separately, 
 I feel positive that I nev.er should again 
 use a frame that would not admit of 
 reversing. 
 
 Some of our bee-keepers have 
 paused to ask if there was not some 
 serious objection to inverting combs. 
 They had noticed that the cells were 
 slightly inclined ; that the workers 
 nearly'always builtthem in this way ; 
 and they believed that behind this 
 almost universal method of comb- 
 construction, was a design for a pur- 
 pose. Even if this be true (which I 
 doubt), is it not quite evident that 
 the designers are not aiming at our 
 desired end ; that they do not purpose 
 " lots of surplus honey to sell." 
 
 Let us not forget that our bees 
 always and invariably construct their 
 combs so that the cells are in rows 
 horizontally— not vertically. This is 
 an unvarying rule. whilS the incline 
 of the cell is not. Now, I found that 
 by the use of comb foundation, I 
 could make them construct their 
 combs with the cells running in rows 
 vertically. Much of Dadant's excel- 
 lent brood foundation is stamped in 
 this way. Many believe that it is less 
 inclined to sag, when so placed in 
 frames. I have found by practical 
 use of thousands of pounds of it, that 
 the little worker, in so rigidly follow- 
 ing her instinct in rowing the cells 
 horizontally, was only "just trying to 
 fool somebody." By the inversion of 
 thousands of combs, I have proven 
 that her less determination to incline 
 her cells, belongs in the same cata- 
 logue with placing the same in hori- 
 zontal vows. I think that the scientist 
 has long since learned that Nature, 
 wiien forming instinct in animals, is 
 no more working for our interests 
 than when she pours her rain-water 
 back into the sea, while our crops are 
 blasting and withering ; or when she 
 visits us with cyclones. 
 
 I know it is true that we cannot 
 with impunity violate some of the 
 instincts of our bees ; that some of 
 them run directly parallel with the 
 
 ends we desire; but which are for 
 and which against us, we must deter- 
 mine by experiment. I have satisfied 
 myself that in the inversion of combs 
 we violate no instinct which ia 
 favorable to our success. We do, 
 however, encourage certain action* 
 on the part of our bees, that greatly 
 favor the desired result. 
 
 By virtue of this reversing we get 
 our frames completely and solidly 
 filled with comb, which metes out to- 
 us no less than six points of advantage 
 which I will not consume space tO' 
 detail. It also tends to keep the 
 brood-combs the more completely 
 filled with brood, the honey going: 
 into the surplus combs. When re- 
 versing is practiced, as we can well 
 afford to do when we can reverse a 
 whole set of combs with a single 
 motion, it gives us great control over 
 swarming. I find that the reversing 
 of the surplus combs after I have 
 learned the proper time to do it, is. 
 conducive of most favorable results. 
 It causes the bees to more completely 
 fill the sections, which is not only an 
 economy, besides presenting a more 
 attractive package, but adds greatly^ 
 to the shipping-qualities of our sur- 
 plus comb honey. It also stimulates 
 hasty and complete capping of the 
 combs. 
 
 During my experience in reversing 
 combs, I have never yet discovered 
 any ill-effects resulting therefrom; 
 but besides the advantages above 
 enumerated, I am always meeting 
 with unexpected minor benefits re- 
 sulting from the practice. 
 
 James Heddon. 
 
 Dr. A.. B. Mason— When is the 
 proper time to reverse the combs V 
 
 James Heddon— The proper time to 
 reverse brood-combs is when the bees 
 are rearing large quantities of brood, 
 and desire to increase the size of the 
 brood-nest. ' To reverse the brood- 
 combs late in the season, when they 
 are contracting the brood-nest, will 
 cause the brood-nest to be filled with 
 honey all the faster. Sections should 
 be reversed when the bees are in- 
 clined to store toney in them ; if 
 done after the bees cease storing 
 honey in them, it will hasten the re- 
 moval of the honey to the brood-nest. 
 As soon as the outside sections are 
 far enough advanced to bear inver-' 
 sion. change them to the centre of the 
 case, then invert the whole case, and 
 all the sections will be finished at 
 nearly the same time. Inversion 
 causes the bees to attach the combs 
 to the sections all around, and thus 
 
BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 
 
 makes them bear shipment much 
 better. Swarming is also lessened by 
 reversing the combs, as the removal 
 of the honey gives more room for 
 brood, and thus helps to destroy the 
 desire for swarming. It also has a 
 tendency to the destruction of queen- 
 cells. 
 
 G. P. Dadant — How about con- 
 traction ? 
 
 James Heddon — My objection to 
 the Langstroth hive is its depth ; with 
 that I contracted by removmg some 
 of the combs and putting in " dum- 
 mies." With my new hive I contract 
 by simply taking away one section of 
 brood-frames. 
 
 Mr. Thompson, of New York — How 
 shall those manage your new hive 
 that do not wish to feed sugar for 
 winter stores ? 
 
 James Heddon— During bas^wood 
 the bees can gather honey faster than 
 they can store it in the sections, and 
 we have only to place a section of 
 brood-combs over the sections, and in 
 this catch the " overflow." When the 
 harvest is over, remove this and keep 
 it until fall, then shake the bees down 
 in front of this case of honey, or else 
 set it over the case containing the 
 bees, and it is done. 
 
 Geo. E. Hilton— In practicing the 
 contraction method, how can we re- 
 move a section of the brood-nest after 
 swarming -without removing some of 
 the brood ? 
 
 W. Z. Hutchinson — After a swarm 
 has issued, the young queen does not 
 commence laying until about the 19th 
 day, two or three days later all the 
 brood will have hatched, and we can 
 remove one section without taking 
 any brood ; we may get a few eggs, 
 but this is immaterial. 
 
 L. C. Boot — Are we to understand 
 that you prefer brood-combs only 5 
 inches deep V 
 
 Mr.Hutchinson— Most emphatically. 
 
 C. P. Dadant— We object to a shal- 
 low comb, and to two sets of combs, 
 because the queen cannot lay in a 
 circle; it consumes time for her to 
 pass from comb to comb, or from one 
 end of a shallow frame to the other. 
 
 W. Z. Hutchinson- We do not care 
 how the queen travels, whether in a 
 circle or crosslots, if she only keeps 
 the combs full of brood, and if . we do 
 not give her too many combs to UU, 
 she will do this. 
 
 Prof. A. J. Cook then read the 
 following, on 
 
 THE POLLEN THEORY. 
 
 The pollen theory as I understand it, 
 •is simply this : Under certain circum- 
 stances bees may winter with less 
 liability to diarrhoea, disease and' 
 death, in case there is no pollen or 
 bee-bread in the hive to serve as win- 
 ter food. 
 
 There are reasons drawn from ex- 
 periment, I think, for the belief that 
 tacts sustain the theory. Por several 
 years we have tried to arrange our 
 bees so that some should have abund- 
 anae of pollen in their hives, while 
 others should be destitute of the same, 
 making a careful record in each case. 
 While we have never lost a colony by 
 diarrhoea during these experiments, 
 we have had several cases of such 
 disease, but never in colonies where 
 the pollen was all excluded. In truth, 
 the main portion of the diarrhetic ex- 
 creta is almost always — if not always 
 —composed of pollen grains, thus 
 showing that pollen was present, if not 
 the cause of the trouble. Careful ex- 
 amination of bees from colonies with 
 no pollen— some dead, others alive and 
 lively, show little and frequently no 
 pollen in their intestines. 
 
 Now with the theory and these facts 
 in mind, let us study briefly the nature 
 of food, and see whether or not physi- 
 ological science has any facts or sug- 
 gestions to offer us regarding this 
 question. 
 
 There are four kinds of food, each 
 of which probably enters more or less 
 largely into the food regimen of all 
 animals. Of these the inorganic, such 
 as water, lime, chloride of sodium, or 
 common salt, etc., are important as 
 entering into the structure of organs,, 
 preserving the requisite consistency 
 of tissues, and in aiding the vital pro- 
 cesses. Thus it is necessary that 
 blood, or the nutritive substance of 
 the animal body, should be liquid. A 
 large proportion of water keeps it so ; 
 hence, what wonder that water is so 
 essential to life, and so craved and 
 sought after by most animals. In all 
 vital activity, osmosis — or the passing 
 of liquids through animal membranes, 
 is all important ; common salt pro- 
 motes this osmosis, and thus it is that 
 salt has such saving properties. 
 Hence those of you who believe so 
 heartily in giving water to bees may 
 still rejoice in that you are improving 
 the blood of your pets, while those 
 who take pleasure in adding salt, may 
 exult as you affirm, "here goes for 
 osmosis!" These inorganic elements 
 are usually obtained in sufficient quan- 
 tities in the general food, though water 
 is generally required j.n larger quanti- 
 
50 
 
 NOBTH AMERICAN 
 
 ties and must be had in addition, 
 separately, to secure the best health 
 and greatest strength. We have all 
 seen oees sipping water, and often in 
 such places as to suggest that the ad- 
 dition of salt is very welcome to them. 
 All kinds of food are required in 
 greater quantity when the vital ac- 
 tivity is increased, hence our bees will 
 need more water as breeding, storing, 
 ■ or other work is increased in the hive. 
 The second kind of food is known 
 under the term carbo-hydrates. It 
 includes all the sugars and starch. 
 As starch, when eaten, is changed un- 
 der the influence of a ferment, into 
 sugar, we may well consider it with 
 the sugars. The carbo-hydrates con- 
 sist of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon 
 — the two former in proportion to form 
 water. It is a matter of common ob- 
 servation that when the carbo-hydrates 
 enter largely into the food, the animal 
 is apt to gain rapidly in fat. We are 
 not sure that the sugats are changed 
 directly into animal fat, possibly they 
 serve so admirably as food, that they 
 produce such an excellent condition 
 of the animal system, that all thefood 
 is utilized, and a surplus is at hand 
 'Which is stored up as fat. May be the 
 nitrogenous food as well as the sugars 
 aid in forming the fat of the body ; in 
 either case the food must be chemi- 
 •cally changed in that wonderful labora- 
 tory, the animal organism. The fact 
 remains that much sugar in the food 
 promotes the deposits of fat. We all 
 ino w how the feeding of corn increases 
 the fat, and does not the fact that 
 corn contains over 67 per cent, of 
 starch, which when eaten and digested 
 is all changed to sugar, enforce the 
 position here taken y Again, when 
 animals hibernate, or when they are 
 long sick and take no food, the stored 
 fat is used up. Thus, if this stored 
 fat can for a time serve the purpose of 
 :all food, it is not unreasonable to con- 
 rclude that all organic food may under 
 the best conditions be converted into 
 fat. We positively know that animals 
 may eat all muscle — as beef's heart — 
 and yet the liver will form glycogen, 
 which in turn becomes liver sugar, 
 and, as we have seen in the marvelous 
 economy of the body, sugar promotes 
 the formation of fat, it may be that 
 all food under the best conditions con- 
 duces to the storing up of fat, and 
 that sugar powerfully aids to bring 
 .about just this most favorable con- 
 ■dition. These carbo-hydrates are 
 ■often styled the heat-producing foods. 
 I think this term false and mislead- 
 ing. It is probable that all food, of 
 which these sugars are an important 
 part, are to nourish or to build up tis- 
 
 sues and carry on the organic proces- 
 ses. This vital work generates heat. 
 Heat is incidental. Nutrition is to 
 build up and keep the body in work- 
 ing condition ; in doing this the body 
 is kept warm. 
 
