May 12, 1904. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



345 



Green, E. F. Phillips, E. A. Dempwolf, and John D. Cos- 

 tello. 



Committees on Constitution and By-Laws, E. E. Press- 

 ler, W. P. Merrill, Mr. Fuller, and H. S. Ferry. 



After the election of officers and committees, we were 

 entertained by Prof. Frank Benton, of the Department of 

 Agriculture at Washington ; also a very interesting d ■- 

 scription of foul brood, and how to remedy the same, by Mr. 

 Chas. Stewart, a New York State bee-inspector who is very 

 desirous that Pennsylvania should have a foul brood law, 

 and their inspectors work in harmony with the New York 

 State inspectors. 



In the evening the public were invited, and we all 

 listened to a lecture from Prof. Frank Benton, accompanied 

 by stereopticon views ; and also to a lecture from Mr. Chas. 

 Stewart. As a whole, both afternoon and evening were a 

 remarkable success. There was a large attendance, equal 

 to the capacity of the hall, all anxious to contribute for their 

 dues, and receive a receipt and card of membership. The 

 bee-keepers' association of Pennsylvania has started out 

 with a very brilliant prospect. H. S. Fekky. 



Westchester Co., N. Y. 



[We are glad to record the formation of another State 

 bee-keepers' association. Some of these days all the States 

 will have them. Then if all are afBliated with the National, 

 the interests of bee-keepers will be better safe-guarded, and 

 necessary legislation will be more easily obtained. 



Success to the new Pennsylvania organization. Every 

 bee-keeper in that State should hasten to become a member, 

 with the understanding that some provision is to be made 

 so that the dues paid shall also include membership in the 

 National Bee-Keepers' Association. — Editor.] 



[ Our Bec-McepinS Sisters ] 



Conducted by Emma M. Wilson, Marengo, 111. 



Mr. Hasty and the Sisters. 



Some concern seems to be awakened in the minds of 

 the brethren as to the apparel of the sisters and the proper 

 sort of language to be used when speaking of them. 

 Brother Hasty has fears that without a certain amount of 

 " brotherly criticism " that apparel may become preposter- 

 ously preposterous. Brother Hasty may as well understand 

 first as last that there are some things beyond his under- 

 standing. No one can accuse the brethren of unfaithful- 

 ness in criticising woman's dress through many past years, 

 and pray what difference has it made ? The mysteries of 

 woman's dress is a thing beyond their ken. Mr. Hasty's 

 horse has little appreciation of the matter when his master 

 is discussing whether it is better to use starters or full 

 sheets of foundation, and as little appreciation has that 

 master when in his presence is discussed the important point 

 as to whether a shirt-waist should be trimmed with embroi- 

 dery or feather-stitched. But he is to be pitied rather than 

 blamed. What a dull time he must have of it, with nothing 

 more interesting to gossip about with his neighbor than the 

 presidential election, while the women-folks have such 

 weighty matters to discuss as whether crepe de Chine or 

 checked louisine will make up with the prettier effect. 



But when it comes to the use of language, we sisters 

 have entire faith in Mr. Hasty. A man who so uniformly 

 shows himself filled with kndly thoughts and feelings will 

 not be misunderstood whether he speaks of us as " dear 

 creatures" or "preposterous critters." Indeed, we feel 

 only honored that so good a man should concern himself 

 about us at all. 



Spring Care of Bees— Other Hints. 



Such a cold, cold spring. April 30, and scarcely a day 

 that the bees have been able to work as yet. Looks as if 

 they were going to have a hard time of it, if the weather 

 man does not agree to give us some good weather soon I 

 am beginning to think the problem of how to get bees sa t . ly 

 through our trying springs is a much more difficult > ne 



than how to get them safely through the winter. If the 

 colonies were all equally vigorous and strong it would be 

 plain sailing ; or if the weather would permit working with 

 them it would not be so discouraging ; but when you know 

 they need your help, and the weather says hands off — well, 

 it is not the " poetry of bee-keeping," to say the least. But 

 patience ; good weather will come some day, and in the 

 meantime the most we can do for the bees is to see that 

 they have plenty of stores, and keep them closed up as 

 warm as possible. 



A very small hive-entrance will do these days. Con- 

 tracting the entrance serves a twofold purpose — keeps the 

 bees warm, and helps them to defend themselves against 

 robber-bees. For you may be sure that every colony will 

 be thoroughly tested as to its ability to defend itself, and 

 the more space it has to defend the less chance for its life. 



Now is a pretty good time to get everything- ready in 

 the way of supplies, if you have not already done so, for 

 the coming harvest. Don't wait until the last minute to 

 order hives, sections, comb foundation, etc., and then blame 

 the supply dealers if you don't get them on time. 



Last summer I really felt sorry for people that came to 

 us begging for supplies that we could not give them. Every 

 few days some one would come in trouble — no hives — no 

 sections — bees swarming and nothing to hive them in, 

 everything crowded with honey, and nothing more to give 

 them — all because they did not take time by the forelock. 

 Order ahead, order enough — and what you don't use this 

 year will be all right for next year. 



Honey for Health and Beauty. 



The following item appears in the " Health and 

 Beauty " column of the Chicago Record-Herald : 



" Honey is a valuable medicine, and has many uses. It 

 is excellent in most lung and throat affections, and is often 

 used with great benefit in place of cod-liver oil. Occasion- 

 ally there is a person with whom it does not agree, but most 

 people can learn to use it with beneficial results. Children 

 who have natural appetites generally prefer it to butter. 

 Honey is a laxative and sedative, and in diseases of the 

 bladder and kidneys it is an excellent remedy." 





Dr. Miller's Answers 





Send Questions either to the office of the American Bee Journal, 

 or to Dr. C. C. Miller, Marengo, 111. 



Honey Granulating In the Hive. 



Will pure honey in combs granulate in the hive 3 



South Dakota. 



Answer. — Yes. Some honey is very troublesome in that way, ac- 

 cording to cases reported. 



Corn Syrup for Spring Feeding;. 



Would corn syrup be good for feeding up bees in the spring* 



Wisconsin. 



Answer.— No, but it will probably do no harm to feed it when 

 bees are flying freely every day, if '/"■.'/ wiW iakt it. 



Entrance-Guards-What Caused the Queen's Death? 



1. Are entrance-guards to prevent swarming, or will they serve 

 that purpose' 



3. Sunday morning, April 17,1 found a red ciover queen dead m 

 front of her hive. She was introd.ici'.llast fall. On opening the hive 

 I found it full of brood. The day lieiiisj rather cold I did not look for 

 a queen in the hive. What do yuu think was the cause of her 

 death? Missouri. 



Answers.— 1. They do not have any effect in swarming; merely 

 hold the queen when the swarm issvrs. 



2. Hard to tell. Possibly on a irevious day you had opened the 

 hive and frightened the bees in su-h a way that they balled their 

 queen and held her balled till she died. 



