jNIarcli. igio. 



American ^ec .Journal j 



bird high in the top of the Old Apple 

 Tree, pausing under the Smilax for the 

 question, "Are there any objections?" 

 Springfield, Mo. 



Bee-Keeping in Mexico 



BY B. A. HAUSELL. 



In going south over the Mexican Cen- 

 tral Railroad, I see by referring to my 

 nienioraiidum, the town of Logas has ir- 

 rigated alfalfa, mesquite, catclaw, wild 

 pepper, and cactus. Three locations are 

 in view where, say, 600 colonies of bees 

 might be kept. The next station, Fran- 

 cisco, with three locations or 600 colonies 

 of bees. Both of the above towns have 

 street-car. Siloo has 10,000 acres in 

 corn in view — two locations suited for 

 400 colonies of bees; plenty of macho- 

 cha. mesquite and willows. Land is $100 

 to $J00 per acre beyond the town — good 

 locations for 4 apiaries or 800 colonies. 



At Irapuata strawberries are sold at 

 the train every day of the year; also it 

 is good bee-countrj', where one apiary is 

 kept by a German. There has been only 

 one frost in 20 years at this point. 



Quertaro is the place where Maxi- 

 niillian was shot. Farm hands get 20 

 cents in gold per daj', i peck of corn, 

 and I peck of beans per week, and board 

 themselves. In the factories they get 

 SO cents, 75 cents, and $1.00 a day, and 

 board themselves. Forty cubic inches 

 of water and the land to put it on cost 

 $100,000. Artesian water can be had at 

 a depth of 700 feet. 



On ascending the mountain you look 

 back over the valley and can count 13 

 artificial lakes for irrigation, and 20,000 

 acres of corn, all frosted, and nearly a 

 total loss. I saw 50,000 acres of corn 

 on this route, and south of the City of 

 ^lexico, toward Vera Cruz, almost a 

 total loss by frost. It is estimated that 

 the early frost damaged Mexico $40,- 

 000,000. At Horseshoe Curve, on the 

 railroad a few miles further on, the 

 frost had not killed anything; 200 col- 

 onies of bees could be kept. The flume, 

 all of masonry, to carry irrigation water, 

 is 30 feet high and one mile long. In 

 passing southeast over the International 

 Railroad, each looks like a town with 

 horse street-cars connecting the stations 

 with probably 20,000 acres in corn in 

 view, all frosted. Pulpa and barley are 

 also grown extensively. 



Then after leaving Delmonte, we look 

 down out of the clouds upon a beautiful 

 valley, 4,000 feet below us, dressed in 

 living green, with crops in all stages ; 

 some planting, others harvesting, with 

 the smoke from two large manufactur- 

 ing towns. Here the railroad winds 

 back and forth three times in the de- 

 scent. We have dropped down out of 

 the clouds. The frost-ridden, cold and 

 dreary one-crop region through the gates 

 of the Tropics — a bee-man's paradise, 

 everything so different ; you feel as 

 though you were dreaming of Paradise, 

 and wonder whether it is only a dream. 



Cordova is a beautiful city, beyond 

 description. There the Vera Cruz and 

 Pacific Railroad goes south to Santa Lu- 

 crecio, where we connect with the Te- 

 huantepec Railroad. From the time we 

 drop out of the clouds it is one continu- 



ous bee-country, except where the coun- 

 try is grass and devoted to stock-raising. 

 At Sanborn I examined an apiary 

 which was in lo-frame Langstroth 

 hives, painted, and in good condition. I 

 was informed that they began with 14 

 colonies last spring, increased to 97, and 



:;>i 



extracted two tons of honey. They sell 

 5-gallon cans of honey at $9.00, Mexican 

 money. I also see their honey on the 

 market in Cordova, in i-pound jars, at 

 80 cents per pound, Mexican money. 

 Buckeye, Ariz. 



(To be continued.) 



^r 



Convention 

 ^ Proceed inds 



Wisconsin Convention Report 



The 31st annual convention of the 

 Wisconsin State See-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion was held at Madison, Feb. 2d and 

 3d. It was called to order by Pres. 

 Huffman, at 10:30 a. m., Feb. 2d. 



The report of the secretary, and also 

 of the treasurer, were read and ap- 

 proved. The latter showed a balance 

 of $177 in the treasury. 



On motion, a committee on resolu- 

 tions was appointed consisting of N. 

 E. France, George W. York, and A. C. 

 Allen. 



Mr. York addressed the convention as 

 President of the National Bee-Keepers' 

 Association, and w.as followed by Mr. 

