80 



FOURTEENTH ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE 



without too great condensation. The 

 amount of oxygen needed to oxydize a 

 couple of pounds of honey per month 

 is not great. Even in a cellar in 

 which a ton of honey is consumed dur- 

 ing the winter, as in the theoretical 

 case cited, sufficient oxygen would 

 probably get in without any special 

 provision for ventilation. This is not 

 true for the elimination of the water, 

 however. 



In discussing the exclusion of mois- 

 ture from the hive it is necessary to 

 bear in mind one other hiding place 

 for moisture, usually overlooked. In 

 hives where condensation is common 

 the hive and cover often become satur- 

 ated and sufficient moisture may be 

 held in this way that it comes through 

 and blisters the paint on the outside 

 surface of the hive. It is clear that, 

 on account of this absorption of water 

 by the hive, many records of weights 

 on the removal of bees from the cellar 

 fail to give accurately the loss in 

 weight by the consumption of honey 

 and the death of bees. Much honey 

 finds its equivalent in the water in the 

 soaked hive. Before drawing any con- 

 clusion as to the honey consumed we 

 must be sure that condensation or 

 evaporation do not affect the weights of 

 parts assumed to be constant. A re- 

 verse example of this phenomenon is 

 to be found in some records made of 

 the weight of a hive and combs (with- 

 out bees) made recently. The hive lost 

 weight constantly by evaporation when 

 placed in k dry room. 



Effects of Humidity. It may as well 

 be. stated that we have no data show- 

 ing the effects of an increase or de- 

 crease in the relative humidity on the 

 activities of the bees in winter. We 

 therefore do not know what relative 

 humidity is best, for we do not know 

 whether the moisture is the cause or 

 the effect of poor wintering. From 

 practical experience it may be con- 

 cluded that excessive condensation is 

 indicative of poor wintering and most 

 bee-keepers aim to have their cellars 

 as dry as practical. Whether this is 

 desirable for the warmer cellars re- 

 mains to be determined. 



Elwood falls into a common error, in 

 which he is probably accompanied by 

 many bee-keepers, when he states that 

 a damp cellar at 45° to 50OF. is no 

 warmer than a dry cellar at 38° to 40°F. 

 This conception arises from our per- 

 sonal experience that high relative hu- 



midity gives us a feeling of chill. There 

 is no evidence that beeg with very dif- 

 ferent exteriors are so affected. 



At any rate it is evident that conden- 

 sation of moisture on the combs of 

 honey is not beneficial since this favors 

 the growth of molds. The damp, dark 

 interior of the hive is certainly favor- 

 able for the growth of these organisms. 

 It is not yet shown how these are in- 

 jurious but they can scarcely be as- 

 sumed to be desirable as food. A still 

 more serious consideration is the fact 

 that honey tends to take up moisture 

 either from a highly saturated atmos- 

 phere or from water condensed on the 

 surface of the comb. This dilution of 

 the honey often leads to some fermen- 

 tation, injuring the honey as a food. 



Dr. Phillips exhibited Chart and had 

 some discussion jon same. 



(Pres. Baxter resumes Chair.) 



Pres. Baxter — Mr. Chairman, Ladies 

 and Gentlemen: Tour State Inspector 

 of Apiaries, Mr. Kildow, and myself, 

 visited the Auditor, Mr. Brady, and 

 also the Secretary of the State Legis- 

 lative Bureau, in regard to some legis- 

 lation which is proposed this coming 

 winter, and we found that this Bureau 

 was a good thing, and we want to give 

 them all the information concerning 

 our work that" we possibly can and 

 make it as strong as possible. 



Then we found out that there is an- 

 other Bureau, called the Bureau of 

 Efficiency and Economy, consisting of 

 a President and five Commissioners, 

 each one of whom receives a salary 

 of about $1,500 a year. Their purpose 

 is to combine all the Associations in 

 the state, that are receiving appropria- 

 tions, into one body under their control. 

 They are to ask each one of these As- 

 sociations to make out, a yearly budget 

 of their requirements; ""specifying for 

 what purpose every penny is to be 

 used, making an itemized account, so 

 much for postage, so ihuch for salaries, 

 so much for traveling expenses, so 

 much for this and that, and they will 

 ask for the appropriation direct them- 

 selves without the aid of any of the 

 Associations, and after receiving the 

 appropriation they will distribute this 

 appropriation as they see fit to dis- 

 tribute it, and each society that re- 

 ceives any of the appropriation can 

 only use it for specific purposes that 

 they mention in their budget — so that, 

 if you put down $100 for postage and 



