MINNESOTA BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. ^ 73 



ANNUAL MEETING, 1900, MINNESOTA BEE- 

 KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. 



I.. D. I.EONARD, SEC'Y, MINNEAPOLIS. 



The Minnesota Bee-Keepers' Association met Dec. 5th, 6th and 

 7th, at the same time that the horticultural society was in session. 



The executive committee, consisting of Mr. H. G. Acklin, Mr. 

 Van Vliet and Mr. Wm. Russell, had arranged a program, which 

 resulted in one of the best meetings ever held in this state. And 

 let me say in passing that the bee-keepers appreciate the action of 

 the horticultural society in securing for them a hall in connection 

 with their own, printing programs at small cost, and securing re- 

 duced railroad rates; and the kindly feeling that goes with all this, 

 and the courteous attention paid to any subject presented to them 

 from the bee-keepers' standpoint, makes the relation one that calls 

 for any good office that may be in the power of the Bee-Keepers' 

 Association to do. 



The president, J. P. West, of Hastings, who has held the office 

 for several years, was absent on account of sickness, and G. H. 

 Pond, of Bloomington, first vice-president, took the chair. 



The morning of the first day was devoted to reports of com- 

 mittees and officers, most of which had to do with the regular order 

 of business. There was a special committee, however, which had 

 been appointed to act in conjunction with the State Dairy and Food 

 Commission to the end of suppressing the sale of adulterated honey, 

 this being one of the most important questions affecting the indus- 

 try of bee-keeping. A considerable time was devoted to 

 its discussion. It developed that in the last two years 

 150 samples of alleged honey had been analyzed, 25 per 

 cent of which was proven to be adulterated. Most of this 

 spurious honey (made of glucose) was traced to three or four whole- 

 sale grocery dealers in Minneapolis and St. Paul, who evidently 

 have determined, in spite of the law to the contrary, that the people 

 shall have pure glucose, worth one cent a pound, when they want 

 pure honey, and think they are getting it when they pay ten or 

 more cents a pound. 



There have been several retail dealers prosecuted and fined for 

 selling this adulterated honey, and it will not be long before the 

 makers will be called to time. 



The adulteration of food products must cease, and the strange 

 thing about it is that old established firms will stoop to so low and 

 paltry a fraud. 



In the afternoon a joint meeting was held with the horticult- 

 urists, at which the literature relating to "The Mutual Relation of 