 France, as General Manager of the Na- 

 tional. The latter suggested the appoint- 

 ment of an assistant superintendent of 

 the apiarian exhibit at the Wisconsin 

 State Fair in addition to a judge. The 

 committee on resolutions were instruct- 

 ed to embody such recommendation in 

 their report. Messrs. York and France 

 also spoke on increasing the member- 

 ship of both the National and the State 

 Associations, and several plans were 

 suggested. 



Afternoon Session. 



The afternoon session was called to 

 order by Pres. Huffman, at i 130 p. m., 

 after' which he read the following: 



President Huffman's Address. 



I am pleased to meet the members of this 

 the 31st annual State convention of Wisconsin 

 bee-keepers, under such favorable circum- 

 stances. I am glad to see so many present, 

 for there is inspiration in numbers. _ It is an 

 important occasion, and I hope it will be 

 very interesting to those who are engaged in 

 the bee-industry though to a greater or smaller 

 extent. 



This convention is not called in the in- 

 terest of those taking no part, simply seeking 

 amusement. Such will not care to attend. 

 It is a meeting for business, for deliberation, 

 to hear reports, to decide on the best methods 

 given. Men learn by asking questions. Here 

 may be the place whereby we may receive a 

 key which will unlock the many mysteries con- 

 nected with the most wonderful and mechan- 

 ical little insect. \Vc can equip ourselves with 

 the knowledge of how and when to act; where 

 we may become conversant with the nature 

 and habits of bees; discuss all questions per- 

 taining to them; receive the opinions of others- 

 which prove as valuable; where all matters 

 may be thoroughly ventilated; where we can 

 unite with profit and emphatically say no or 

 yes to all things common to the best interests 

 of the bee-keeper. Through our convention 

 proceedings the bee-keeping fraternity has be- 

 come awake to bettering conditions. Through 

 organization, and to my way of thinking, we 



hope to keep the interest of the bee-keeper 

 somewhere near its true level. 



To those who have not experienced the 

 helping influence of the state organization, 1 

 would say, try for yourselves. Who in our 

 ranks has not. or would not have, welcomed 

 valuable information on the honey crop and 

 the honey market at such times; and would 

 not be pleased to think j'owr crop, together 

 with that of your neighbor, could be handled 

 for you to the very best advantage. While 

 we have received valuable help in the past, 

 we start out this year equipped with the ad- 

 vantages of the past, expecting greater things 

 to develop in the future. 



I would like to impress upon you the ad- 

 vantage and necessity of co-operation with your 

 fellow bee-keepers in every possible way, for 

 co-operation is the great factor of the twen- 

 tieth century. 



Bee-keeping is a science and a progressive 

 science. Those who have the inclination are 

 investigating, and ready to give us new points 

 which will prove valuable. What we need in 

 this State, and in fact every State, is a greater 

 knowledge — a practical knowledge — of our in- 

 dustry. Here we have the privilege of listen- 

 ing to the papers and discussions of scientific 

 and practical men. We find development in 

 varied ways. Furthermore, we have men at- 

 tending our conventions who have become stu- 

 dents of the anatomy and physiology of the 

 bee, and there are depths which, as yet, have 

 not been reached. As one writer has said, 

 we are in a high-tension age, and consequently 

 look for greater results. No one would con- 

 sider the expense of our gathering — the meager 

 amount paid as dues — when compared with the 

 benefits derived. 



I see several wTiters have mentioned the sub- 

 ject of whether the bee does more harm than 

 good to the fruit-growers! I hope this ques- 

 tion will be discussed satisfactorily to all pres- 

 ent, and that each may take away enough in 

 his larder to be able to settle all disputes, or 

 accusations brought against the most useful 

 little insect. 



There is, however, one other feature that 

 I wish to mention, and though last, it is by 

 no means least. The social hand-shake, the 

 genial humor and sunny atmosphere which al- 

 ways seem apparent at our annual gather- 

 ings — the enthusiasm characteristic of our 

 brother bee-keeper. Business without pleasure 

 or sociability grows dull. There is an old 

 adage, "Work and then play," or business be- 

 fore pleasure. I have no objection to this, 

 but I think there is no harm to combine busi- 

 ness with pleasure. 



In conclusion I will say : Be yourselves. 

 Be at home. Exchange smiles as well as 

 thoughts, and we doubtless will make this 

 convention memorable for more than one rea- 

 son. Jacob Huffman. 



Monroe, Wis. 



The following paper by Miss Mathide 

 Candler, of Cassville, Wis., was read 

 by Secretary Dittmer: 



Wintering Bees on the Summer 

 Stands. 



I have been asked to prepare a paper on 

 wintering bees on their summer stands. I do 

 not know that I can add anything new to 

 this old. but ever interesting, subject; but, as 

 I have had fair success in wintering bees out- 



