"252 ANNUAL REPORT 



ing to conservative estimates we have now a total of three millions 

 of colonies of bees which annualy yield 120,000,000 pounds of 

 honey. The value of the animal product, at an average of 15 

 cents per pound, would be §18,000,000. 



The estimated annual products ranges from §15,000,000 to 820,- 

 000,000, and the annual product of wax is about $1,000,000 in 

 value. 



Not more than 8 or 10 per cent, of those favorably situated for 

 the cultivation of bees are engaged in the pursuit. If even one 

 half of those favorably situated were so engaged, the annual pro- 

 duct would not fall below $75,000,000 or $80,000,000 in value. 



The United States imported 2,400,000,000 pounds of sugar, at a 

 cost of $94,923,500, in the year 1884. 



A large percentage of these imports do not bring with them a 

 character above suspicion. Instead of being importers we should 

 be exporters of sweets, with the balance largely in our favor. In- 

 stead of paying their money for the vile adulterations of foreign 

 importations, our agriculturists should gather the pure and whole- 

 some nectar annually wasted in their own fields. 



The degree of skill necessasy to engage successfully in the cul- 

 tivation of bees and the production of honey is not greater than 

 that required in keeping a dairy and producing good dairy pro- 

 ducts. The difference is in kind, not in degree, of skill, and one is 

 as easily acquired as the other. 



The speaker then entered upon a discussion of the physiological 

 development, the anatomical structure, the adaptability of organs 

 to functions, both general and special, and the^ habits and instinct 

 of the honey bee. The subjects treated were fully illustrated by 

 large anatomical charts and drawings. 



Beginning with an illustration of a bee's egg, the various trans- 

 formations, with the time and the conditions incident and necessary 

 to larval growth were explained, together with the causes for varia- 

 tion in form, function and instinct in worker bees, drone and queen- 

 bees, and how the entire economy of the hive is determined by the 

 worker bees. 



The structure of the ligula and the entire nectar gathering appa- 

 ratus, the jaws, the autennae, the simple and compound eyes, the 

 thorax and the articulations of the legs and wings, the structure of 

 the legs and wings, the structure and location of the secretory and 

 circulatory systems, the organs of circulation and digestion, the 

 sting structure, and the adaptation of all these organs to their 

 special uses; honey-comb building, cell filling and capping, the 

 method and means used by bees in curing and conserving honey, 

 the elements and sources of larval food and methods of feeding, 

 were explained. 



Nothing more than an outline of this lecture can be attempted 

 liere. Mr. McLain spoke extemporaneously for about two hours, 

 and the large audience present were deeply interested aud seemed 

 eager to hear more about this most wonderful insect, to the study 

 of whose life history and habits many patient scientific investigat- 

 ors have devoted years of painstaking labor. 



