April, I 



American l^ee Journal 



)^^^i^''1 



attendance. Wc hope it may be a great 

 one in both ways. Here is his letter: 



WHAT SHALL Bfi DONE AT THE NEXT NATIONAL 

 CONVENTION? 



We have laid the foundations for the next 

 National Convention. We have selected the 

 city (Detroit) in which it is to be held, secured 

 the Wayne Sun Parlor for holding the meeting. 

 and decided upon the dates October 13, 14 and 

 15. We know where and when the convention 

 is to be held, and can begin to lay our plans 

 accordingly. 



The next step is the arrangement of a pro- 

 gram. Of course, the burden of this work will 

 fall upon the Secretary, but he can be greatly 

 assisted, and the convention made vastly better, 

 by the help, hints and suggestions of the mem- 

 bers. It is with this end in view that I am 

 going to outline briefly what I have in my own 

 mind, then, as is the case at a convention, 

 wjien a motion has been made, we will have 

 something "to talk to." 



I would suggest that the first session be held 

 in the evening, and wholly devoted to a dis- 

 cussion of diseases of bees. T have made appli- 

 cation to the authorities at Washington to send 

 a scientist to the meeting, probably Professor 

 White, who can take up the matter from a 

 scientific standpoint, show how these diseases 

 are studied by the use of cultures, and illus- 

 trate the matter with a stereopticon if possi- 

 ble. Then have some one of the Inspectors 

 tell how a practical bee-keeper can detect foul 

 brood. He, too, might use stereopticon pictures 

 in giving his description. Ernest Root has 

 promised to furnish his stereopticon, if one is 

 desired. Next, let another Inspector give the 

 best methods of treating diseases. Then wind 

 up the evening by a general discussion of the 

 subject. 



Another factor that has been suggested to 

 me. is that of having at least one debate during 

 each of the day sessions. I believe this is 

 something that "has never been attempted at 

 any of the meetings of the National. Suppose, 

 for instance, we take up the size of the hives. 

 Let us say: "Resolved that a 12-frame, Langs- 

 troth hive-body is more desirable, in the pro- 

 duction of extracted honey, than an 8-frame 

 hive-body." Get some experienced, competent 

 man to take the affirmative, and some other 

 equally good man, who believes in the 8-frame 

 hive, to take the negative; let these men be 

 chosen early in the season, secure their consent 

 thus ta enter the arena, then they can have 

 months to prepare for the contest, and we 

 common folks can sit back and enjoy the "flow 

 of words and the feast of reason." 



As a rule, I think that most of our conven- 

 tions are held aown too closely to the steady 

 grind of hard discussion, session after session 

 from beginning to end of the meeting. I think 

 at least one evening session might be very 

 profitably and pleasantly devoted to something 

 in a lighter vein. I suppose that a banquet 

 followed by responses to toasts would be in this 

 line, but there are objections. First is the 

 cost, which would not be less than Si. 00 a 

 plate. This is not really serious, although 

 there might be some difficulty in determining 

 in advance how many would participate, so that 

 preparations might be made on sufficient scale. 

 I may be old-fashioned, but the real objection, 

 in my mind, is the late hour at which we 

 would be compelled to begin our responses. 

 The regular supper would have to be out 

 of the way before the dining room could 

 be used for spreading the banquet, which would 

 require some little time. If we finished our 

 feast at half past nine we would be fortunate 

 indeed, and it is likely that midnight would 

 still find most ot us out of our beds. To per- 

 sons accustomed to late hours this would mean 

 nothing, but most of us bee-keepers are plain 

 country folks, accustomed to early hours, and 

 to be up half the night means extreme dull- 



is more or less of a strain, at best, and every 

 precaution ought to be taken that the members 

 should feel just as well, and as bright, as they 

 possibly can: otherwise, there is little enjoy- 

 ment. My idea is that we cut out the banquet 

 part, the feast at g or 10 o'clock at night. Just 

 take our usual supper at the usual time, then 

 meet at the usual time, 7 130 p. m. , or what- 

 ever time we think best, and begin at once 

 the responses to toasts or sentiments, finishing 

 up at q or 10 o'clock. Then the next day we 

 will feel as well as ever, ready for business, 

 and discussions, and able to enjoy ourselves. 

 I would suggest that 8 or 10 of our best speak- 

 ers be chosen, and appropriate topics be chosen 

 for each, early in the season, that there may be 

 plenty of time for thought and preparation. 

 I would announce the topics in advance, also 

 the list of speakers, but I think I would leave 

 it a secret, as to which speaker each topic 

 would be assigned, until the announcement was 

 made by the toast master. I think the speeches 



ought not to exceed 10 or 15 minutes — the 

 right man can say a lot of good things in 

 15 minutes. 



Another feature, for which I shall put forth 

 my best efforts, is to secure the greatest possi- 

 ble attendance of bee-keepers' wives. It ma^ be 

 just a little out of the line of bee-keeping, 

 but I hope I in;iy be pardoned for saying that, 

 naturally, business takes men out into the 

 world. A man has the incalculable advantage 

 of a great variety of experiences, and freshness 

 of view. He is continually coming in contact 

 with new people, new things, and being mould- 

 ed by a vast number of forces which never 

 touch the wife in the quiet home. I believe 

 most women feci this terrible depression of the 

 monotony of their lives, the lack of that stimu- 

 lus whicli comes to man from constant change. 