 We have seen that stored fat in ani- 
 mals that hibernate, and in case of 
 disease, will alone serve to keep up 
 the nutrition. We have also seen that 
 these carbo-hydrates conduce more 
 than other food to the formation of 
 this fat. Is it not scientific then to 
 urge that the pure carbo-hydrates are 
 the best food on which to winter our 
 bees'i" And this is enforced, I believe, 
 by experience and by nature as well, 
 for I doubt not but that in most cases 
 in nature, almost the entire food of 
 bees while they are quiescent in win- 
 ter, is honev. 
 
 Let me state further that cane sugar 
 which composes from one to eight per 
 cent, of honey, when eaten by any ani- 
 mal, man included, is changed in the 
 stomach to a sugar much like, if nOt 
 identical, with honey. The bees do 
 the same with nearly all the cane 
 sugar or nectar, or with most of the 
 cane sugar when they feed upon it. 
 Hence it is more than likely that 
 honey is one of the most healthy and 
 nutritious of all our sugars ; that the 
 bees have done for us what we would 
 have to do for ourselves had we eaten 
 the cane sugar. Who has not found 
 that honey seems to go further, and 
 satisfy more quickly, even than cane 
 sugar when eaten on our tables i" One 
 more point, common glucose, or grape 
 sugar,— I now mean the artiflcial pro- 
 duct produced by the action of sul- 
 phuric acid on corn starch — honey, and 
 liver sugar are usually all called glu- 
 cose or grape sugar by chemists. They 
 are chemically identical, and give the 
 same reactions with the copper salts 
 which they all reduce, which fact fur- 
 nishes one of the best tests for these 
 sugars. "X et I do not believe they are 
 the same. Physiologically they seem 
 quite different. Why, when we eat 
 glucose, is it changed to glycogen in 
 the liver and then to liver sugar, un- 
 less the latter is more easily assimi- 
 lated ? Why do bees thrive on honey, 
 and die when fed the artificial glucose? 
 Why do bees refuse to eat artificial 
 grape sugar when honey or nectar is 
 ico be had V All these facts seem to 
 indicate what I believe to be true, 
 that physiologically honey, starch, glu- 
 cose and liver glucose are really dif- 
 ferent. Taste and vital action are nicer 
 chemists than our scientists.and detect 
 differences which the latter as yet fail 
 to recognize. It is possible that honey 
 and liver glucose are identical. The 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 51 
 
 fact that both arise in the animal body 
 under the influence of the digestive 
 ferments would make this view plausi- 
 ble. 
 
 The third group of food elements 
 consists of the fats. The higher ani- 
 mals obtain these largely in all vege- 
 table and animal food. While the 
 fats, also called by some the hydro- 
 carbons, consist or the same chemical 
 elements as do the carbo-hydrates, the 
 oxygen is far less in amount. Actual 
 experiment has shown that higher 
 animals thrive poorly without some 
 of this kind of food. Its value is far- 
 ther attested by the appetite which 
 craves fat, especially if the weather Is 
 cold. Bees get some of this kind of 
 food in their pollen. It seems quite 
 likely that the stored fat of the body 
 may come in part from the fat eaten, 
 though this is not certain. It is cer- 
 tainly true that all does not, as ani- 
 mals are often known to store much 
 more fat than is taken with their food. 
 It is quite likely that most fat eaten 
 goes to serve the current needs, while 
 some of the carbo-hydrates and the 
 nitrogenous food, and quite likely 
 some fat is, through the wonderous 
 economy of the vital organism, 
 changed into and stored up as fat. 
 That nitrogenous tissues may be 
 robbed of their nitrogen and further 
 changed into fat, is proved by disease 
 where fatty degeneration is noticed. 
 This may occur in all organs. In some 
 cases, as in fatty degeneration of the 
 heart, almost pure muscle is trans- 
 formed into fat. Bees get but little 
 fat in their food, and so this group of 
 food elements interests us less than 
 do the others. 
 
 The albuminoids or nitrogenous 
 food elements make up our last group. 
 These have, in addition to the oxygen, 
 hydrogen and carbon— nitrogen. All 
 protoplasm or active vital tissue, 
 whether animal or vegetable, consists 
 largely of this nitrogenous material. 
 But as all organs get their substance 
 from the food, it becomes evident that 
 the albuminoids are absolutely essen- 
 tial in food. Higher animals get this 
 albuminous fooo'^inall vegetables, in 
 muscle, eggs, cheese, etc. Bees also 
 get it from vegetables, usually from 
 honey which contains from .2 to .6 per 
 cent, albuminoids and from pollen, 
 often from fungoid spores, and occa- 
 sionally from various kinds of flour 
 or meal. This kind of food must fur- 
 nish the elements for building up 
 all the (protoplasms of the body which 
 form a large proportion of all the 
 vital organs and tissues. "We have 
 ah-eady seen that "some of this nitro- 
 
 genous food may be transformed into 
 fat. 
 
 As no animal can possibly be de- 
 veloped from the egg to adult life 
 without this albuminous food, and, as 
 in all vital action, some of this mate- 
 rial in the body is used up and must 
 be restored, it follows that brood-rear- 
 ing in the hive and activity of the bees 
 necessitates the presence of these al- 
 buminoids in the food. 
 
 As honey contain no albuminous 
 food, except the pollen in it, it follows 
 that bees must have bee-bread to rear 
 brood, and also to preserve their or- 
 ganisms intact during the busy part 
 of their existence. To say that bees 
 may breed with no bee-bread, or that 
 the active workers need none, is to 
 say that you can have an ocean with- 
 out water, a desert without sand, or 
 bricks without clay. 
 
 We know that hibernating animals, 
 and animals long sick, often fast for 
 mohths. Yet here the vital forces 
 must be kept up and must have nour- 
 ishment. We have seen that in such 
 cases the fat is used up, and without 
 doubt the protoplasm in muscle and 
 other inactive tissues yield up of their 
 substance to furnish the small amount 
 of albuminous nutriment needed. If 
 we could keep our minds and bodies 
 wholly inactive, we should need but 
 little nitrogenous food. 
 
 We may conclude then, reasoning 
 from real hibernation, where animals 
 are wholly inactive, from cases of long 
 sickness, and from higher animals in 
 a state of quiescence, that our bees 
 during their winter quiet in cellar or 
 clamp, when the vital activities are 
 at a minimum, have enough of the 
 albuminoid elements in blood and tis- 
 sues and may thrive on a pure car- 
 bonaceous diet. Analogies, as pointed 
 out, make the hypothesis tenable. 
 
 Again, bees are naturally very neat 
 and do not void their excreta in the 
 hive except under the severest stress 
 of circumstances. I have more than 
 once gathered all the refuse under a 
 full colony of bees at the close of the 
 of a long winter's sojourn in the cellar, 
 and found almost no nitrogenous mat- 
 ter. If, then, bees are to be forced to 
 long confinement, we should spare no 
 pains to secure the greatest possible 
 quietude. Just the proper tempera- 
 ture, I think, will, under favorable 
 circumstances of food and air, secure 
 this quiescence. But in case the 
 temperature or ought else should 
 irritate, then it were better that no 
 pollen should be eaten, for without 
 it breeding, which demands great 
 activity, would be impossible, and in 
 its absence the active digestion nee- 
 
52 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 essary to liquify albuminous food 
 would be avoided. It is a generally 
 recognized fact that an inactive me 
 needs little, and is better with little 
 albuminous food. Indeed, albuminous 
 food, as we have seen, subserves the 
 vital activities ; of course, then as we 
 reduce these, we reduce the required 
 amount of nitrogenous aliment. 
 
 Again, the indigestible portion of 
 the carbonaceous rood, especially the 
 carbo-hydrates, is very slight. Not so 
 with pollen. We can readily see then 
 that where the feces are to be re- 
 tained in the intestines as long the 
 poUenaceous food would be or might 
 be irritating, and were better with- 
 held. 
 
 We thus see that from experience, 
 from analogy, and from what we 
 know of foods and the vital activities, 
 we may well believe that our bees 
 were better off in many cases were 
 pollen absent from their winter 
 aliment. 
 
 Agricultural College, Mich. 
 
 C. P. Dadant— We once imported 
 bees largely, and by long experience 
 learned that the food must contain no 
 pollen ; if it did, the bees died. 
 
 James Heddon— I have found bees 
 frozen upon combs of honey — ^frozen 
 before they had consumed enough 
 pollen or bee-bread to produce diar- 
 rhea. I have used the term " heat- 
 producing food " in the sense in 
 which it is generally used. I know 
 that a stage driver in cold weather 
 needs food of a different character 
 than does a wood-chopper. 
 
 Prof. Cook— The chemist speaks of 
 heat-producing food ; the physiologist 
 does not. I think it an improper 
 term. 
 
 Mr. Ira Barber's essay was read by 
 the Secretary, on 
 
 WINTERING BEES. IN CBLLAKS. 
 
 Another year has passed since we 
 met together in council, and thou- 
 sands of colonies of bees have been 
 lost for want of proper protection in 
 winter. It is quite often said that no 
 one has learned the secret of winter- 
 ing bees, so that they can be wintered 
 safely every time ; but I deny the 
 assertion, and ask this association of 
 bee-keepers if a quarter of a century 
 of successful wintering of hundreds 
 of colonies of bees without loss; ex- 
 cept where an occasional one starves, 
 is not long enough to establish the 
 fact that bees can be wintered as 
 safely as any other stock ? 
 
