212 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mab. 15. 



ness with an able board of directors, and with 

 a permanent headquarters in some central 

 State. If the N. A. would take this advice, the 

 bee-keeping interests all over the country 

 would take heart, for it would surely presage a 

 systematic management of the honey markets, 

 and put a fighting force of over 100,000 bee- 

 keepers in the field, with a dollar or even more 

 behind every man. 



California and Arizona are already organized 

 to forward the work here; and, being assured 

 of a co-operative central head, every honey- 

 producing State would immediately organize. 

 Let the Union alone in its chosen field for the 

 present, leaving amalgamation matters for the 

 future to solve; but let the N. A. arise to this 

 opportunity that invites it, and it will a<;hieve 

 glory and renown; but, casting it aside, it will 

 merit — 



The knell, the shroud, the mattock, and the grave; 

 The deep damp vault, the darkness and the worm. 



E. KKETCHMER AND HIS SUPPLY BUSINESS. 



Mr. Root: — In 18(54 I commenced the manu- 

 facture of bee-hives, smokers, etc., in Des 

 Moines Co.. Iowa. In 18(i7 I removed to this 

 county, locating at Cuburg. where a steam- 

 power factory was erected. Soon the necessi'y 



put in a r)0-horse- power engine. In the fall of '90 

 another building, 33x80 ft., 3 stories high, and 

 an extension 24x40 ft., 3 stories high, were add- 

 ed. In 1893 another wing, 34x80 ft., 3 stories 

 high, was added, with additional steam power, 

 a full set of new machinery, including section 

 machinery. In 1893 a new office was built, and 

 an exhaust-fan put in, to remove slaavings 

 from every working machine, and dust from 

 the entire factory. In 1894. metal working 

 machinery for the manufacture of honey-ex- 

 tractors, etc., was added. In 1895 a lumber- 

 yard, under the management of one of my sons, 

 became an adjunct to the business (his interest 

 therein has quite recently been sold). A rail- 

 road switch on our premises facilitates carload 

 shipment. E Kketchmeb. 



Red Oak, Iowa. 



[In our issue for ITeb. 15, wherein I gave 

 brief statements, with portraits, from the prin- 

 cipal manufacturers of bee-hive material. I 

 omitted, as I have already stated, the name of 

 a prominent supply manufacturer,- E. Kretch- 

 mer, who has, perhaps, been longer in the busi- 

 ness than any of us. The statement, together 

 with the portrait, is given at this time. — Ed.] 



^ I ^ 



BEE-KEEPING IN THE FUTURE. 

 By Evan E. Edwards. 



E. KUETCHMEH. 



for better shipping facilities made itself man- 

 ifest, and in 1890 the entire plant was removed 

 to Red Oak, Iowa, our present location. I 

 erected a fa lory. 34x100 ft., 3 stories high, and 



Aur\ God said. Let there he light; and there wa.s 

 li^ht.— Gen. 1:3. 



So many rapid strides have been 

 made in apiculture within the last 

 few years that one is ready to be- 

 lieve that it will be greatly extend- 

 ed as a science, in the near future. 

 Never, since the days of Huber, has 

 the prospect appeared as bright as 

 it does now— not for a greater yield 

 of honey, but for a broader knowl- 

 edge of ( Jod's wisdom as seen in the 

 Apis meUifica. The Langstroth 

 hive, the extractor, and comb foun- 

 dation, have thrown more light 

 upon the science of bee keeping; 

 but there is a new discovery which, 

 in my opinion, will clear up all mys- 

 teries. I have reference to the new 

 discovery in photography— the use 

 of Prof. Roentgen's rays in taking 

 i)iclures of objects through opaque 

 substances. It has been demon- 

 -Lrated beyond all doubt, that the 

 cathode ray will penetrate even 

 iron itself; and the very bones of 

 our bodies are accurately outlined. 

 A bullet has been photographed in 

 a man's foot; and a needle, by the 

 same process, discovered in the 

 tissue of the hand. How wonderful 

 i< light! and how much more important that 

 word is in certain passages of the Bible! I tell 

 you, brethren, if man can discover a light so 

 penetrating, how searching must be the glori- 