 Let us begin now to plan for the making of a 

 big break in that monotony next October. 

 There is a saying that good works and charity 

 ought to begin at home, so I have secured 

 a promise from Mrs. Hutchinson that she will 

 accompany me to the convention next October. 

 Then I secured a similar promise from my 

 brother's wife. Then I wrote to a few near 

 acquaintances, such as Manager France, Presi- 

 dent Hilton, Ex-President Aspinwall, and asked 

 them if they would bring their wives, and 

 all replied that they would do so. My friend 

 Muth, of Cincinnati, also writes me that he 

 will bring Mrs. Muth. 



I think I would have at least one good essay 

 each session, then the debate, as already men- 

 tioned, and finish up with the question box. 



which 1 hope will be contributed to from all 

 over the country, by those who are so unfortu- 

 nate as to be unable to attend. 



One other little point: As everything prom- 

 ises to be on a larger scale than usual, I have 

 already made arrangements for the use of a 

 camera that will take a picture 14x17 inches, 

 and I hope to make a group picture that every 

 member will be proud to hang upon the walls 

 of his home. I shall see to it that each person 

 in the group has a number upon the lapel of 

 the coat, and a printed list giving numbers, 

 names and addresses, will accompany each pic- 

 tures, then all can see who is who. 



What I have written simply ^ives a glimpse 

 of the program in embryo. Nothing is defi- 

 nitely settled. I shall do my utmost to make 

 the convention one of the most enviable, the 

 best and most really helpful, that the Associa- 

 tion has ever held ; and I earnestly request 

 every one who has any interest whatever in 

 the matter, to write me a letter full of advice 

 and suggestions. Tell the subjects you would 

 like discussed, and the persons you would like 

 to have discuss them. Suggest topics for the 

 responses to toasts or sentiments, and the men 

 yoM would desire to hear respond. Tell me 

 what subjects you would like to hear debated, 

 and the men you would like to hear do the 

 arguing. If I have suggested something that 

 does not please you, let me know, giving rea- 

 sons why. Take hold, right now, and do your 

 share in making the coming convention a grand 

 success. W. 2. Hutchinson. 



Flint, Mich. 



Ileciua - Items 



An Octogoiiaiiaii Bee Editor 



^gnor A. DeRauschenfels, the editor 

 of the Italian bee-paper, "L'ApicoItore," 

 was 80 years old on March i, igoS. His 

 paper is one of the most progressive 

 in Europe. It is published at Milan, 

 Italy. 



^ 



Mating Effect on the Drones 



We have received the following in re- 

 ply to an article in the February num- 

 ber: 



"After reading virhat T. W. Livings- 

 ton says, on page 49, I can more easily 

 understand how he has drones colored 

 by the mating of the mother. He says 

 that his mismated queens after a time 

 turn darker, so that the difference in 

 color is plainly apparent. As the drone 

 depends only on his mother for his col- 

 or, if Mr. L. has that kind of queens 

 which change color after mating, of 

 course it is nothing strange for the 

 drones to follow that change. As I have 

 never seen any change in the color of 

 my queens after mating, naturally. I 

 would see none in the drones. 



E. V. Pag.\n." 



whrini bee-keepers do not generally c.ire 

 to have dealings. The task of getting 

 it now rooted out is a difficult one. 



From this we may take warning. If 

 bees are found working very eagerly on 

 a few plants of a certain variety, before 

 largely increasing the area of such 

 plants it may be well to learn some- 

 thing of the character of the honey se- 

 cured from them. 



Bees Absconding when Shaken 



T. J. Barringer says this in Glean- 

 ings in Bee Culture : 



"It has not been clearly stated in the 

 journals that it is necessary to cage 

 the queen when the bees are shaken on 

 to new combs. One of our bee-men 

 of Tulare, a Mr. Gambel, had 78 colo- 

 nies shaken on frames of foundation 

 for foul brood, and none of the queens 

 were caged; 75 out of the 78 swarmed, 

 and went to the woods.'" 



This is probably quite unusual, but 

 it is well to be on the lookout. 



Borage as a Honey-Plant 



In Praktischer Wegweiser, page 280, 

 Herr VVillhelm says that in response to 

 the general cry, "Sow borage," he has 

 been sowing it for years and now has 

 it in abundance. How the bees do hum 

 upon it! But alas! now that he has it 

 in such abundance that it shows its 

 character in the surplus honey, he finds 

 it such as no customer wants, and says 

 it is black as a certain "gentleman" with 



Got a Bee In It 



Auntie — Xow, Tommy, take my bon- 

 net up-stairs for me, there's a good boy. 



Tommy — Boo-hoo! I don't w-ant to! 



.Auntie — Indeed! And why not, pray? 



Tommy — 'Cause mother told me you'd 

 got -a bee in it. — The Sketch. 



>Iinnesota State Bee-Keepers' Society 



Not long ago inquiry was made as to 

 whether there was any bee-keepers' so- 

 ciety in Minnesota. There seems to be 

 a State society with such favorable 