 In my early experience I had all the 
 troubles in wintering that many are 
 experiencing now, and I tried every 
 place and manner of wintering that 
 looked reasonable, to add -to their 
 comfort, and, as a rule, when they 
 came out of winter quarters the loss 
 would be from 30 to 75 per cent. For 
 a long term of years I have wintered 
 bees without loss, and fully 80 per 
 cent, came out as good as when they 
 were placed in winter quarters. If 
 you ask where I winter my bees, my 
 answer would be, in a warm, damp 
 cellar. Why I prefer a warm cellar 
 is because a warm atmosphere is a 
 natural element of the honey-bee; 
 and why I prefer a damp atmosphere 
 is because bees are more quiet and 
 healthier than in a warm, dry atmos- 
 phere for so long a time as 170 days 
 without water. 
 
 In a warm cellar, where the tem- 
 perature is from 60° to 90°, there is no 
 discharge from the bees while in the 
 cellar, unless it be in a dry state ; and 
 if bees have to be fed for winter, it 
 can be done the last thing before 
 placing them in, and then the bee- 
 keeper knows just what the bees 
 have, and no harm will be done be- 
 cause their feed is not sealed. The 
 hives should be packed in a solid body 
 when kept in a high temperature, and 
 piled one on top of the other, three or 
 four deep, with no upward ventila- 
 tion. In this way of packing if some 
 of the bees get uneasy and leave their 
 hive, they are quite sure to enter 
 some other bive, and no harm is done. 
 
 In wintering in a warm cellar, bees 
 require all the combs that they occupy 
 in the summer, and they will be all 
 over the combs and do not cluster. 
 The cellar must be closed, with no 
 currents of air either hot or cold 
 passing through it to arouse the bees. 
 It is necessary to have a small ven- 
 tilator from the top of the room for 
 constant draft ; a 3-inch pipe is suffi- 
 cient for 200 colonies. A flre should 
 be kept in the room above the bees 
 whenever the mercury goes below 
 zero. 
 
 Much is said about moisture in 
 hives, and all manner of ways are 
 tried to get rid of it. A warm atmos- 
 phere disposes of all moisture that 
 arises from the bees, without any ab- 
 sorbents. Every colony should have 
 plenty of feed to carry them through 
 our longest winters, before they are 
 placed in, so that their owner will 
 have no excuse to go near them until 
 spring. They will use more fe#d in a 
 warm room than in a cool one. 
 
 The time to place bees in the cellar 
 is before cold weather arrives— about 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 63 
 
 the middle of November, as a rule. 
 I use caps taken from the hives for 
 stands to set the brood-chambers on, 
 so that each tier of three or four hives 
 rests on the one cap. The caps should 
 be placed close together, and when all 
 are in they form a floor to the cellar, 
 and yet each stand is separate so that 
 there is no jarring when handling in 
 taking them out. The bottom tier of 
 hives should be raised off the bottom- 
 boards about half an inch at one end 
 of the hive", while all the rest should 
 be left just as they come from the 
 yard, with a good cloth and sound 
 top-board well glued on every hive, 
 when all are in, close the cellar and 
 let them entirely alone until there is 
 something for them to do in the 
 spring. About the time that willow 
 begins to bloom is early enough in my 
 locality. 
 
 The above plan of wintering bees is 
 no theory, but is one that is practiced 
 by scores of bee-keepers in Northern 
 New York, and invariably without 
 loss in winter. 
 
 I have been as brief as possible in 
 giving my mode of wintering, and 
 will only add further that this plan is 
 given for wintering large lots or bees. 
 Where but few bees are kept where I 
 live, they have no trouble in winter- 
 ing them in any cellar where veget- 
 ables will keep without freezing. • 
 
 "What I claim for this plan of win- 
 tering is this : 1. It is the safest plan. 
 2. It is the cheapest. 3. It requires 
 far less labor than any plan yet recom- 
 mended. 
 
 Mr. C. R. Isham asked if Mr. Barber 
 wintered his bees upon natural stores. 
 
 Ira Barber— Yes. 
 
 C. R. Isham— Do you leave the 
 pollen in V 
 
 Ira Barber— Yes. 
 
 J. B. Hall endorsed the views and 
 practices of Mr. Barber from his own 
 experience. He accidentally dis- 
 covered that bees will winter well in 
 a high temperature. He had 48 colo- 
 nies in a sm.all bed-room off the 
 kitchen. While he was absent a 
 warm spell came in winter. He feared 
 the loss of his bees. "When he came 
 home they were roaring loudly. He 
 gave them up for lost, in his own 
 mind. But they wintered safely, and 
 came out strong in the spring with 
 plenty of brood in the hives. 
 
 Martin Emigh— I endorse Mr. Bar- 
 ber's essay, except the dampness. 
 
 C. P. Dadant— We have wintered 
 bees in two cellars— one wet, the 
 
 other dry, and the bees wintered bet- 
 ter in the dry one. 
 
 Ira Barber— In a damp cellar the 
 temperature must be higher than in 
 a dry cellar. I have wintered bees 
 successfully in a temperature of from 
 60° to 90°. 
 
 Dr. A. B. Mason— I agree with Mr. 
 Barber, except that I would take 
 away the pollen. I do not say that 
 the bees caimot be wintered well with 
 pollen in the hives, but if they have 
 no pollen they can have no diarrhea. 
 
 C. P. Muth asked if he understood 
 Mr. Hall correctly yesterday, that his 
 honey harvest closed about July 20, 
 and that last year he did not put his 
 bees out until May 2. If so, how did 
 he obtain a suflScient force of bees to 
 
 fet in the honey during so short a 
 arvest V 
 
 Mr. Hall replied that the secret lay 
 in the bees being kept so warm that 
 they bred early. He expected his 
 hives to have several combs with 
 brood in them by the time he put 
 them out in the spring. By May 20, 
 there would be not only brood in 6 or 
 7 combs, but that number full of 
 brood. He could not winter without 
 pollen, because if he did, he would 
 not have his bees bred early enough 
 in the spring to gather in the honey. 
 If ■ th6y started without brood they 
 would not build up to strong colonies 
 until near winter. He did not agree 
 with Mr. Heddon upon the pollen 
 theory, but must thank him for his 
 surplus case. 
 
 James Heddon— I expect to be as 
 successful as Mr. Barber. I think 
 that nothing has been said that dis- 
 proves the poUen theory. Pollen does 
 not injure bees unless" they consume 
 it. Prpf. Cook has explained that 
 bees may breed without taking pollen 
 into their intestines. In some instan- 
 ces honey may be free from pollen ; in 
 others it is not, and the bees cannot 
 avoid its consumption. I kept bees 
 in a cellar in which the temperature 
 often fell to 20°. Those having nat- 
 ural stores suffered from diarrhea, 
 some perished with it ; those having 
 sugar stores were free from it. I will 
 furnish the facts that in many instan- 
 ces one colony has survived and an- 
 other perished' under exactly the same 
 conditions except food. Who will 
 furnish the explanation ? 
 
 Ira Barber— The higher the temper- 
 ature, the better my bees have win- 
 tered. There is sometimes water in 
 the cellar, and the combs are slightly 
 mouldy. 
 
54 
 
 NOETH AMERICAN 
 
 Mr. HeddoD did not consider that 
 the experience of Mr. Barber and Mr. 
 Hall conflicted with the pollen theory, 
 because bees did not necessarily eat 
 pollen when they fed it to larvse. Pol- 
 len would not hurt bees in winter, 
 unless they ate it, and if the temper- 
 ature was right they would not con- 
 sume pollen. 
 
 Adjourned till 2 p.m. 
 
 AFTEBNOON SESSION. 
 
 Ex-President Root called the meet- 
 ing to order at 2 p.m. 
 
 Prof. Cook offered a resolution of 
 respect to the memory of the late 
 Moses Quinby, of St. Johnsville, N. 
 Y., and announced the contribution 
 of a handsome purse with which to 
 
 Eurchase a portrait of the deceased to 
 e presented to his widow. Mr. 
 Quinby was one of the originators of 
 this Society and its second president. 
 This compliment to his memory was 
 exceedingly appropriate and its an- 
 nouncement was enthusiastically re- 
 ceived by the convention. 
 
 A. I. Root— I must go away in a 
 few minutes, and before I go I desire 
 to say that I have enjoyed this tneet- 
 ing very much. We may not have be- 
 come rich by producing honey, but 
 this meeting has certainly done much 
 good in uniting the bee-keepers of 
 this country into one band. This con- 
 vention has " taken the conceit out of 
 me " and has given me a better opin- 
 ion of my fellow men. 
 
 WINTBEING BEES. 
 
 The discussion on wintering bees 
 was resumed by Mr. S. E. Newman, 
 who said— If such gentlemen as Mr. 
 Barber and Mr. Hall meet with no 
 winter losses, I should like to know 
 what becomes of their bees. 
 
 Ira Barber — I work against increase 
 and when I get more than I can use, I 
 sell them. 
 
 T. Pierce— I have wintered bees for 
 3 or 4 years, the same as Mr. Barber 
 does, and have been successful. I keep 
 the temperature at from 44° to 5(P. 
 
 L. C. Root— Do we understand Mr. 
 Barber to say that he has no objection 
 to feeding bees just before putting 
 them into the cellar ? 
 
 Ira Barber— I do not approve of it, 
 but if I find any that need feeding 
 when putting them in, I feed them. 
 I think that fall honey is just as good 
 for winter stores, provided the temper- 
 ature is kept high enough. Old bees 
 are just as good as any for wintering. 
 
 Jas. Heddon—" Spring dwindling". 
 I call bee-diarrhea in disguise. The 
 bees have had their vitality taxed to 
 the utmost in retaining their feces, 
 and when they begin brood-rearing 
 the strain is too great, and they per- 
 ish faster than young bees can be 
 reared to replace the dying. When 
 my bees winter well they are not 
 troubled with "spring dwindling." 
 I am not yet certain how much there 
 may be in this pollen theory, and I 
 am yet experimenting. 
 
