1917 



AMERICAN BFF. JOURNAL 



311 



this style for two winters and like it 

 very much. It has been successful. It 

 makes an excellent winter case and is 

 excellent as a spring protection. As 



I make my own hive stands and cov- 

 ers, the only extra cost is for the 8- 

 inch rim between cover and stand. 

 Hiram, Ohio. 



LEGAL SERVICE 

 « DEPARTMENT M 



Conducted by Frank C. Pellett, Atlantic, Iowa. 



Making a Noise When the Bees 

 Swarm 



Beekeepers are often amused by 

 tlie antics of people who pound tin 

 pans and make all the noise possible 

 when the bees are swarming. There 

 is much speculation as to the rise of 

 the practice, which, of course, has no 

 effect in settling the bees. 



The probable explanation is to be 

 found in old laws in European coun- 

 tries. An old French law provides 

 as follows : 



"When a beekeeper sees that a 

 swarm is issuing from one of his 

 hives, he is bound to announce the 

 fact to his neighbors, and others, by 

 making an outcry or noise ; and he 

 must immediately follow and secure 

 the swarm if it leaves his own prem- 

 ises." Civil code, Art. 524., Section 5. 



Immigrants from Europe very nat- 

 urally followed the customs of the 

 country from which they came. In 

 time their children and grandchildren 

 continued the practice without know- 

 ing the reason. It is absurd for peo- 

 ple in our day to beat tin pans be- 

 cause the law of France, a century 

 ago, required the beekeeper to make 

 a noise when the bees swarmed. 



lations for incorporating. In most 

 states the fee for incorporating, 

 where the society is not organized 

 for profit, is merely nominal, but the 

 attorney will quite likely charge a 

 fee of from $10 to $25. However, it 

 is not necessary to incorporate, and 

 few of the beekeepers' associations 

 are incorporated. 



All that is necessary is a simple 

 form to follow with the business of 

 the association. The best plan is to 

 elect a competent set of ofScers and 

 give them as much freedom as pos- 

 sible. It is a very wise provision to 

 establish the custom of a frequent 

 change of ofificers. In most cases 

 where we find the same set of offi- 

 cers year after year we find the or- 

 ganization in a rut and see but little 



progress from year to year. New 

 men do well for a year or two and 

 then they exhaust their supply of 

 new ideas. If new men are placed in 

 charge they will work along new 

 lines and the interest is kept up. If 

 there are only a few men available 

 who are suitable for officers, change 

 them about often and come back to 

 the same position more frequently, 

 but don't make the mistake of mak- 

 ing a one-man organization. 



The following form is given only as 

 a suggestion and may bo changed to 

 suit : 



Brown County Beekeepers* Associa- 

 tion. 



CONSTITUTION 

 Article 1. 

 This association shall be known as 

 the Brown County Beekeepers' Asso- 

 ciation with headquarters at Stone- 

 ville. 



Article 2. 

 The object of this organization 

 shall be to promote the interests of 

 commercial honey production, to 

 check the spread of disease among 

 bees, to secure proper recognition for 

 the industry and to spread informa- 

 tion as to the best methods of in- 

 creasing the output of the apiary and 

 enlarging the market therefor. 

 Article 3. 

 The annual meeting shall be held at 



1^4 ^ 



'^m^^^' "" 



Constitution for Bee Organization 



"Will you give suggestions for a 

 constitution to govern a local bee- 

 keepers' organization?" Florida. 



We have had several letters asking 

 for similar information. If it is the 

 intention to incorporate, a local at- 

 torney should be consulted, since the 

 different states have different regu- 



>^-^ 





n>-' 



-vjl 



^(1. 2. THE S-INCH RIM PLACED OVER THE HIVE-BODY. PAPER LEFT OFF TO 

 SHOW THE HIVE. WHEN THE FELT IS FOLDED OVER THE TOP AND THE 

 roVER PUT IN PLACE, THE COLONY IS READY FOR WINTER. 



NO. S. HIVE COVERED AND READY FOR THE WINTER BLASTS. 



Stoneville on the first Tuesday in 

 January and one or more field meet- 

 ings shall be held at such time and 

 place as shall be determined by the 

 board of officers. 



Article 4. 



The officers of this association shall 

 consist of a President, Vice Presi- 

 dent and a Secretary-Treasurer. The 

 election of the officers shall be held 

 at the annual meeting and shall con- 

 tinue for the term of one year. 

 Article 5. 



These articles may be amended by 



a two-thirds vote of the members 



present at any regular or special 



meeting called for the purpose. 



BY-LAWS 



I. 



Any person interested in the ob- 

 ject of this association may become 

 a member on payment of $1.00 to 

 the Secretary-Treasurer. Membership 



