June, inTi. 



American Hee Journal 



endeavor tliat works for the better- 

 ment of Wisconsin bee-keeping. 



Wisconsin University is ready to 

 recognize apiculture. Why is it not 

 done ? A real demand for its recogni- 

 tion is necessary, and who is more 

 capable of voicing a real demand for 

 such recognition, and more sincere in 

 voicing that demand than the State 

 Bee-Keepers' Association ? If your 

 meeting had been held in January in- 



stead of this month, and such a demand 

 as I mention, in the form of a request, 

 had been handed in so that its influ- 

 ence could have been brought to bear 

 about two weeks ago, when Prof. San- 

 ders conferred on this subject with 

 Dean Russell, a trial course in bee- 

 keeping, with a small apiary offered, in 

 the Summer School this coming sum- 

 mer, might have been secured. 

 Madison, Wis. 



Convention ^ Proceedings 



Report of the New York State 

 Bee-Keepers' Meeting 



The annual meeting of the New York 

 State Bee-Keepers' Association was 

 held in Syracuse, N. Y., Jan. 'SO and 31, 

 1912. The meeting was well attended. 



Mr. H. B. Tyrrell, editor of the Bee- 

 Keepers' Review, gave an address on 

 co-operation. It seemed to be the gen- 

 eral sentiment that co-operation is a 

 good thing, and a coming thing. 



H. L. Case and Oscar Dines gave a 

 description and illustration of the plan 

 they use in rearing queens. This plan 

 greatly simplifies the labor of queen- 

 rearing, yet it produces as good queens 

 as the more laborious method. 



Prof. H. A. Surface, of Harrisburg, 

 Pa., gave an address on, "Better Keep 

 Bees, Keep Better Bees, Keep Bees Bet- 

 ter, the Cause and Prevention of Swarm- 

 ing." Among the points mentioned 

 were, that orchardists should keep bees 

 unless others kept some near them; 

 that we should constantly seek to im- 

 prove our strain of bees; that we 

 should thoroughly ripen our honey on 

 the hive; that swarming is caused by 

 conditions that tend to make the bees 

 uncomfortable, and is largely prevented 

 by removing these conditions; that 

 non-swarming strains are apt to swarm 

 if these conditions are present. 



Mr. R. F. Holtermann gave an ad- 

 dress on the control of swarming. 

 This address contained a number of 

 points worth knowing. 



The discussion on bee-diseases 

 showed that since the nature of Euro- 

 pean foul brood has come to be quite 

 generally understood, it has lost most 

 of its terror to the bee-keepers of this 

 State. 



There was considerableanxiety mani- 

 fested as to the nature of the Isle of 

 Wight disease. The State Department 

 of Agriculture was asked to investigate 

 this disease to the end that they might 

 be in a position to assist in its prompt 

 suppression should it appear. The 

 United States government was asked 

 to take such measures as might be 

 necessary to prevent the importation 

 of this disease, even should it be nec- 

 essary for a time to prohibit the impor- 

 tation of bees or honey from places 

 where the disease is known or believed 

 to exist. 



A vote of thanks was given Dr. Har- 

 vey W. Wiley, for his untiring zj»1 and 



unswerving integrity in the enforce- 

 ment of pure food laws. 



Irving Kenyon, Sec. 

 Camillus, N. Y. 



Wisconsin Association Meeting 



The 33d annual convention of the 

 Wisconsin State Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion was called to order at 10:30 a.m., 

 by Vice-President F. Wilcox, at Madi- 

 son, Wis., Feb. 20, 1912. 



The minutes of the last convention 

 were read and approved. The Secre- 

 tary's report was read, followed by the 

 Treasurer's report, and, on motion, 

 both reports were accepted. 



The Question-Box was then taken up. 



Question— Considering the unusuallycold 

 weather, what may be tlie results of outdoor 

 wintering? Ans. — It all depends upon the 

 preparation niade for outdoor wintering, 

 and the condition of the colony. All colo- 

 nies put in strong, with food near the clus- 

 ter, and properly prepared, should winter 

 all right; the weak colonies will probably 

 perish. Continued cold is better than open 

 winter weather. The entrances should be 

 kept open, as the bees will worry when they 

 find themselves shut in. 



QuEs.— Is it profitable to wrap hives with 

 building paper in the spring, after being 

 taken out of the cellar? Ans.— It was the 

 decided opinion of those who are in the 

 habit of covering theirhives in this way that 

 it is a success, and well pays for the expense 

 and trouble. Express paper was claimed to 

 be better than building paper, as it will not 

 break in folding. Mr. Allen showed asample 

 of heavy paper that he used, that will not 

 break in folding. 



QifES. — How much bisulphide of carbon 

 should be used for a pile of comb-honey 

 supers, piled 15 high ? Ans. — It depends 

 upon the tightness of the pile. Mr. Ochsner 

 uses burning sulphur in a closed room. Mr. 