 Rev. W. F. Clarke said there were 
 three matters of great importance to 
 him which had transpired to-day. 
 First, Mr. Hall had explained his 
 method of bee-keeping, and he was 
 much obliged to him for it. Second, 
 Mr. Barber and Mr. Hall had sup- 
 plied conflrmation of the hibernation 
 theory. A year a ago he did not un- 
 derstand Mr. Barber's method. Mr. 
 B. said at the Rochester convention 
 that he (Mr. C's) method was a cold 
 system of wintering, and his (Mr. B's) 
 a warm ,one. This was a mistake. 
 Our systems are alike, only Mr. Bar- 
 ber secured the right temperature in 
 the whole cellar, and I secured it in 
 the single hive. But Mr. Barber's 
 bees quiesce in the fall ; if the'hive is 
 too full of bees, a cluster will hang 
 outside ; they remain in torpor until 
 ttie breeding instinct awakes, and 
 then they arouse to activity. Third, 
 the pollen theory has got its quietus 
 from Prof. Cook. He has told us in 
 scientific terms the nature of bee- 
 food, and the process of assimilation. 
 He has maintained that bees cannnot 
 breed without pollen, and that they 
 cannot stand work without taking 
 nitrogenous food. If they take that 
 food it must be digested and the 
 feces excreted. Well, Mr. Barber 
 and Mr. Hall have proved that bees 
 breed largely, i. e., work hard, and 
 therefore must eat and digest strong 
 food. , The inferences are plain. The 
 bees, if they excrete, do it in dry 
 feces. They must excrete, that is 
 clear. Therefore, there is no danger 
 in having pollen in the hive. On the 
 contrary, it is necessary. 
 
 Thomas G. Newman, chairman of 
 the committee on statistics, reported 
 as follows : There were 103 members 
 present, but quite a number had 
 given no report of the past season's 
 operations. Those reported summed 
 up as follows : 
 
 Seep.— Colonies last May, . . . 4,283 
 Increase 3,196 
 
 Total now 7,479 
 
BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 
 
 55 
 
 Honey.— In comb fts, 165,354 
 
 Extracted " 86,928 
 
 Total honey produced. ibs, 242,282 
 
 Beeswax produced lbs, 2,233 
 
 Honey Unsold.— Comb.. iba, 43,275 
 Extracted " 33,425 
 
 Total honey unsold, ibs, 76,700 
 
 Only about one-third present at the 
 meeting had become members of the 
 Society, and only about one-quarter 
 of those present were included in the 
 statistical report. 
 
 The smallest report was : 1 colony 
 last spring, Increased to 5, giving 43 
 pounds of extracted honey. 
 
 The largest report was : 470 colonies 
 in May, 740 in the fall. Honey ob- 
 tained from them 38,000 pounds in 
 comb, and 6,000 pounds of extracted ; 
 125 pounds of beeswax— all having 
 been sold except 2,000 pounds of ex- 
 tracted honey. 
 
 All other reports of bees and honey 
 varied between these. It was re- 
 quested that no statistical table be 
 published — the aggregate amounts 
 being all that will serve the interests 
 of bee-keepers in general. 
 
 The report was received and adopt- 
 ed, and the committee discharged. 
 
 Mr. D. A. Jones read the following 
 on 
 
 DIFFEBENT RACES OF BEES. 
 
 It Is not my purpose to occupy the 
 valuable time of this Convention with 
 a long essay on what has been done in 
 the past in reference to this subject, 
 nor shall I trouble you with a history 
 of the efforts put forth, the trials and 
 hardships endured, and the successes, 
 failures and disappointments con- 
 nected with the importation of the 
 different races of bees in which I 
 have participated. The object of the 
 majority of the bee-keepers of to-day 
 is to have their capital and labor yield 
 them as good a return as possible, and 
 the desire is to obtain such a race or 
 strain of bees as will be conducive to 
 that end. 
 
 With the above object in view, I 
 shall therefore tell what I have now 
 and what I prefer. I have as yet 
 found none having all the good 
 qualities and being possessed of none 
 of the bad ; . and none therefore that 
 suit me in every particular. I am not 
 now breeding either Cyprians or 
 Syrians in their purity for my own 
 
 use, but for experimental purposes 
 and to supply the demand for pure 
 stock. It must not, however, be sup- 
 posed because of this that they are 
 not without many good qualities; 
 such is not the case. 
 
 Different climates have different 
 requirements, as evidenced by the 
 success of Mr. B. P. Carroll, of Texas, 
 with pure Cyprians, and of Mr. A. 
 W. Osburn, in Cuba, with Holy-Land 
 bees or Syrians. I simply assert that 
 they are not so suitable for our 
 climate as are others. After the ex- 
 perience of years I find that for this 
 particular climate, several crosses 
 give far better results than do the 
 races in their purity. This experience 
 is the outcome of experiments con- 
 ducted on an extensive scale, and 
 with all possible care as to selection 
 and breeding— the latter on isolated 
 islands in the Georgian Bay. Crosses 
 between Italians and Cyprians or 
 Syrians, and between Carniolans and 
 Cyprians or Syrians, seem to give the 
 best results. One-third Cyprian or 
 Syrian is sufficient with two-thirds 
 Italian, or half Carniolan and half 
 Cyprian or Syrian, work well together. 
 
 While bees are all crossed the same, 
 the results vary for a time till the 
 strains become more fixed. It is not 
 well to decide because the first cross 
 is of extraordinary value, that you 
 have found just what you are seeking 
 for ; in after experience you will find 
 that they seldom duplicate themselves 
 in this respect. These first crosses 
 are too often adopted as the standard, 
 with the impression that breeding 
 from them will always give equally 
 good results. Who knows, unless 
 with proper facilities for breeding, 
 what these crosses are y On the 
 islands of which I have spoken, I 
 have found that at all times I cannot 
 be successful, especially in those par- 
 ticular points that I most desire. 
 Unless the mating of the queen can 
 be better controlled than now, per- 
 fection cannot be reached, and the 
 best races or strains of bees produced. 
 The breeds of horses and other ani- 
 mals over which we have perfect 
 control,are being constantly improved, 
 through persistent efforts v\»hich have 
 been going on for hundreds of years ; 
 it is not a mere assumption, then, to 
 assert that by crossing, ' re-crossing, 
 selecting and re-seleoting,we certainly 
 make much progress ; but these opera- 
 tions will need to be much more care- 
 fully conducted than is generally the 
 case, as few, from their surroundings, 
 are enabled to properly prosecute the 
 work. Where pure races best meet 
 the requirements of the climate, it is 
 
56 
 
 NOETH AMEEICAN 
 
 well to have them in all their purity. 
 Mr. Benton is still engaged m the 
 East in the exportation of queens ot 
 the different races, and his efforts are 
 worthy of proper recognition, and 
 should receive such. 
 
 In reply to inquiries, Mr. Jones 
 said— I do not believe that any one 
 living in a Northern climate can 
 profitably produce honey with pure 
 Syrian or Cyprian bees. I prefer 
 Syrians crossed with Italians. The 
 Carniolans do not swarm with us any 
 more than do the Syrians or Cyprians. 
 My advice is, if you have good bees 
 keep them ; don't fool away money by 
 sending tor new kinds of bees, and 
 paying big prices. We cannot keep 
 queens long enough to test them, and 
 then sell them at q low price. Buy 
 them and test them yourself. In 
 buying queens, buy of a reliable 
 breeder. Carniolans crossed with 
 Italians cannot be distinguished from 
 Italians crossed with blacks. I prefer 
 crosses to pure races. 
 
 James Heddon— I must say a word 
 in favor of the blacks ; I want their 
 ■excellent comb-building qualities, 
 and their disposition to keep the 
 honey out of the brood-nest. I have 
 crossed them with the Italians for 
 perhaps 20 generations. 
 
 The committee on resolutions re- 
 ported the following, which were 
 nnanimously adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this 
 Society be, and are hereby presented 
 to the retiring President, Secretary, 
 and Committee of Arrangements, for 
 their energetic and efflcient services 
 in connection with this meeting. 
 
 To the railroads by which reduced 
 fares were given to members attend- 
 ing this meeting. 
 
 To the proprietors of the Antisdel 
 House for reduced rates, excellent 
 fare, and polite attentions. 
 
 To the editors of the various bee- 
 periodicals, also the publishers of the 
 Prairie Farmer, for the publication of 
 early and full notices of this meeting. 
 
 The committee also recommended 
 the adoption of the following : 
 
 Besolved, That a committee of one 
 be appointed to present to the Com- 
 missioner of Agriculture our apprecia- 
 tion of his valuable efforts to aid our 
 business in urging the importance of 
 apiarian statistics, and suggest our* 
 desires in respect to the chemical 
 
 examinations which we deem very 
 important to our pursuit. 
 
 Besolved, That the thanks of the 
 North American Bee- Keepers' So- 
 ciety are due to Prof. C. V. Biley 
 and to the United States govemmeBt 
 for its action in forming an experi- 
 mental station for the promotion of 
 apiculture. 
 
 Besolved, That we tender the thanks 
 of this Society to the Department 
 of Agriculture in sending to our 
 meeting in Detroit, Prof. McLain, 
 and for the able paper he has pre- 
 sented to us. 
 
 Besolved, That we recognize this 
 step of the Department of Agriculture 
 as in the right direction, and bespeak 
 for it your continued support. 
 
 Besolved, That we recommend to 
 the Department the making of ac- 
 curate reports of all data concerning 
 the production of honey, and have 
 them embodied in the usual agricul- 
 tural reports. 
 
 Besolved, That the Secretary of this 
 Society present a copy of these resolu- 
 tions to Prof. McLain for transmission 
 to the Department of Agriculture. 
 
 The above were also adopted. 
 
 Prof. Cook, who was about to leave, 
 expressed the great pleasure he had 
 experienced in meeting so many bee- 
 keepers, especially the Eastern 
 friends. Mr. L. C. Boot responded, 
 saying that he had hoped great things 
 for this meeting, and he now felt 
 certain that the Society had done 
 wisely in coming to Detroit. 
 
 It was voted to hold an evening 
 session, and the meeting adjourned 
 until 7:30 p.m. 
 
 EVENING SESSION. 
 
 The meeting was called to order at 
 7:30 p.m., Ex-President Boot in the 
 chair. 
 
 Mr. Dadant introduced the subject 
 of beeswax, and urged the desirable- 
 ness of inducing the United States 
 Government to take oil the protective 
 duty in order that a supply might be 
 obtained from other countries. 
 
