April 11, 1901. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, 



229 



\ Convention Proceedings. | 



Report of the Wisconsin Convention. 



BY ADA L. PICKARD. 



The 17tli annual convention of the Wisconsin Kee-Koep- 

 ers" Association was held at Madison, Feb. 5 and 6, 1901. 



The meeting opened with a fair attendance considering 

 the small honey crop the bee-keepers secured last year, and 

 the number of Wisconsin bee-keepers who attended the 

 national convention held in Chicago. 



Pres. N. E. France askt the convention to come to order, 

 and opened the meeting with well-chosen remarks, after 

 which the secretary read the minutes of the last meeting, 

 which were approved. 



The opening session was largely devoted to the discussion 

 of a bill which had been introduced in the Wisconsin Assem- 

 bly, providing that the number and value of the colonies of 

 bees be inserted in the assessment roll:i, the same as other 

 personal property. The bill further provided that if colonies 

 of bees be moved about from place to place for the purpose of 

 extracting honey,the owner shall pay a license fee of $L.OO 

 per colony for each month or part of months. When that 

 bill was introduced the State bee-hive was kickt, and each 

 individual made a great roar. The bill was discust very 

 thoroly. The bee-keepers did not object to the taxation of 

 bees as the majority now pay taxes on their bees, but it 

 seemed that the assessment varied greatly, and seems very 

 unjust. Thruout the State bees have been assest from 25 

 cents to .Sl.50, and even as high as .$2.00 per colony, accord- 

 ing to the one who was assessor. The unanimous voice of the 

 bee-keepers favored the taxation of bees, for if bees were 

 taxable property we could claim protection from the State. 



It was the latter part of the bill to which the objection 

 was offered. On motion a committee was appointed by the 

 president for the purpose of going before the legislative com- 

 mittee to oppose the bill. The committee appointed was : N. 

 E. France, .Jacob Hoffman, Elias Fox, and Ada L. Pickard. 

 At an appointed time the committee went before the legisla- 

 tive committee, and thru the work of the committee and the 

 united efforts of the Bee-Keepers' Association, the bill has 

 been indefinitely postponed — virtually the bill is killed. 



At the close of the discussion pertaining to the bill the 

 convention stood adjourned until 1:B0 p.m., when Pres. 

 France called the meeting to order, and. on motion, Editors 

 Hutchinson, Root, and York were made advisory members. 



WINTERING BEES. 



H. p. Miner read a paper on " Cellar vs. Outdoor Winter- 

 ing," after which was a lively discussion. Mr. Lathrop said 

 he had wintered bees both ways, but preferred the single-wall 

 hives in cellars to the chaff hive. Mr. Ochsner favored the 

 chaff hive for winter use, but not for summer, as he has had 

 losses in combs and honey, from the fact that the chaff hive 

 gets so hot during the hot weather, causing the combs to melt 

 down. If chaff hives were used in winter, he suggested that 

 they be transferred to single-wall hives in May. The discus- 

 sion was summed up in not so much how or where to winter the 

 bees, but to strike the key-note of success depends upon get- 

 ting the workers at the proper time for your location. 



A recess was given the members for the opportunity of 

 paying the dues to the State and National Associations, and 

 the dollars rolled in almost faster than the secretary could 

 book th<! names. 



H. Lathrop read a paper on " How to maintain the pres- 

 ent prices of honey in the event of a good honey crop." In 

 speaking of the good prices of honey he said, " Dealers go 

 thru the country and buy up the honey from small producers, 

 put it up in good shape and sell it for a good price. It is bet- 

 ter to sell to the jobber if not willing or able to hold for good 

 prices ; never sell at low prices to retailers." 



QuKS. — Is there any simple method of detecting adulter- 

 ation in extracted honey ? Axs. — Jlix eijual parts of honry 

 and wood-alcohol together: stir until thoroly mixt. If 

 sample contains glucose it will turn cloudy, if not it will 

 remain clear. It does not make any difference what kiml nl' 

 honey you test. 



QuE.s. — How can aster honey be kept from granulating 

 within ten days after storing, regardless of temperature '.' 

 Ans. — Do not know. 



QuES. — Where is the proper place to keep extracted 

 honey ? Ans. — In a dry place. 



QuES. — What is the best package for extracted honey? 