 Allen thinks 15 supers too high, and one 

 ounce enough for a pile. Most of the mem- 

 bers never find the need of any such treat- 

 ment tor new comb honey. Store it at once 

 in a place by itself, and away from the old 

 combs, as moths will not get into comb 

 honey, unless exposed near brood or ex- 

 tracting combs. 



QifES. — Is it advisable to take bees out of 

 the cellar NIarch ist. and leave them out if 

 they are showing any signs of dysentery at 

 this time ? Ans.— It depends upon what the 

 weather is March ist. If favorable, give 

 them a flight and return them to the cellar. 

 Nlr. Chase put them out March 17th. cover- 

 ed them with paper and left them out. He 

 believes it saved his bees. A bee-keeper 

 with many bees can not put them out and 

 in as easily as one with only a few. and must 

 necessarily take some chances. 



QuES — Is it necessary to feed strong colo- 

 nies in the spring, for the purpose of stimu- 

 lating brood-rearing? Ans.— Most of the 

 members advised lettini; them alone, if they 

 have plenty of stores. It might be advisable, 

 in a case where there is no early bloom of 

 any kind tor the bees to work on. Too much 

 feeding creates suspicion of making sugar 



honey, and should be avoided. If one colony 

 has honey to spare, give to the one short. 



The convention adjourned to meet 

 at 1 :30 p.m. 



Afternoon Se.s.si()n. 



The convention was called to order 

 by thf President, Jacob Huffman, at 

 1 Ab p.m. 



On motion, and by unanimous vote, 

 the visitors who were present, consist- 

 ing of C. P. Dadant, of Hamilton, 111., 

 George W. York, of Chicago, 111., and 

 Paul Hunten, of Colorado, were made 

 honorary members of this Association. 



QuEs.— Is there any race of bees ahead of 

 the 3-bandcd Italians? Ans.— Some claim 

 a decided preference for the Carniolans, 

 giving good reasons, but most of the bee- 

 keepers favor the Italians. 



Oi'ES. — Do any of the golden Italians come 

 up to the j-banded for honey or wintering? 

 Ans.— The difference between the 3-banded 

 and golden Italians is considered largely a 

 matter of fancy. 



QuES.— Is the Jones system a sure control 

 of swarming, when running for comb honey ? 

 Ans. — This system finds no favor with any 

 one here. It is too radical, too weakening, 

 and the result not always sure. 



QuES— Which is better in a dry cellar, 

 bottoms oft and covers on. or both bottoms 

 and covers ofl with quilts on top? Ans.— 

 Bottoms off, with tight covers. 



QuES.— How do you fill 00-pound cans? 

 Gross weight (>o pounds, or do you put 60 

 pounds into the can ? Ans —It should be 60 

 pounds net weight in the can. if you sell it 

 for bo pounds. Both the federal and the 

 Wisconsin laws are stringently positive on 

 this question; a seller must furnish the 

 weight and measure claimed. 



QuEs.— Are the Carniolans any better for 

 comb honey than the Italians? Ans.— Mr. 

 C>chsner says they are better workers, also 

 make a better and smoother capping, are 

 very gentle, and are handled without a veil. 

 He claims they are distinct from either the 

 Italians or blacks. 



The conventipn then proceded to the 

 reading of the papers presented by the 

 following members : Gustav Gross, H. 

 H. Moe, which was read by the Secre- 

 tary, F. Wilcox, George W. York, E. D. 

 Ochsner, A. C. Allen, Harry Lathrop. 



After the reading of the papers the 

 President declared a recess, to give the 

 awarding committee time to report on 

 them. 



The committee on awards reported 

 as follows : 



ist Premium, A. C. Allen $5 00 



2d " E D. Ochsner 300 



3d " Harry Lathrop 2 00 



4th " Gustav Gross 100 



The report was accepted, and the 

 Secretary was authorized to draw or- 

 ders for the several amounts. 



The following resolution was pre- 

 sented by F. Wilcox ; 



Rtsolved. That the Wisconsin State Bee- 

 Keepers' Association, in convention assem- 

 bled, does hereby become a branch of the Na- 

 tional Association, and ask recognition 

 when 25 or more of our members shall have 

 become members of the National Associa- 

 tion. 



On motion the resolution was adopt- 

 ed. 



Evening Session. 



The convention was called to order 

 by the President at 8 p.m. 



QiEs— Which is the better way to get 

 early increase, by natural swarminf or by 

 dividing? Ans —Divide and furnish each 

 with a young queen. Do not divide your 

 strongest colonies, but let them alone. If 

 you are bound to divide, use your medium 

 colonies for that purpose, and let the weak 

 ones alone. 



Oi'ES — What feed is the best for fall and 

 spring feeding ? Ans.— Honey is always the 

 best, and sugar syrup is the next best. In 

 the spring Is the only time for stimulative 

 feeding. 



OtE.s.— Is a steam-heated knife practical 



