378 



GLEANIJs'GS IN BEE CULTURE 



The subject of a law to j^revenl the intro- 

 duction and spread of contagious bee dis- 

 eases Avas thoroughly discussed. All were 

 agi-eed that the time was ripe for the bee- 

 keepers of the province to ask for such a 

 law; and it was finally decided that the 

 association petition the legislature, now in 

 session, to take action in the matter. In 

 view of the fact that the proATnce is prac- 

 tically free from the dread disease " foul 

 brood," it was felt that a law to prevent its 

 introduction would best suit our needs. 



It wa.s finally agreed that a law be asked 

 for, modeled after that of Ontario, witli 

 a clause such as is found in the British 

 Columbia act to give the Minister of Agri- 

 culture power to order bees coming into the 

 province on their comb to be placed in 

 quarantine for a fixed period. It was stated 

 that the disease probably did exist in the 

 province at a few isolated points. In order 

 to prevent its spread, and to find and stamp 

 it out if it did exist, it was decided that a 

 clause should be inserted in the law to pro- 



liibit transj>ortation companies from carry- 

 ing bees on their combs from point to point 

 in the province, except such as bore an 

 inspector's certificate of recent inspection. 



It has been i-ecognized that one of the 

 greatest drawbacks to an increased interest 

 in beekeeping in this province was a lack of 

 easy access to a source of good beekeepers' 

 supplies. Last season the association han- 

 dled supplies at cost for its members 

 through its secretary. Objection to this was 

 raised, so a new plan was adopted. This 

 season the county secretaries or directors 

 have been authorized to collect and forward 

 to the president all orders for supplies from 

 all members in their respective counties. 

 The president will combine these orders and 

 forward them to the supply concern offer- 

 ing greatest inducements. The goods will 

 be shipped direct to the parties ordering. 



The matters of exhibition prize lists, mar- 

 kets, etc., Avere briefly discussed, and the 

 meeting adjourned. 



Woodstock, N. B. 



NOTES FROM GERMANY 



BY J. A. HEBERLE, B.S. 



Dr. U. Kramer, a well-known author on 

 apiculture, and one of the erainenr bee- 

 keepers of Europe, died at the age of 70, 

 on Aug. 19, at his home in Zurich. Since 

 1881 he has been one of the directors, and 

 for nearly twenty years the pi'esident, of 

 the Association of Swiss Bee-friends. Un- 

 der his management, with able assistance, 

 the association has prospered, and is prob- 

 ably the most perfect organization beekeep- 

 ers have in any land. The association has 

 a very ably edited bee-journal, an insurance 

 against damages by foul brood, and a good 

 working system of controlling the honey of 

 such members as desire to avail themselves 

 of it. This controlled honey is sold as 

 " cheeked," the purchaser having the best 

 assurance that he gets pure honey. Queen- 

 rearing, select breeding to improve the na- 

 tive race (the black German bee), mating 

 stations, etc., ai'e largely due to the initia- 

 tive and fostering care of Dr. U. Kramer. 

 He succeeded in uniting and inspiring un- 

 der his supervision a large number of well- 

 trained breeders who have attracted the at- 

 tention and aj)proval of the German-speak- 

 ing beekeepei's of Europe. The association 

 of German-speaking beekeepers of Switzer- 

 land is a living monument to Dr. Kramer, 

 its formei- ])resident. 



POISONOUS riONEY. 



The hoiiev gatliered hv the bumblfhee 



should not be eaten, becau.se these insects 

 gather nectar from the poisonous Aconitum. 

 Xenophon relates that his soldiers were poi- 

 soned by eating honey near Trapezund. 

 According to investigations it is believed 

 that the Rhododendron ponticiim and tlie 

 Bh. flavnm, which are diligently visited by 

 the honeybee, furnished the honey for Xen- 

 ophon's soldiers. In the deserts of Urugi;ay 

 the French botanist Saint Hilaire had a 

 rather dangei'ous experience. On one of 

 his excursions he found a wasp-nest on a 

 low bush. He considered it an excellent 

 addition to his breakfast. Very soon he 

 and his two attendants noticed the poison- 

 ous effects. Fiist he felt a severe pain in 

 the stomach; then illusions troubled him. 

 Tears ran fi'om his eyes, succeeded by 

 laughing-spells almost to exhaustion. Fi- 

 nally his sight failed him, and he thought 

 his end Avas near. Two companions who 

 came upon them toward evening succeeded 

 in bringing him to consciousness by infus- 

 ing with warm water. The next day an 

 Indian who ate honey from a nest of the 

 .same variety of wasp, the Lacheguana, suf- 

 fered no inconvenience at all. Probably 

 these wasps had gathered only from non- 

 poisonous jilants. — Kosmos, Stuttgart. 



HKATHER — ERICA VULGARIS. 



This plant is in northern Germany quite 

 important for tlie beekeepers. Extensive 



