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THE AMERICAN BEE JOLRJNAL. 



June 9, 1904. 



shown in the economy of the hive. A single bee of itself 

 is powerless to accomplish a very large amount of labor 

 however industrious it may be. But when assisted by the 

 vast throng of workers composing a colony, we well know 

 the resuts of their united efforts, both in storing honey and 

 in the defense of the hive. 



We, as a fraternity of bee-keepers, can learn useful 

 lessons from our bees. To them, not a few of us, look for 

 the necessaries of life, procured by the sale of delicious 

 honey, the result of the persistent labor of the thousands of 

 tiny insects banded together in one common cause. If the 

 instinct of the bee teaches it, that "In union there is 

 strength," may not we who are endowed by an all-wise 

 Creator, with reason to govern our actions, profit by the 

 example set" forth by the busy bees? It was an organiza- 

 tion that placed upon our statue books the law prohibiting 

 the adulteration of our products. It was organization that 

 gave us the law protecting our apiaries from the spread of 

 that dread disease, " foul brood." It was organization that 

 kept Cuban honey from entering our markets free of duty. 

 It was organization that gave us the privilege of sending 

 queens through the mails. It was organization that de- 

 fended several actions which have been carried to a court 

 of record, and establishing facts which gave us a precedent 

 to defend similar actions. It was organization that gave us 

 a law prohibiting spraying fruit-trees when in bloom. In 

 fact, organization is a protection to our industry. That 

 famous old organization, the " Northeastern Bee-Keepers' 

 Association," did us a good work, and it is for us to keep up 

 the good work and place apiculture well up in the ranks 

 among other pursuits. 



There are several very important questions that require 

 organized action, if we desire to obtain the best possible re- 

 sults for our labor. First among these is the all-important 

 question of " Statistics." Many bee-keepers sell their 

 products below market value because they have no knowl- 

 edge of the amount of honey produced in the territory that 

 usually supplies the market they are desirous of selling in. 

 Neither do they know the amount that will be produced in 

 the districts that supply the surrounding markets. Did 

 they know that some sections would produce a large yield, 

 or over- production, and other localities a small yield, or 

 not enough to supply home markets, they could take advan- 

 tage of the situation, and thereby not only prevent and 

 avoid ruinous prices, but maintain nearly equal values, and 

 a fair renumeration for our labor. This is not only appli- 

 cable to our own State, but would be beneficial throughout 

 the whole country. 



By proper organization accurate statistics can be ob- 

 tained and placed in the hands of every bee-keeper before, 

 or by the time, his honey is ready to be marketed. And all 

 of us will be benefited thereby. The manufacturer of cot- 

 ton goods knows what amount of cotton will be produced 

 long before the crop is picked and ready for market, and 

 makes the price accordingly ; the same may be said of 

 wheat and corn. We all know what the crop will be before 

 harvested, and the price is established correspondingly. Of 

 course, these statistics are obtained and given out by the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture. But without organization 

 he would be unable to obtain that valuable information. 

 Can you imagine the disastrous results to the wheat, corn 

 and cotton grower without these facts ? 



Organization is essential in maintaining uniform pack- 

 ages, and uniformity in grading our products ; and would 

 be beneficial in many other ways, and keep us abreast of 

 the times by an interchange of views. 



As I have said, this subject is a broad one, but I hope I 

 have said enough to provoke a thorough discussion of the 

 question, which will not only result in action, but will bring 

 out those members of the older and sister associations, 

 whose wisdom and advice would be of great value. 



S. D. House. 



N. E. France — This matter of organization is one of the 

 utmost importance. The motto, "United we stand," is 

 what we must carry to the front. 



