HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 265 



pathy. And to those struggling beneath the blighting powers of 

 monopolies selling their beef at 2c. a lb. and their wheat for 50c. a 

 bu., while it takes a bushel of oats to buy a pound of honey, or 

 two of sugar, the strongest reason that can be given for keeping 

 bees is not the pleasure of their company, or the invigorating 

 charm of their presence, but the simple fact that they make more 

 clear profit than any kind of stock ever kept on a farm, or any crop 

 ever produced from its fertile soil; and the ratio of their profit 

 will be iu proportion to the care and skill bestowed in their man- 

 agement. 



Let me impress one thought more upon your minds. Always 

 keep fully abreast of the times in your business. There is always 

 room at the top, or in front; and he who falls behind will surely 

 get left by the wayside. Get the best appliances, employ the best 

 methods, use the best devices, hold fast to all that is good; and 

 the increased value of your products will pay ten fold for the labor 

 and expense incurred. , 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Latham. I would like to know how the loss is in winter. 



Mr. Wilcox. As we have no more papers, perhaps it would be 

 just as well to take up the answering of questions. I will say in 

 response to Mr. Latham that our time is so limited that I have 

 deemed it impossible to touch upon the technical description of 

 what is necessary, but I will venture to say this, for the dozens 

 of bee keepers, that are farthest advanced and up to the times, 

 that for the last two or three years and even longer, there have 

 been no losses to amount to anything. That has been the great 

 difficulty in the way, people have not understood the proper condi- 

 tions for putting them into winter quarters, or have allowed them 

 to remain in such a condition that they meet with heavy losses 

 during the winter ; but for those who put them in proper condi- 

 tion there is no danger of loss whatever. Our loss is nothing; it 

 will not amount to five per cent, and 1 doubt whether it will 

 amout to three per cent on an average. 



Dr. Friselle. You say, if they are put iu proper condition. Will 

 you state what the proper winter conditions are. 



Mr. Wilcox. Doctor, 1 should be very happy to, but there are 

 very many little things in connection with their condition that are 

 of great importance. 



Dr. Friselle. In a general way? 



Mr. Wilcox. I will say in a general way to give them proper 

 ventilation and put them in a house, or cellar where an even tem- 

 perature can be kept. I have in my own cellar 40 swarms now, 

 that are just as dormant as when they were put in there. That is 

 the proper condition to have them in, and in that way they will lie 