 C. r. Muth remarked that much of 
 the beeswax offered in this country 
 was very inferior, and went on to 
 speak of several adulterations, some 
 of which were such close imitations 
 of the genuine article as to deceive 
 experienced dealers. The greatest 
 care should be taken to get pure 
 beeswax. 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETY. 
 
 67 
 
 Prof. Cook was . appoiuted " the 
 committee of one " voted in the after- 
 noon to communicate with the De- 
 partment of Agriculture in regard to 
 obtaining a scientiflcally-accurate 
 analysis of honey. 
 
 D. A. Jones gave his method of 
 queen-rearing as follows: Get a 
 colony very strong, either by adding 
 brood or young bees, then remove the 
 queen and brood, and give the bees 
 eggs from a choice queen. A large 
 number of excellent queens will be 
 the result. Such a colony can build 
 at least 3 lots of cells. Italians are 
 poor ' cell-builders. Queens reared in 
 this manner lay sooner, and are better 
 developed. 
 
 James Heddon — These excellent 
 results may be the result of " contrac- 
 tion," i. e., the bees should be many 
 in proportion to the space. 
 
 N. W. McLain — It is amazing to 
 me why" breeders pay so much atten- 
 tion to the rearing of queens and so 
 little to the rearing of drones. If 
 such wonderful results have been se- 
 cured in rearing queens, the same 
 treatment in rearing drones will im- 
 prove them in the same manner, and 
 it should not be forgotten that prepo- 
 tency is on the male side. Both the 
 "Pollen Theorists" and Mr. Barber 
 are correct. If the environments are 
 right, the pollen does no harm ; if the 
 pollen is not there, no harm will come 
 if the environments are not right. 
 
 D. A. Jones— There is a way of 
 "squeezing" bees into the sections 
 by putting the brood-combs close 
 together, and more surplus will thus 
 be secured. I am so thoroughly con- 
 vinced of the advantage of this that I 
 make all my hives so that the combs 
 are 1% inches from centre to centre. 
 
 T. L. VonDorn— I have used combs 
 only 1^ inches ftom center to center, 
 and was surprised at the good results. 
 
 D. A. Jones— When the honey har- 
 vest is coming to a close, I remove J^ 
 of the combs, and the bees build 
 out the upper part of the combs and 
 fiU them with honey ; the wide spaces 
 below the honey are excellent places 
 for the bees to cluster. 
 
 James Heddon— By using combs far 
 apart, the inducement to building 
 drone-comb is increased. 
 
 D. A. Jones^In introducing virgin 
 queens I let them run in at the en- 
 trance. Do not disturb the bees. I 
 can introduce laying queens by put- 
 ting them into a top-feeder and let- 
 ting them work their way down 
 through the feeder into the hive. In 
 
 using chloroform for introducing 
 queens it is better to use it at evening 
 or in the morning, when the bees are 
 not flying, as those that came in might 
 kill the queen. If done in the middle 
 of the day, give them another puff or 
 two a few minutes after the queen 
 has run in. 
 
 L. C. Eoot— One of the greatest 
 stumbling-blocks in the way of ad- 
 vancement is the oft-repeated cry, 
 " It is not according to nature !" It is 
 not a question of ''^naturalness," but 
 it is, "All things considered, is it 
 best ?" 
 
 Mr. Manum stated that he had been 
 very successful in getting colonies 
 with laying workers to accept a queen, 
 by introducing her with a couple of 
 frames of brood in all stages. This 
 restored the colony to a normal con- 
 dition. 
 
 D. A. Jones said this plan would 
 work with all but pure Cyprians or 
 Syrians, which were incorrigible. 
 
 REPORT OF VICE-PRESIDENT. 
 
 Mr. S. T. Pettit, Vice-President 
 for Ontario, Canada, made the follow- 
 ing report : 
 
 Bee-keeping in Ontario, for the last 
 year, has not been of the most flatter- 
 ing kind. During the last winter and 
 spring about 75 per cent, of our bees 
 perished. This great loss was brought 
 about by three principal factors, viz : 
 poor stores, long-continued cold in 
 both winter and spring, and inex- 
 perience. 
 
 Generally speaking, those of long 
 experience in apiculture, who have 
 given muiSi time, study, painstaking, 
 and exacting care— in a word, those 
 who make nee-keeping a specialty, 
 and who are adapted to the business, 
 sustained comparatively little loss ; 
 hence it is plain that this great loss 
 fell principally upon those who, as a 
 rule, neglected some other business 
 to enjoy an immense amount of pleas- 
 ure and grow suddenly rich by "keep- 
 ing bees." The large amount of dead, 
 filthy honey thrown upon the market 
 the past spring, has done no little 
 harm to the pursuit. Interested 
 parties are constantly promulgating 
 the idea that everybody should keep 
 bees, which results in no inconsider- 
 able loss to the country. 
 
 Beside the indirect loss by diverting 
 the minds of many from their legiti- 
 mate calling, I believe a fair calcula- 
 tion would show the startling fact 
 that every pound of honey produced 
 in Ontario, for the last 6 years, has 
 
58 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 cost the producers, on an average, not 
 less than 25 cents per pound. 
 
 The teaching that everybody should 
 do everything for himself, is a retro- 
 grade movement, undermining the 
 best manufacturing, producing, carry- 
 ing and commercial interests, and 
 tends to semi-barbarism; no mat- 
 ter how persistently or plausibly put, 
 "the trail of the serpent is over it 
 all;" "every man to his trade "is a 
 noble motto, and brings " the greatest 
 possible good to the greatest possible 
 number." 
 
 The season was a poor one; the 
 amount of honey taken being about 
 50 per cent, below the average. The 
 weather was too cold and wet with 
 occasional hot spells. The principal 
 honey-producing flowers were abund- 
 ant, but the elements failed to get 
 into the proper humor to inspire them 
 with their natural love for the secre- 
 tion of the delicate, sparkling sweets, 
 and the friendly visits of the honey- 
 bee. In spite of all this, some of the 
 short crop of 1884 is yet on the mar- 
 kets ; but we will have a clean market 
 for 1886. 
 
 There are several practices that 
 militate against the true progress of 
 apiculture in Ontario, besides those 
 already referred to : 
 
 1 . Extracting green or unripe honey. 
 It is impossible by human art or skill 
 to impart that exquisitely fine,flnished 
 flavor that the bees give it when left 
 with them until it is capped. 
 
 2. The practice of feeding sugar 
 either for stimulating or wintering 
 purposes. It is very diflacult to dis- 
 abuse the public mind. They know 
 that we feed sugar, and they seem 
 determined to cherish the belief that 
 in some way or other it gets into the 
 honey. If we all fed honey instead of 
 sugar, a less quantity would be 
 thrown upon the markets, and a cor- 
 respondingly higher price would be 
 obtained, besides inspiring confidence 
 in the purity of our honey. 
 
 3. Small bee-keepers demoralize our 
 markets sadly, and give a good deal 
 of trouble by allowing their bees to be 
 robbed. 
 
 4. And last but not least, I fear the 
 most of us will have to plead guilty 
 to the charge of painting the bright 
 side of bee-keeping too bright, while 
 we keen the dark side obscurely in 
 the dark ; in fact it is much easier to 
 show up the bright side than the 
 dark side— it seems to loom up so 
 easily. 
 
 In conclusion, I desire to say, that 
 the practice of exhibiting granulated 
 
 honey in glass, at our Expositions, is- 
 doing good service by way of an edu- 
 cator; both dealers and consumers 
 begin now to regard granulation as a 
 proof of purity. 
 
 QUESTION BOX. 
 
 The committee on questions report- 
 ed as follows : 
 
 Will it pay to raise red raspberries 
 for pasturage on land worth from 
 $100 to $160 per acre ? Yea, if the 
 crop of berries also paid. 
 
 What is the smallest amount of 
 honey needed for winter stores for a 
 strong colony, and what is the best 
 kind of honey to use ? Fifteen to 40 
 pounds of well-ripened honey. 
 
 What per cent, of those entering 
 bee-keeping succeed ? Two per cent. 
 
 Will thin combs, in sections, sell as 
 well as thick ones ? Yes. . 
 
 Shall we use separators? Yes, if" 
 you cannot get straight combs with- 
 out them. 
 
 How shall bees by the pound be 
 placed upon combs ? Place the queen 
 on the combs, then shake the bees on 
 the combs. 
 
 What shall be done with honey- 
 dew ? Sell it, or feed it sparingly to 
 the bees in the spring. 
 
 Is a coal-furnace objectionable in a- 
 cellar where bees are wintered ? We 
 do not think favorably of it. 
 
 What width of sections is best ?' 
 One and one-half to 1% inches with- 
 out separators ; 1% to 2 inches with 
 separators. 
 
 Has the queen been seen depositing 
 drone-eggs ? This committee has not 
 seen her doing so. 
 
 Are queens reared from transferred 
 larvae as good as any ? Yes. 
 
 How are the Carniolans regarded ?' 
 Favorably; except excessive swarm- 
 ing. 
 
 Will reversing combs secure the 
 destruction of queen-cells. Report 
 says yes. 
 
 H. K. Boardmau, S.T. Pettit, S. P.Newman. 
 Committee on Questions. 
 
 The committee on exhibits reported' 
 the following articles on exhibition : 
 
 M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, Mich.— A chafT 
 hive, one-piece V-grooved Eoctions, and 
 extracted honey in glass cans and jars. 
 
 Will Ellis, St. Davids, Ont.— Thick and thin 
 comb foundation, and sections. 
 
BEE-KEEPEKS' SOCIETY. 
 
 b9 
 
 Beynolds Bros., ■Williamsburg, Ind.— Sam- 
 ple of fine flavored and light colored fruit- 
 bloom lioney. 
 
 Berlin Fruit Box Co., Berlin Heights, 0.— 
 A orate of 500 one-pieoe, sliced, V-groored 
 sections ; seotionoase to be used with or 
 without separators ; veneer separators, top 
 feeder and strawberry baskets. 
 
 G. W. Stanley & Bro., Wyoming, N. Y.— An 
 automatic, vertical-geared honey-extraotor; 
 much Improved on those formerly made. 
 
 Dr. A. B. Mason, Wagon Works, O.— Blocks 
 of candled honey on plates, sweet clover, 
 form for nailing frames, wiring-board, re- 
 versible frame, and a machine for making 
 holes in frames for wiring. 
 
 Chas. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.— A variety of 
 his Improved, all-metal smokers. 
 
