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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



June 13, 1901. 



which they move. And what a pleasure it is oil such an occa- 

 sion as this to speak kindly of them, and to accord them a high 

 place in our history ! 



Instead of the old straw hive and the log gum the inven- 

 tion and skill of Father Langstroth have given us the frame so 

 admirably adapted for the home of the ever busy bee, wherein 

 every kind of manipulation and theory are developed, and 

 from which all other hives in a measure have been evolved. 

 The large, unwieldy and unmarketable honey-boxes have 

 given place to the white and beautiful one-piece section — a 

 convenience and blessing to the apiarist, and which in its sim- 

 plicity and cheapness is within the reach of all. From the 

 swinging of the dinner-pail in which there was a piece of 

 comb honey, around and over his head, by the ever restless 

 and uneasy boy — which operation his father noticed threw the 

 honey outward of the comb — came the honey-extractor now 

 so generally used, a great help to every well-cared for apiary, 

 and indispensable to its success, as is also its companion, the 

 honey-knife. Comb foundation, and the foundation-press by 

 which it is made, are also great inventions, and universally 

 appreciated by the successful apiarist. 



Then comes the little queen-cage with candy — a great 

 improvement and source of profit — a means by which the 

 queen — indeed and in truth the most wonderful and inter- 

 esting of all insects known — is transported from all parts of 

 the globe, and we have thus been able to improve oar race of 

 bees. The drone-trap, the self-hiver. the self-swarmer, the 

 queen-excluder, and the Doolittle method of rearing queens : 

 the honey-board, the wax-extractor, the queen cell protector, 

 wired frames, the foundation-fastener machine, bee-feeders, 

 bee-escapes, swarming devices, the smoker, the drone-excluder, 

 separators, and the improved method of procuring comb 

 honey ; and very many other improvements and devices help to 

 make the labor easy, successful and more profitable, and are 

 valuable helps to energetic apiarists in some department of 

 this most interesting occupation. 



Invention, then, as we look at the old log gum and straw 

 skep, and as we remember the sulphur pit where the faithful 

 and innocent little creatures were murdered for their stores, 

 in days gone by, has performed wonders for our occupation, 

 and for the comfort of the noblest little creature which God 

 has given to man. 



The tendency of our occupation, then, like all other in 

 such hands, is upward, and toward the light. This is an age 

 of intense activity and progress — the tide is fast bearing us 

 onward and upward. Some are wishing for the good old days 

 gone long ago, but these are the best days since the stars first 

 sang together, since the Messiah was found in the manger, 

 and I, for one, am glad I am living now. Bee-keeping is 

 wonderfully interesting and fascinating to the successful 

 apiarist. It brings us in contact with one of the most won- 

 derful little creatures in God's glorious universe. The man 

 who is wise, happy and content, sees the eternal God in every- 

 thing around him : the seasons, the fields, the hills and val- 

 leys, and all the creatures on the earth are clothed in glory ; 

 but nowhere, nor in any other creature, is the wonderful and 

 all-wise adaptation and design manifested as in the little " busy 

 bee." The manner and thoroughly practical government in 

 the home, the power and adaptability of the queen with her 

 body-guard, in that home for its good and success : the tiny 

 eggs which she never tires of depositing by the thousands 

 until old age shall claim her : the care and attention of those 

 eggs by the nurses of the family ; the food and growth of the 

 young bee from the time it begins to show life until its birth 

 into that home: its care after birth; the different kinds of 

 departments, and food which produces from the same mother 

 the workers (neither male nor female), the drones (the male 

 bee), and the queen, which produces respectively the worker 

 in 21 days, the drone in 2i days, and the queen, much larger 

 than the worker, in 16 days; the wonderful mechanical con- 

 struction of the cell for strength and economy ; the ability of 

 the workers to gather nectar from the blossoms and flowers of 

 the fields and trees, which, when stored in the home becomes 

 one of the best foods and medicines for man — 1 say all these 

 traits of the bees, and many more that might be named, 

 unfold a world of thought and investigation. 