Mr. France thought the membership rating extremely 

 low. One dollar would make one a member of the County 

 Association, the State Association, and the National Asso- 

 ciation. He said that New York was the banner State for 

 membership in the National Association, until at the Los 

 Angeles convention last year when California took its 

 place ; but it is coming to the front again. He thought that 

 more ladies should attend the conventions, and that they 

 should be made members of the local association free, col- 

 i ecting only SO cents to pay their fees in the National. He 



spoke of legislation for bee-keepers ; said that a great deal 

 had been accomplished along this line. Ohio is now work- 

 ing hard for a foul brood law. In Wisconsin it seemed a 

 hopeless case, but they now have an efficient law, and In- 

 spector France has the disease so well quarantined that in 

 the spring he can go and treat it all. Through being man- 

 ager of the National Association has come to him the trials 

 and troubles of individual members. Many seem to think 

 they are insured, that no matter what trouble they get into, 

 the Association must help them out. He gave instances in 

 which he had compromised a settlement. 



On the subject of adulterated honey, Mr. France said 

 that in some States we only need to enforce the laws we 

 have. As in the case of New York, the Wiley lie is being 

 revived ; " an experienced man " had been manufacturing 

 comb honey for seven years. Mr. France had been able to 

 hush him up in the pu-blic press, but he had had the first 

 say, and the harm was done. 



W. J. Morgan said he was a firm believer in organiza- 

 tion. 



W. F. Marks — Organization by counties gives a work- 

 ing force in each county. For example, while the foul 

 brood law in New York was under discussion, a county sec- 

 retary wrote to his member and secured his support, where- 

 as a letter from the State Secretary to county members 

 might not carry the idea of individual responsibility. 



Mr. House — We can not maintain prices without thor- 

 ough organization. 



Mr. Marks — We would also gather crop reports. 



Mr. France expressed the opinion that more personal 

 good would be received in similar organizations because 

 more bee-men would attend them. Having local organiza- 

 tions also facilitates equal distribution of honey, and helps 

 control the small producers. 



Mr. House regretted that local bee-men took so little in- 

 terest in conventions. 



Mr. France— This State has 22,000 bee-men, and yet 

 there are only a few here, comparatively speaking. 



A member asked Mr. France how to get rid of skunks 

 in apiaries, whereat an interesting discussion followed. Mr. 

 France related some lively experiences he had with the lit- 

 tle fellows as a trapper and trapper's son. He considers 

 them a benefit in the apiary, to get rid of black ants, un- 

 less Mr. Skunk becomes depraved and takes to eating bees, 

 when ofi^ comes his head 1 



BEST RACE OF BEHS. 



" What is the best race of bees ?" 



Mr. Hutchinson — Italians are slow to go into the supers, 

 and they cap honey more watery. Black bees cap white, 

 but when the second crop of red clover comes the extra 

 tongue-reach of the Italians gives them an advantage, and 

 they will store honey when the blacks are getting nothing. 

 The Carniolans breed up rapidly in spring, but they are no 

 more gentle than the other races, and swarm much more. 



Mr. Holtermann — This is a most important question, 

 but hard to answer. There is as much differences in races 

 of bees as in other stock. We are making progress in bee- 

 keeping, and must look at the real value of bees. 



Mr. Holtermann thought it would be a good idea to 

 have bee-tests in the same way that dairy tests are held. 

 Government experimentalists should test the powers of dif- 

 ferent breeds of bees, as to the weight of load they could 

 carry, power of enduring cold, rate of flight, etc. The Car- 

 niolans are good, but they swarm too much. 



Morley Pettit said that he had had some experience 

 with Carniolans. They cap very white, and they swarm 

 like flies. He prefers Italians with a dash of Carniolan 

 blood. 



Mr. House — A Carniolan drone mated with an Italian 

 queen gives best results. 



Mr. Holtermann had noticed Italians storing honey at 

 the close of the season when the blacks were getting noth- 

 ing. 



Mr. West finds the swarming propensity of Carniolans 

 great. He told of a place where he went to inspect bees. 

 The man of the house was away, and he had to help hive 20 

 swarms that day. He left at 4 o'clock, and the bees were 

 still swarming. 



H. S. Ferry — Give them plenty of room, and they will 

 not swarm. 



The Carniolans had brought in more honey than any 

 other for Mr. Ferry. 



Mr. Holtermann considered it important to have several 

 colonies of Carniolans in the yard to help build up weak 

 colonies in the spring, because they rear brood so rapidly. 

 iConcluded next week.) 