 J. Van Deusen & Sons, Sprout Brook, N. 
 T.— A large quantity of thick and thin foun- 
 dation, both wired and unwlred. 
 
 Frank A. Eaton, Bluffton, O.— A section- 
 case for use without separators, and a case 
 of 56 one-pound sections of white clover 
 honey. 
 
 Chas. Dadant & Son, Hamilton, Ills.— 
 Samples of heavy and thin foundation vary- 
 ing In weight from 5 to 11 square feet to the 
 pound. 
 
 Amos A. Bessler, Sandersburg, Pa.— Ex- 
 tracted locust honey. 
 
 Prof. A. J. Cook,Lan8lng,Mlch.— Extracted 
 white clover honey, and a sample of plant- 
 llee honey from northern Michigan. 
 
 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. 
 
 Newman Bros., Norwalk, O.— Several cans 
 of extracted honey. 
 
 W. E. Clark, Oriskany, N. Y.— Dovetailed 
 white poplar, and nailed spruce sections ; 
 frame-spacers, Qulnby hive-clasps. Van 
 Deusen feeders with brackets, Quinby's 
 new bee-keeping revised by L. C. Boot, and 
 a quantity of Quinby smokers from 2 to 3J4 
 inches. 
 
 Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.- White 
 comb honey, gathered from a plant on the 
 Michigan river, known there as " cleaver ;" 
 extracted basswood honey, and large photo- 
 graphs of residence and apiary. 
 
 D. A. Jones, Beeton, Out.- Large variety 
 of labels for both comb and extracted 
 honey ; very smooth one-piece sections as 
 they came from the saw ; nine different 
 widths of one-piece sections, a reversible 
 honey-crate for use on the hive, and for 
 shipping any sized sections ; sections slotted 
 on four sides, section-case for any width 
 sections, slotted queeuexcludlng honey- 
 board, new gearing for honey-extractor to 
 permit the instant removal of comb-basket ; 
 a double and a single Benton shipping 
 queen-cage, Canadian bee-feeder, wmter 
 feeder for " Good " candy, zinc honey-board 
 and queen-excluder. 
 
 Jas. Wales, Belleville, Ont.— Fine specimen 
 of honey-cake. 
 
 B. Nutting, Kent, 0.— Drone-trap. 
 
 H. D. Davis, Bradford, Vt.— Surplus and 
 section shipping-case, and four-piece dove- 
 tailed sections. 
 
 Bev. W. F. Clarke, Guelph, Ont— His re- 
 nowned hibernating hive stand. 
 
 Bingham & Hetherington, Abronla, Mich. 
 —Honey-knife. 
 
 E. S. Miller, Dryden, Mich.- A Falkner 
 chafl-hlve with wintering and surplus 
 arrangement, and a perforated-zinc queen- 
 excluder. 
 
 P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La.— Comb 
 built by Mexican honey-wasps. 
 
 Joshua Bull, Seymour, Wis.- Extracted 
 honey. 
 
 There was also on exhibition some 2-ounoe 
 sections of comb honey from W. Harmer, of 
 Manistee, Mich. 
 
 A. B. Mason, G. B. HaU, G. M. Doolittle, 
 
 Oommittee on Exhibits. 
 
 Ex-President Root then addressed 
 the meeting, summing up some of the 
 interesting features of the present 
 gathering, expressing his satisfaction 
 at the success which had attended the 
 convention, and said that the hour had 
 now come when we must part. 
 
 Adjourned sine die. 
 
 W. Z. HuTCHiNsoiir, Sec. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 The following corrections were not 
 received in time to prevent their ap- 
 pearing in this pamphlet : 
 
 On page 33— top of second column — 
 toiother friends, read " Otto Kleinow." 
 
 On page 38— The Vice-President for 
 Michigan, is Prof. A. J. Cook. The 
 Professor was nominated, and he then 
 suggested the name of Miss Wilkins, 
 but as the lady refused the oflBce, it 
 naturally reverts to the first nominee. 
 
 On page 42— second column, first 
 paragraph— Instead of the last sen- 
 tence, which reads thus : " He never 
 uses basswood ; honey stains it, so 
 does water;" read "I use basswood 
 for sections, but in view of its becom- 
 ing scarce, and to save it for bee-for- 
 age, can we not find some other timber 
 to take its place ? " 
 
ALSIKK C1,0VBK. 
 
 ROCKr-MOUNTAlN BBB P1,ANT. 
 
BEE-KEEPERS' SOCIETr. 
 
 61 
 
 HMD -BOOK OF HEALTH, 
 
 Hints and Ebadt Recipes, 
 
 18 the title of a Tery valuable book that glvea a 
 great amount of Information, of the Utmost Im- 
 
 Eortanoe to Everybody, ooncerning thetr dally 
 abttB of Bating, Drinking, Dressing, Sleeping, 
 Bathing, Working, etc. 
 
 IT TELLS ABOUT 
 
 What to Eat, 
 How to Eat it. 
 Things to Do, 
 Things to Avoid, 
 Perils of Summer, 
 Hov to Breathe, 
 Overheating Houses, 
 Ventilation, 
 Influehce of Plants, 
 Occupation for Invalids, 
 Superfluous Hair, 
 Restoring the Drowned, 
 Preventing Near-sight- 
 edness, 
 
 Parasites of the Skin, 
 Batbisg— Best way, 
 liungs & Lung Diseases, 
 How to Avoid them. 
 Clothing— what to wear, 
 How much to Wear, 
 Contagious Diseases, 
 How to Avoid them, 
 Exercise, 
 Care of Teeth, 
 After-Dlnner Naps, 
 Headache, cause & oure. 
 Malarial Affsotlons, 
 Croup— to Prevent. 
 
 J IT TELLS HOW TO CURB 
 
 Black Eyes, Bolls, Bums, Chilblains, Cold Feet, 
 Coms,(^ougnB, Cholera, Diarrhoea^ Diphtheria, Dys- 
 entery, Dandruff, Dyspepsia, Ear Ache, Felons, 
 Fetid Feet, FreckleB, Headache, Hiccough, Hives, 
 HoarsenesMtohing, Inflamed Breasts, Ivy Poison- 
 ing, Moles, Pimples, Piles, Rheumatism, Ringworm, 
 Snoring, Stammering, Sore Byes, Sore Mouth, Sore 
 Mtpple8,Sore Throat, Sun-stroke, Stings and Insect 
 Bites, Sweating Feet, Toothache, Ulcers, Warts, 
 Whooping Cough, Worms In Children. 
 
 Price only S5 Gents. Sent by Mall, post-paid. 
 823 & 925 West Madison street, CHICAGO ILL, 
 
 SYSTEMATIC AND CONVENIENT. 
 
 DATIS' PATENT HONEY CARRIAGE, 
 
 BEVOLVZNa COMB-BASOBR, 
 
 Tool Boz and Eecording Desk Combined, 
 Price, complete, only $18.00. 
 
 THOS. 0. HEWUAir & SON, 
 923 & 92S West Madlaon Street, CHICAOO, IIiI,. 
 
 NEW ONE-POUND HONEY PAIL. 
 
 THIS nefv size of our Tapering 
 Honey Palls Is of unltorm design 
 Jkwlth the otber sizes, having the top 
 /edge turned over, and has a ball or 
 ' handle,— making It rery convenient 
 t^t carry. It is weli-made and, when 
 filled with honey, makes a novel and 
 attractive small package, that can 
 
 be sold for 2() cents or less. Many 
 
 consumers will buy it In order to give the children 
 a handsome toy pall. rJBlCE, TS cents per 
 dozen, or SS.OO per lOO. 
 
 TBtOS. G. NBTTIMAN & SON, . 
 
 923 A 925 West Madison Street, CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 DOUBLE -WALLED 
 
 Langstroth Hives 
 
 FOR WINTERING BEES ON SUMMER STANDS. 
 
 THBT are made Identical and Interchangeable 
 wltb our Standard Langstroth Hives, as adrer- 
 tlsed and described In our CataloRue. All upper 
 stories and surplus arrangements made by us will 
 fit this double - walled brnod chamber. Prices : 
 Mailed, 50o.; In the flat, 85c. per hive. In addition 
 to our prices of the standard liangstroth. We also 
 make our la-tacb Caps with a sloping or Cottage 
 Roof, which Is worth SOc. nailed and ISc. flat, In 
 addition to the prices of the BtandaVd Langstroth 
 hire, which has a flat top. 
 
 THOS. G. JiE-WaiATi ic SON, 
 
 923 & 925 West Madison St., CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 Wooden Pails for Honey! 
 
 WE can furnish regular Wooden Water-Palls— 
 well painted on the outside, and with 3 Iron 
 hoops and a tight-flttine wood corer, at sa.SS 
 per dozen. Ther will hold 35 lbs. of honer, and 
 when empty, can be utilized for use as an ordinary 
 household pail. 
 
 THOS. «. NEWItlAN & SON, 
 
 923 & 925 West Madison Street, 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 » 
 
 Bee-Keepers' Badges at Fairs. 
 
 We have some EIE6AHT 
 
 RIBBON BADGES, having 
 
 a rosette and gold Bee, for 
 
 .bee-keepers' use at Fairs, 
 
 Conventions, etc. Price 
 
 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 
 Langstrotli frames, we have con- 
 cluded to adopt these two new 
 sizes. The 3 frame basket Is in a 
 ' can of the same size and style as 
 the 2 frame. The 4 frame basket 
 is in the larger can, with the cone 
 or metal standard for^the basket 
 to revolve upon, leavtne room un- 
 derneath the basket for 75 or 80 
 lbs. of honey. It will be complete, 
 with covers, and in every way 
 identical, except in size, with the 
 $16.00 Extractor, 13x20, which Is 
 intended for any size of frame. 
 
 Excepting wltn the 18.00 Ex- 
 tractors, all the different styles 
 have strainers over the canal lead- 
 ing to the honey gate, and mova- 
 ble sides in the Comb Baskets. The V8.00 and 
 910.00 Extractors have no covers. 
 
 For 2 American frames. 13x13 inches 98 00 
 
 For 2 Langstroth " 10x18 '* 8 00 
 
 For 8 " " 10x18 " 10 00 
 
 For4 " '* 10x18 " 14 00 
 
 " " 1200 
 
 12 00 
 
 16 00 
 
 For 2 frames of any size, lSx20 
 
 For 3 " '* lHx20 
 
 For 4 
 
 13x20 
 13X20 
 
 THOS. G. NEWMAN & SON, 
 
 923 & 925 West Madison Street, CHICAGO. ILL. 
 
