308 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



May 16, 1901. 



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Convention Proceedings. 



Report of the Itah Bee-Keepers' Convention. 



The Utah Bee-Keeper's Association held a convention 

 April 5, 1901. The meeting was called to order by Pres. 

 Lovesy promptly at 10 o'clock, a.m. Secretary J. B. Fagg 

 called the roll and read the minutes of the previous meeting. 



A letter was read by County vice-president C. C. Bartlett, 

 of Uintah County, regretting his inability to attend, lie 

 reported the bee-industry in Uintah County in a satisfactory 

 condition : also that there were 50 or more bee-keepers in the 

 county, and about -4,000 colonies of bees. Similar reports 

 were read from County Vice-Presidents A. N. Winsor, of 

 Washington County, W. J. F. McAllister, of Kanab County, 

 and P. M. Grigg, of Wayne County. 



Mr. Roberts, one of our old-time bee-keepers, and who 

 was one of the first to introduce bees into Utah, gave some of 

 his early-day experiences in hauling bees many hundred miles 

 on wagons from California. He also spoke on the introduction 

 of the movable frame, on organization among bee-keepers, 

 and on the medicinal qualities of honey. 



THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



I have received fair to flattering reports from nearly all 

 parts of the State during the past lOto 15 days. The reports 

 from the south, the south central and southeast parts, espe- 

 cially, have been universally encouraging in the prospects for 

 the coming season. I find, as a rule, that the snowfall has 

 been abundant, and it has been more evenly distributed over 

 the State than in other years, thus insuring a fair supply of 

 irrigation water, and so the chances for success are fairly 

 good where the bees are in good condition. But while the 

 many hopeful letters I have received give an encouraging out- 

 look, still the bright picture may have a dark side to it. 

 While the smelter smoke has very much weakened the bees in 

 some localities, still a more serious condition exists in at least 

 one or more counties. I find that there is a great deal of dis- 

 ease among the bees in some places. I have tried to urge a 

 more persistent efl'ort on the part of our bee-keepers to eradi- 

 cate this disease, relizing that a few minutes spent in preven- 

 tion are worth a month trying to cure. And one of the many 

 reasons for publishing our expected treatise is that it will 

 benefit our bee-keepers and bee-inspectors by' putting into the 

 hands of every bee-keeper simple and effective remedies for 

 the benefit of himself and the industry. Our bee-keepers can 

 and should set a new pace in the new century by helping 

 themselves and aiding the Association in its laudable efforts. 



There are other things which we as bee-keepers could 

 improve on to our own benefit and advantage, and one of 

 these is organization. We need no prophet to tell us that our 

 only salvation depends upon a strong union of interest by 

 proper organization. We iind that the trades, laborers, 

 farmers, etc., are organizing for mutual benefit, and why 

 should not the bee keepers ? They should organize for the 

 purchase of supplies and also for the disposition of their 

 products. 



While many obstacles can be overcome by timely and 

 proper management, still our brightest prospects do not always 

 turn out a shining success, and if we attempt to count our 

 profits by the prospects, we sometimes reap disappointments. 



I find the winter question in this State still an unsolved 

 problem ; while with proper care the bees can be wintered 

 successfully in most parts, in some places success seems to be 

 almost impossible. 



Would it not be well to consider the question of our Asso- 

 ciation making an exhibit at our State fair, or the one at Buf- 

 falo, and also the World's Fair to be held in St. Louis two 

 years hence ? We certainly should be represented there. 



I would be pleased to have our bee-keepers throw 

 additional light on any of these subjects, or any other one in 

 the interest of the industry, not forgetting the treatise which 

 I wish to publish as soon as possible. E. S. Lovesy. 



Vice-President J. Hansen, of Boxelder County, reported the 

 industry prosperous in his locality. J. S. Hamilton, of the 

 same county, reported quite a loss of bees in wintering in his 

 portion of the county, and J. L. P. Johnson, also of Boxelder 

 County, wrote that as a rule conditions were favorable, but 

 that there was some foul brood. 



County Vice-Presidents Oeo. Hone, of Utah County, A. F. 

 Stevenson, of Davis County, C. 0. Falkman,of Weber County, 

 Thos. Belliston, of Juab County, and Ulrich Braymer, of Car- 

 bon County, reported their respective counties in fairly good 

 condition. A number of letters were read by the secretary 

 from county vice-presidents, inspectors, and others, and while 

 most of the reports were encouraging, some spoke of loss by 

 disease. 