 Ans. — (a.) The best package for storage and shipping is bar- 

 rels. It has been found a great advantage to paraffini^ the 

 barrels' before using, as it saves soakage. The cost to par- 

 afflne a 350-pound barrel is about 10 cents, (b.) The best 

 package for retail trade is the 60-pound tin cans, or pails hold- 

 ing 4, 7 and 13 pounds each. 



QuES. — Does it pay to crate comb honey ? Ans. — Yes. 

 But the cases should be crated properly with plenty of straw 

 for packing. 



QuES. — How many combs should be left in an 8-frame 

 hive for cellar-wintering? Ans. — Majority favored eight. 



QuES. — Is it advisable for the State Bee-Keepers' Associ- 

 ation to recommend an experimental apiary in Wisconsin? 

 Ans. — Yes. It was recommended that the Association recom- 

 mend an experimental apiary on the experimental farm. Mr. 

 France offered to donate his services if such an apiary should 

 be started. A committee was appointed to visit the experi- 

 mental station, composed of N. E. France, .lacob Hoffman, 

 and Ada L. Pickard. 



An adjournment was then taken until 7:30 p m., when 

 the convention was most highly entertained by Editors E. R. 

 Root and W. Z. Hutchinson, who presented their instructive 

 and entertaining stereopticon views, which must be seen to be 

 appreciated. Those who saw the views exprest themselves as 

 being well paid for attending the convention, save the valu- 

 able information received from the papers read and discussions 

 which followed. 



SECOND DAY— Mornins Session. 



The morning session opened at 9:30 with a busness pro- 

 gram. The report of the treasurer was read and approved. 

 The election of officers resulted as follow : President. N. E. 

 France; vice-president, .Jacob Huffman; secretary, Ada L. 

 Pickard, Richland Center ; treasurer, H. Lathrop. 



The judge and alternate judge of the apiarian depart- 

 ment of the State Fair were named — F. Wilcox as judge, and 

 N. E. France as alternate. On motion, the secretary cast a 

 ballot recommending N. E. France as inspector of foul brood. 



BEE-KEBPERS' HONET EXCHANGE. 



The secretary read a paper on " The Bee-Keepers' Honey 

 Exchange," by C. A. Hatch, which was listened to with great 

 interest. Mr. Root opened the discussion and mentioned the 

 Cc^orada Bee-Keepers' Exchange, and said it was a good 

 thing, enabling the bee-keepers to get supplies cheaper, but a 

 bad thing for the supply dealer. The first thing to make the 

 exchange a success is to have a good business man as business 

 manager, who has the interest of everyone in mind. It was 

 thought not advisable to organize a honey exchange in this 

 State, because the ones attending the conventions have a 

 chance to keep in touch with the prices. , 



E. D. Ochsner did not read his paper on "The Outlook 

 for the Bee-Keepers' Exfiibit at the Pan-American Exposition 

 in 1901," because an expression of the convention was taken 

 in regard to making an exhibit, and it was thought not advis- 

 able to make an exhibit because the appropriation is so small. 



F. Minnick read bis paper on " Short Cuts in Extracting." 

 It was received with much enthusiasm. Avery interesting 

 discussion followed, and many new ideas were advanced. The 

 afternoon session was opened by Pres. France reading and 

 discussing the laws pertaining to foul brood.. 



The question-box being full, it was again opened. 



The agent of the Citizens' Business League, of Milwaukee, 

 gave a very cordial invitation for the next meeting of the 

 Association to be held in Milwaukee. On motion, the execu- 

 tive committee was authorized to name time and place where 

 the next meeting shall be held. The members favored Jladi- 

 son. 



The convention then adjourned sine die. 



Ada L. Pickard, Sec. 



[The interesting papers read at the above convention will 

 appear later, so far as we are able to secure them. — Editor]. 



" The Hum of the Bees in the Apple-Tree Bloom " is 

 the name of the finest bee-keeper's song — words by Hon. 

 Eugene Secor aiul music by Dr. C. C. Miller. This is 

 thought by some to tie the best bee-song yet written by Mr. 

 Secor and Dr. Miller. It is, indeed, a " hummer." We can 

 furnish a single copy of it postpaid, for 10 cents, or 3 copies 

 for 25 cents. Or, we will mail a half-dozen copies of it for 

 sending us one new yearly subscription to the American 

 Bee Journal at $1.00. 