62 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN 
 
 BOOKS! 
 
 Sent by mail, on receipt of price, by 
 
 THOS. G. NEWMAN & SON, 
 
 923 & 925 WEST MADISON STREET, 
 CBXCAGO, IlililNOIS. 
 
 On dozen or half-dozen lots of one kind, we 
 allow 25 per cent, discount, and prepay 
 postage. Special rates on larger quantities, 
 ^ven upon application. 
 
 Tbe Apiary Register, by Thomas G. 
 Newman.— A Keoord and Account Book for 
 the Apiary, devoting 3 pages to each colony, 
 ruled and printed, and is so arranged that a 
 mere glance will give its complete history. 
 Strongly bound in full leather. Price, for 50 
 colonies, $1.00; for 100 colonies, $1.26 ; for 
 «)0 colonies, $1.50. 
 
 Honey as Food and medicine, by 
 
 Thomas G. Newman.— It gives the various 
 uses of Honey as Food ; recipes for maMng 
 Honey Cakes, Cookies, Puddings, Foam, 
 Wines, etc. Also, Honey as Medicine, with 
 many valuable recipes. It is intended for 
 consumers, and should be liberally scattered 
 to help in creating a demand for honey. 
 Price, for either the English or German 
 edition, 6 cents— one dozen, 40 cents— 100 for 
 
 $2.50—500 for $10.00—1,000 for $15.00 
 
 If 100 or more are ordered, we will print the 
 bee-keeper's card (free of cost) on the cover. 
 
 Bee - Keepers' Convention Hand 
 Boole, by Thomas G. Newman.— It contains 
 a simple Manual of Parliamentary Law and 
 Kules of Order for the guidance of officers 
 and members of Local Conventions— Model 
 Constitution and By-Laws for a Local Society 
 —Programme for a Convention, with Subjects 
 for discussion— List of Premiums for Fairs, 
 etc. Bound in cloth, and suitable for the 
 j)ocket. Price, 50 cents. Leather 60 cents. 
 
 'Wby Eat Honey? by Thomas G. 
 Newman.— This Leaflet Is intended for dis- 
 tribution in the Bee-Keeper's own locality, 
 in order to create a Local Market. Price, 50 
 -cents per 100 ; 500 copies for $2,25 ; 1,000 
 copies for $4.00. When 200 or more are 
 ordered at one time, we print on them the 
 lioney-producer's name and address free. 
 
 • Preparation of Honey for tbe 
 Market, including the production and care 
 of both Comb and Extracted Honey, and 
 Instructions on the Exhibition of Bees and 
 Honey at Fairs, etc., by Thomas G. Newman. 
 A chapter from " Bees and Honey."— 10 cts. 
 
 Stvarmlng, Dividing and Feeding 
 
 Bees.— Hints to Beginners.by T. G.Newman. 
 A chapter from "Bees and Honey." Price 6c. 
 
 Bee Pasturage a Necessity, by Thomas 
 G. Newman— Progressive views on this im- 
 portant subject; suggesting what and how 
 to plant. — A chapter from "Bees and Honey." 
 36 engravings. Price, 10c. 
 
 Bees in 'Winter, by THOMAS G. NEWMAN. 
 —Describing Chafl-paoking, Cellars and Bee- 
 Houses. A chapter from "Bees and Honey." 
 Price 8c. 
 
 Blenen Kultnr, by Thomas G. Newman. 
 —In the German language. Price, In paper 
 covers, 40 cents, or $3 per doz.) 
 
 Bee-Keepers' Guide, or Mannal of 
 the Apiary, by Prof. A. J. Cook.— It is 
 elegantly illustrated, and fully up with the 
 times on every subject that interests the 
 bee-keeper. It is not only instructive, but 
 interesting and thoroughly practical. It 
 comprises a full delineation of the anatomy 
 and physiology of Bees. Price, $1.25. 
 
 Qnlnby's New Bee-Keeping, by L. C. 
 
 Boot.- Its style is plain and forcible, making 
 its readers realize the fact that the author is 
 master of the subject. Price, $1.50. 
 
 A B C of Bee-Culture, by A. I. Root.— 
 Embraces everything pertaining to the care 
 of the Honey-Bee, and is valuable to the 
 more advanced bee-keeper, as well as the 
 beginner. Cloth, $1.25; paper, $1. 
 
 Blessed Bees, by John Allen. — A 
 romance of bee-keeping, full of practical 
 information and enthusiasm. Price, 75c. 
 
 The Hive and Honey-Bee, by Bev. L. 
 L. Langstboth.— The work of a master, and 
 will always remain a standard.— Price $2.00. 
 
 Dzlerzon's Rational Bee-Keeplng.— 
 
 A translation of the master-piece of that most 
 celebrated German authority. Price, bound 
 In cloth, $2.00; in paper covers, $1.50. 
 
 Bee-Keepers'Handy-Book,byHENSY 
 
 Alley.— This book contains 270 pages, and 
 is a complete Manual of Bee-Keeplng. Price, 
 $1.60. 
 
 Bee-Keepers'Text Booli, by A. J. King 
 — Eevlsed and enlarged. Price, $1.00. 
 
 Extracted Honey; Harvesting, Handling 
 and Marketing.— By Chas. Dadant & Son.— 
 Details their management. Price, 15c. 
 
 Practical Hints to Bee-Keepers, by 
 
 Chas. F. Muth.— Gives his views on the man- 
 agement of bees. Price, lOe. 
 
 Dzierzon Theory. — The fundamental 
 principles of Dzlerzon's system of apiculture 
 as set forth by Berlepsoh. It was translated 
 by the late Samuel Wagner. Price, 16c. 
 
 Dictionary of Practical Aplcnltnre, 
 
 by Pbof. John Phin.— This gives the correct 
 meaning of nearly 500 aploultural terms. 
 Price, bound In cloth, 50c. 
 
 The Hive 1 tTse, by G. M. DOOLITTLE.— 
 Details his management of bees. Price 5c. 
 
 Foul Brood, by A. B. Kohnke.— Its origin 
 and cure. Price, 25c. 
 
 Kendall's Horse Book.— No book can 
 be more useful to horse owners. It has 36 
 engravings, illustrating positions of sick 
 horses, and treats all diseases in a plain and 
 comprehensive manner. It has many good 
 recipes, etc. Price, 25c.,1n either English 
 or German. 
 
 Constitution and By-I^aws, for local 
 Associations, $2 per 100. The name of the 
 Association printed in the blanks 60c. extra, 
 
 Scrlbner's Iiumber and Iiog Book.— 
 
 Gives measurement of all kinds of lumber, 
 logs and planks ; wages, rent, etc. Price, 35c. 
 
 Fisher's Grain Tables.— For casting 
 up the price of grain, produce and hay ; wood 
 measurer,ready reckoner, tables for plowing, 
 etc. Price, 40c. 
 
 Emerson Binders, made especially for 
 the Bee Journal, and lettered in gold on 
 the .back. Price, 75 cents each. TheycauJ 
 not be sent by mall to Canada. 
 
BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. 
 
 63 
 
 BEES and HONEY, 
 
 OB THB 
 
 Hanagement ef an Apiary for Flaamre 
 asd Freflt ; by 
 
 THOMAS C. NEWMAN. 
 
 EMtor of the ATnerican Bee Jov/mal. 
 
 It contains 230 prof usely illustrated pages 
 lis " fully up witn the times " in all the im- 
 ptovements and inventions in this rapidly 
 •developing pursuit, and presents the apiar- 
 ist with everything that can aid In the 
 successful management of the honey-bee, 
 •and at the same time produce the most 
 honey in its hest and most attractive con- 
 edition. 
 
 PRICE— Bound in cloth, 81.00, postpaid. 
 
 ■^P~A Uberal Discount to Dealers, 1>7 
 tbe Dozen or Hundred. 
 
 ^" The American Bee Joubnal 
 for a year and the book, " Bees and 
 Honey," will be sent for $1.75. 
 
 Ho\r to Propagate and Grow Fmlt, 
 
 Tby Charles A. Green, contains over 50 Illus- 
 trations and two colored fruit plates. It 
 ■contains 64 pages. Price, 25 cents. 
 
 Previous to the publication of this book, 
 there was no work on the propagation of 
 small and large fruits which could be pur- 
 chased for less than $3.00, therefore the 
 masses have been without a guide in this 
 Important branch of fruit-growing, and 
 tnow very little about propagating. The 
 price of the book places it within the reach 
 of all. Further than this, the book gives the 
 latest and most approved methods found in 
 no other publication. 
 
 This book tells how to pbopagate Straw- 
 berries, black raspberries, red raspberries, 
 blackberries, currants, gooseberries, grapes, 
 <[ulnce, peach, apricot, plum, cherry, pear 
 and apple; also oenebai. bitlbs for propa- 
 gation, with illustrations showing how to 
 "bud, how to graft, how to propagate from 
 layers, stools, inarching, with full Instruo- 
 -Hons for grafting the grape. It tells howto> 
 lay out a garden or fruit farm— how to plant, 
 cultivate trim, etc. 
 
 "Farmer's Account Book," contains 
 1 66 pages, printed on writing paper, ruled and 
 1}0und, and the price is S3.00. We will club 
 It and the Weekly Bee JoxjBifAii for a year 
 for $3.00. If you want it sent by mail, add 
 ■20 cents for postage. 
 
 Phenol for the Cure of Foul Brood. 
 
 —By Prof. Frank E. Cheshire, of London, 
 flngland. Price 10 cents ; 3S pages. 
 
 Photosraplis of Bev. L. L. Langstroth, 
 ]Baron of Berlepsoh, or Dzlerzon, 25 c. each. 
 
 Ribbon Badges, for bee-keepers, on 
 ■which are printed a large bee in gold, 10c. 
 •each, or $8 per 100. Large and elegant ones, 
 with rosette, SO cents, post-paid. 
 
 Poulterer's Guide, for treatirig diseases 
 •of Poultry, etc., by C. J. Ward. Price 25 c. 
 
 Food Adulteration.— What we eat and 
 
 whatwe should not eat. Price, 60c. 
 
 " Success In Bee-Oalture, as practiced 
 and advised by James Heddon," is the title 
 of a NEW pamphlet on bee-culture. 
 
