260 ANNUAL REPORT 



My section cases fit the tops of my hives, or brood nests, and 

 hold four rows, or 28 i.\ x 4^ x 7 to the foot sections with three 

 partitions between the rows and a bee space on top. The sections 

 are filled with nearly full sized sheets of extra thin Dadant foun- 

 dation, the sections with comb from the previous season are used 

 up first, and are generally filled with white honey, which sells as 

 well as that which has foundation. The above sized sections 

 should generally be adopted as they sell the best. 



Bees are more easily managed through the middle of the day, 

 especially on warm, sunny, calm days, and when honey comes in 

 freely. On raw, windy days bees should be let alone. Early in 

 the morning or late in the evening bees are cross. I find no ad- 

 vantage in shifting partly filled sections from one case to another, 

 in order to get them finished or completed, neither is it to any ad- 

 vantage (for fine quality and flavor) to take off the sections as 

 quickly as finished or capped. Honey thus taken off has not its 

 full ripeness and value, even if it looks nicer; the more I study 

 this point the more Ifind its correctness. 



All surplus receptacles should be taken off the hives as soon as 

 the honey season is over, and all unfinished sections should be 

 deeply shaved off and extracted, cleaned out thoroughly by the 

 bees, cleanly and safely stored away for next season's use. 



As a general rule my bees are in a fine condition for winter when 

 the honey season is over. They have their stores in just the posi- 

 tion their instinct directs them to for safe wintering, because they 

 are not continually interrupted by turning them upside down and 

 otherwise molested. There is one more point which should not be 

 overlooked by any comb honey producer, not that he can only pro- 

 duce a salable article, but that it should be also the best of its 

 kind in quality. In order to obtain the highest point in taste, 

 quality and keeping, we must evaporate all the moisture we can 

 out of it. After taking from the hives it should be put in a room 

 in which the air is pure, and with a temperature from 75° to 85° 

 above zero for four or five weeks. This gives it the finishing touch 

 and without this operation honey has not its keeping quality. 

 Much more honey would be consumed on account of its finer flavor 

 if this were generally practiced. 



Much more could be said on the production of comb honey 

 of less importance but my essay is too long already. 



President Wilcox then read his address : 



ANNUAL ADDRESS. 



By Pesideni Wilcox of Hastings. 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Bee Keepers' Association. 



It gives me sincere pleasure to meet with you again and to be 

 able to congratulate you. We may truly look with thankful 

 hearts to Him who guides our way, for the prosperity and 