Honey has great healing and soothing properties, and is 

 an excellent medicine for sore throats, lungs, cuts or sores of 

 any kind. The poison of the honey-bee is an antidote for 

 rheumatism. Dr. McDonald, of this State, informed me sev- 

 eral years ago that he used the poison successfully for rheu- 

 matism and dropsy. Honey as food is very strengthening and 

 heating to the system. It is said that during the Russian and 

 Turkish war in crossing the mountains the soldiers were weak 

 and cold from lack of food. The Russian general ordered 

 that the soldiers be fed with honey every day — a ration which 

 at once revived their spirits, and strengthened and warmed 



their bodies. In ancient times it was regarded as almost 

 sacred, being the best food, medicine and drink, when pre- 

 pared, to be found upon the earth. In Abyssinia, Russia, 

 India. Palestine and other countries, refreshing drinks are 

 made from it. In ancient Egypt It was valued as an embalm- 

 ing material, and in the East for the preservation of fruits 

 and the making of cakes. In India a mixture of honey and 

 milk is a respectful oflFering to a guest, or to a bridegroom 

 upon his arrival at the door of the home of his bride's father. 



Bees are also a benefit to every farmer and horticulturist 

 wherever kept, as their value in fertilizing blossoms of fruit 

 and clover can not be estimated. Our occupation brings us in 

 contact with one of God's best gifts to man. and opens up afield 

 for labor as flatteriug as any other where the same amount of 

 capital is invested. Yes, more than this, it offers a source of 

 making a living, and support to the sick, that no other occu- 

 pation does. The labor and work is of such a fascinating 

 character that it at once becomes a medicine and tonic to the 

 weak and sick, and many have found health and success in 

 following it when everything else had failed. As a combina- 

 tion with fruit-growing it can not be excelled. In fact, every 

 one who lives in a locality where there is plenty of bee-pasture 

 should keep bees if the locality is not already overstocked. 

 There is nothing that will pay better, and bring such rich 

 returns to the health of the family. 



My friends, it has been nine years since I was first elected 

 president of this society, and the time has come when I must 

 leave you as such, and another must take my place. Who- 

 ever it may be it should be one who has plenty of time to 

 devote to the interests of the society, and who is able to spend 

 a little money. The society can only be kept up and in the 

 front ranks by those whose work is a labor of love in its 

 behalf. This and kindred societies can only be kept in the 

 advance guard by the personal devotion of those whose hearts 

 love the society and the calling it represents. The meetings 

 which we have held during all these years have been pleasant 

 and profitable to me. I have regarded you all as my friends ; 

 I have tried to do my duty, and have found you all ready to 

 assist me ; and I shall be pleased at all times in the future to 

 hear of your happiness and prosperity. If there Is ever a 

 time when I can be of any service to any of you in any 

 capacity it will make me happy to serve you. and I shall also 

 be happy to hear from each one of you personally at all times. 

 It is my wish that success and happiness may follow each one 

 of you always. .1. P. We-st. 



The address was well received, sympathy expressed for 

 the president in his illness, and regret that he was unable to 

 attend the meeting. The secretary was instructed to express 

 the warm sentiment of the Association toward him. 



The proposition to join the National Bee-Keepers' Associ- 

 ation in a body was brought up and discussed. Owing to 

 changes which would have to be made in the constitution if 

 this were done, it was decided to postpone action uutil the 

 next meeting. 



Mr. Longfellow, a Minneapolis commission man, next 

 gave a talk on shipping and selling honey. He said the best 

 packages to use in this market for extracted honey are the 

 10-pound and the tJO-pound tin cans ; and for comb honey, 

 12 and 16 section cases. 



.Continued next week.; 



* The Afterthought. * | 



The "Old Reliable" seen through New and Unreliable Glasses. 

 By B. E. HASTY, Sta. B Rural, Toledo, O. 



LOAD A WOKKER-BEE CAN CARRY. 



Your editorial note on page 286 assumes that Astor's 

 bees carried more of honey than of nectar because they 

 could carry more. That may be it. A vial completely full of 

 honey is heavier than the same vial filled with nectar ; but I 

 think we may wisely suspend judgment a little. Certainly the 

 theory ceases to work if we try to account for the rest of 

 Astor's figures that way. If bee-loads are 50 mg. (say.lune 

 15) and 2-J mg. (say July 15) it won't do to say that on the 

 earlier date the nectar was twice as heavy. The figures 

 referred to have the appearance of having been selected or 

 doctored in someway; but they are probably true in a gen- 

 eral way. A bee securing a load all in one place may be 

 expected to take about what it can. If the load is secured at 

 a hundred different places, with as many flights between, we 