 It consists of 128 pages ; Is well-printed on 
 good paper and illustrated. It covers the 
 whole field of practical apiculture, and is 
 intended for specialists and those who keep 
 bees for the money to be obtained from the 
 business. In his preface the author says : 
 
 In the delineation of methods of manage- 
 ment, and of implements and devices, 
 appertaining thereto, it has been my con- 
 stant aim to present such only as will 
 approximate uniform and unvarying suc- 
 cess, as nearly as possible, when the 
 requisite conditions have been complied 
 with, and thereby obviate the disappoint- 
 ments and vexatious losses, resulting from 
 the complicated and impracticable in both 
 management and utensils. In short, the 
 instruction herein given, la from the dollar^ 
 and-oent basis — the financial results to 
 accrue therefrom, and not from the vagaries 
 and inconsistencies of empiricisms; aiming 
 to present the new and useful rather than 
 mere repetition of the old. 
 
 We are sure that its perusal will hand- 
 somely pay every honey-producer. It can 
 be obtained at this office for 50 cents. 
 
 Moore's TTulTersal Assistant, and 
 '^'"^'^.^i' Complete Hechanic. 
 
 Enlarged Edition- con- 
 tains over 1,000,000 
 Industrial Facts, Calcu- 
 lations, Processes.Trade 
 Secrets, Legal Items, 
 — - — Business Forms, etc., or 
 
 vast utility to every Mechanic, Farmer and 
 Business Man. The work contains 1,016 
 pages — is a veritable Treasury of Useful 
 Knowledge, and worth its weight in gold to 
 any Mechanic, Business Man or Farmer. By 
 mail, in fine cloth, $2.50. 
 
 The A B C of Carp Culture, is a neat 
 pamphlet of about 100 pages. It explains 
 the simplest, cheapest and most effective 
 system of carp culture, and being written by 
 Mr. Milton P. Pierce, of Philadelphia, Pa., 
 Secretary of the American Carp Cultural 
 Association, it cannot faU to bo of inestima- 
 ble value to all interested in the " finny 
 tribes." Price, 40 cents. 
 
 The ABC of Potato Culture ; "how to 
 CTOw them in the largest quantity, and of 
 the finest qilality, with the least expenditure 
 Of time and labor." The book is not only a 
 valuable one to potato-growers, but a great 
 part of it applies to the management of 
 almost any crop on the farm, especially to 
 the preparation of the soU, manures, etc. 
 Price, 40 cents. 
 
 THE HORSE, 
 
 By B. J. KEITSALL, M, B. 
 
 ..^IFP'l^T^^^ «'^'°K »" 'naei of digeaaea, 
 and the armptoniB ; cause and treatment of each, a 
 h^?AfLvff„*" tljePrtnotpal drura uaed for ttS 
 horae.vlth the ordinary dose, effectaand antidote 
 when a poiaon ; a table with an engraving of the 
 borse'a teeth at different ages, with nilea for telllnK 
 the age of the horse; a valuable oolleotlon of r«? 
 olpes, and much valuable Information, 
 
 Price »S centa— In Hngllsh or Oerman. 
 
 THOS. G. NSTmnAN & SON, 
 
 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 
 
 TBE AITJBir PKE88 scsiids in the frnat 
 rank 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 ! 
 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. 
 
 PATENT 
 
 Foundation 
 
 Mills ,g.'?,^\f 
 
 W.e.PELHAM 
 
 MAYSVILLEXY 
 
 BeB-Hives, Honey-Boxes, Sections. 
 
 Largest Bee-Hive Factory in the World. 
 
 Capacity, one car-load per day. Best of goods at 
 lowest-prices. Write for price-list, 
 
 C. B. LEWIS & CO. 
 
 51Atf. ITATERTOIVN, W^IS. 
 
 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 
 I 
 
 d 
 
 (S 
 PI 
 
 o 
 
 CO 
 
 u 
 
 Mi 
 
 
 a* 
 
 fee 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 BeeKeepers 
 
 j^SuppllBs] 
 
 WHOLESALE^RlxAn 
 
 ELECTROTYPES 
 
 Of Bngravings used in the Bee Journal tor sale at 
 25oents per squa're inch— no single cut sold f orjess 
 than SOc. 
 
 XHOS. a. NEwniAiv & sow, 
 
 923 & 925 West Madison St., CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
-^■^M^i^M^M^^SS^^^^I^M^^^M^. 
 
 SECTIONS ( HEAPRR THAN EA^ER. 
 
 THE "EOSS" ONE-PIECE 
 
 SECTIONS. 
 
 i 
 
 Patented June '28, 1881. 
 
 Bee-keepers will find it to their interest to 
 send for our Price-List, just issued, before 
 they order their sections for the season of 
 1886. We have our machinery in tip-top 
 order, and can turn out more sections per 
 liour than any other maimfacturers in the 
 United States ; therefore we can fill orders 
 on very short notice. 
 
 J. FORNCROOK & CO., 
 
 5Ctf Waterlown, Wis.. Jan. is, 1886. 
 
 THE VICTOR HIVE 
 
 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 
 side passasea. cannot be excelled in accurncyor 
 smonthneas. They are as nearly perlect as can be 
 made. Sample of the new sections for i' one-cent 
 stamps. Catalofzue on application. 
 
 Address, DK. G. I^. TINKER, 
 3Dtf ISEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO. 
 
 BARNES' FOOT-POWER MACHINERY. 
 
 Read what J. I. Pa rent, of 
 CHAKLTON,N.Y.,8ay8— "We 
 cut with one of your Com- 
 bined Machines, last winter, 
 TjO chaff hives with 7- in. cap, 
 UHJ huney-racks, 500 broad 
 frames, li.OdO honey-boxes 
 and a great deal of other 
 work. This winter we have 
 double the amount of bee- 
 hives, etc., to make and we 
 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. 
 
 HEAD-QUARTERS IN THE SOUTH 
 
 For the manufacture of 
 
 Bee Keepers' Supplies 
 
 Dunham and Root Foundation a specialty 
 Itahan Queens and Bees from March to November. 
 
 lySend for my Illustrated Catalogue. 
 fiCtf PATJI. r.. VI ALI.ON. Bayou Goula. La. 
 
 (Established i864.) 
 
 DCC-SUPPLIES. 
 
 ^^ ^_ ^__ We furnish everything needed 
 ^^ ^" ^« in the Apiary, of practical construc- 
 tion, and at the lo^vest price. 
 Satisfaction guaranteed. Send your address on a 
 Postal card, and we will send you our Illustrated 
 Catalogue free. JE. K.KETCHMJER. 
 
 ^Cl:2t COBURG , IOWA. 
 
 FLAT - BOTTOM ^~~^ 
 
 COMB FOUNDATION, 
 
 ^^. high side-walls, 4 to 16 square feet K 
 tn© pound. Circular and samples free 
 J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS, 
 Sule Manufacturers, 
 Sprout Brook, Mont, f*"., N. T. 
 
 ^.. 
 
 APIARIAN 
 
 SUPPLIES 
 
 MANUFACTURED BY 
 
 W.T. FALCONER, - JAMESTOWN N. Y., 
 
 Are unsurpassed for Qaallty and fine work- | 
 manship- A specialty made of all Styles of the j 
 Simplicity Hive, including the Van Deuaen- I 
 Neills. The "FAl^CON" Vb^tf Hive with 
 movable upper story continues to receive the hUrh- [ 
 eat recommendations as regards Its superior ad- f 
 vantages for WINTJEiriXG and handling bees 
 at all seasons, 
 
 DOVETAlI.EI> SECTIONS 
 
 same price fiaOne-Plece. Alsomanutacturerof 
 
 VANDERVORT FOUNDATION. 
 
 Dealer in a full line of BEE-KEEPERS' , 
 SUPPLIES. Send for my Illustrated Catalogue I 
 for 1886. Free. Prices alvi^ays reasonable. 
 
 NEW BOOK— JUST OUT. 
 
 Success in Bee-Culture, 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES HEDDON : 
 
 Mail him a postal for his 
 
 CIRCULAR for ISSoi 
 
 containing Prospectus and Price of 
 Book ; Cuts and Prices of his New 
 Reversible Hive, as well as his mod- 
 ification of the Langstroth Hive and 
 other Implements for Bee-keepers. { 
 
 Address, JAMES HEDDON, 
 
 DO WAG I AC. Cass County, MICH. 
 
 DADANfS FOUNDATION 
 
 is attested by hundreds of the most prac- j 
 tical and disinterested bee-keepers m be 
 the cleanest,brlghtest,quicke8t accepted by 
 bees, least apt to sag, most regular in color, ' 
 evenness and neatness of any that is made. 
 It is kept for sale by Messrs. 
 
 THOS. Q NEWMAN & SON, Chicago, 111., 
 
 C. F. MUTH, Cincinnati, O., 
 
 JAMBS HBDDON, Dowaglao, Mich.. 
 
 F. L. DOOGHBRTT, Indiana,poltB, Ind., 
 
 CHA8. H. GRBBN. Berlin, Wis., 
 
 CHAS. HBETBIj, Jr., Preeburg, HI., 
 
 B. L. ARMSTRONG, JerBeyyille, 111. 
 
 ARTHUR TODD. Germantown,Phlliidelphl«,PB. 
 
 B. KRBTCHMBR, Coburg. Iowa. 
 BLBBBT P. SMITH, Smyrna, N. Y 
 
 C. F. DALB, MortonsTille, Ky. 
 BZRA BABR, Dixon, Lee Co., III. 
 CLARK JOHNSON, Covington, Kv. 
 C. A. GRAVBS, Birmingham, Ohio. 
 M. J. DICKA80N, Hiawatha, Kans. 
 
 BD. B. NBWCOMB, Pleasant Valley, N. T. 
 
 J. W. PORTER, OhariottesTille, Va. 
 
 J. B. MASON & BOS, Mechanic Falls, Maine. 
 
 J. A. HUMA80N, Vienna, O. 
 and num tiers of other dealers. Write for S AMPLBS 
 FREB and Price-List of Supplies, accompanied 
 with ISO »;OMPl,IMENT'AKT and UJf- 
 SOLICIXED TESTIiaO?riAI.S from as 
 many bee-keepers in 1885. "We guarantee 
 every Inch of anr Fonndatlon equal to 
 sample In every resiicet. 
 
 CHAS. DADANT Ji SOW, 
 
 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