Inspector Anderson, of Cache County, said they had some 

 disease, and that the county commissioners desired him to do 

 all in his power to eradicate it. Mr. Scott reported much dis- 

 ease in some localities, and Mr. Dart exhibited samples of 

 diseased brood, and had a letter read from Dr. Howard, of 

 Fort Worth, Tex., after which a long discussion ensued as to 

 the cause and ettect of disease, the best treatment to prevent, 

 cure, etc. The McEvoy treatment, with some modifications, 

 was recommended. Our bee-keepers are waking up, and with 

 the aid of our treatise and our county inspectors, we hope soon 

 to banish it from the State. 



A resolution was offered favoring the publication of a 

 treatise or pamphlet by the Association, the object of which is 

 to give the best and quickest method of discovering, curing, 

 and preventing disease among the bees ; and also how best to 

 protect them against their enemies. Also, that the State law, 

 the relation of bees to fruit, seed, plants, etc., be published in 

 connection with it. After a long discussion which was partici- 

 pated in by many, the resolution was unanimously passed, and 

 Pres. Lovesy, Secretary i^agg, and Messrs. Thos. Belliston, L. 

 J. Whitney, and F. S. Dart, were appointed a committee to 

 compile and publish the treatise. 



Stronger organization among bee-keepers was discussed 

 at length, with no definite results. A resolution was pre- 

 sented and passed, urging the bee-keepers to aid the Associ- 

 ation in making an exhibit at the State Fair in October, and 

 also at Buffalo and St. Louis. Many reports were given, com- 

 ing from honey-consumers in the East, praising the superiority 

 of Utah honey. 



The election of officers resulted as follows : President, 

 E. S. Lovesy; 1st Vice-President, R. T. Rhees ; 2d Vice- 

 President, Wm. Wartham ; and Secretary and Treasurer, J. 

 B. Fagg ; Assistant Secretary, C. R. Matson. County vice- 

 presidents. Salt Lake, Wm. A. Bills; Utah, George Hone; 

 Wasatch, J. A. Smith ; Davis, A. F. Stevenson ; Boxelder, J. 

 Hansen ; Weber, C. O. Falkman ; Juab, Thos. Belliston ; 

 Washington, A. N. Winsor : Tooele, Ben Barrows ; Cache, 

 Henry Bullock ; Morgan, T. R. G. Welch; Uintah, C. C. Bart- 

 lett ; Emery, Chris Wilcox ; Wayne, P. M. Grigg ; Carbon, 

 Ulrich Braymer; Sevier, R. A. Lowe; Kane, W. J. F. McAl- 

 lister. 



Afternoon Session, 2 p.m. 



The next question considered was the purchase of supplies 

 and the disposal of bee-products. It was stated that nearly 

 all supplies except sections can be purchased in the home 

 market ; and in regard to the disposal of the season's products 

 it was decided to try to keep all bee-keepers informed as to 

 prices, from time to time. The question of grading was dis- 

 cussed at length, and it was shown that a few dealers pre- 

 ferred amber to water white extracted honey because it is 

 cheaper. Still there is a good demand for the best, regardless 

 of the difference in the price. 



Mr. Scott urged bee-keepers to be careful in grading their 

 comb honey, because a few partly filled or uncapped sections 

 would not only materially reduce the price of the honey, but 

 it would injure the reputation of the bee-keepers. Mr. Hone 

 stated that, as a rule, the greater portion of the bee-keepers 

 of Utah had a good reputation for fair dealing, but in order to 

 protect their product against any mistakes they ought to 

 stamp their names on each case. 



QUESTION-BOX. 



Ques. — Is dividing preferable to swarming ? 



Mr. Hone preferred dividing because he had better success 

 than with swarming. Mr. Whitney obtained very good results 

 by forced swarming. Mr. Lovesy preferred dividing, as the 

 bees are more gentle, the colonies more easily regulated, and 

 better results can be obtained. 



Ques. — What style of hive is preferred ? 



Mr. Fagg — The 1 0-f rame Langstroth for all practical 

 purposes, both for comb and for extracted honey. 



Ques. — Does spraying during fruit-bloom kill the bees ? 



It was proven that it did, and also that it was an injury 

 and no benefit to the fruit-grower. 



Ques. — Is winter ventilation necessary? 



It was decided that it is. 



Mr. Dart — I put new burlap between the hive and super, 

 with some chaff in it ; this keeps the bees dry, and I have no 

 trouble. J. B. Fagg, Sec. 



