JUNE 15, 1915 



495 



way he inserts si)lints makes one wonder 

 how lonjr it takes him to prepare a hundred 

 or a thousand frames. I do not use splints 

 any more. One of my greatest objections to 

 their use was the time it took, even when 

 they were ])ut in in the ordinary way. I 

 consider that the phin of painting- the foun- 

 dation with hot wax. after it lias been put 

 into wired frames, gives better results with 

 less labor. 



DOKS BOILING ALWAYS STERILIZE? 



In addition to what I said on page 975, 

 Dec. 15, 1914, I should like to add a warn- 

 ing against relying too much in high alti- 

 tudes on boiling to kill foul-brood bacteria. 



One thing that must be remembered, when 

 it comes to the question of sterilization by 

 boiling, is that liquids boil at a lower tem- 

 perature in a high altitude, such as we have 

 in the greater part of Colorado. Water 

 lioils, for instance, at 212 degrees at sea 

 level. Here it boils at about 202 degi'ees, 

 or eight degrees lower. In much of the 



beekeeping territory of Colorado, water 

 boils at 200 degrees or lower. So the state- 

 ment that boiling for a short time kills the 

 germs of foul brood at Washington, D. C, 

 might be perfectly true, and yet danger- 

 oush' deceptive to the beekeeper of the 

 mountain vallej's of Colorado. Furthermore, 

 bacterial life exists in two forms, and in 

 the form of sj^ores it will withstand a much 

 higher temperature than in the ordinai'y 

 form. 1 have seen the statement lately that 

 bacilli that, in the ordinary form, were 

 killed by a short boiling, had in the form 

 of spores remained alive after being sub- 

 jected to the temperature of boiling water 

 for sixteen hours. 



I liave seen a great deal of foul brood, 

 both in my own experience and in the 

 capacity of bee inspector; and as a result 

 of that experience I firmly believe that, for 

 for the average beekeeper, destruction by 

 fire is not only the safest but the cheapest 

 method of cure. 



Grand Junction, Colo. 



NOTES FROM GERMANY 



A Beekeepers' Association of Old Standiii| 



BY J. A. HEBERLE^ B. S. 



In the year 1850, prominent beekeepers 

 of Germany and Austria formed an organi- 

 zation to promote practical and theoretical 

 knowledge of beekeeping. The organization 

 called itself Wanderversnmmlung, and the 

 meetings which are held annually are known 

 by the same name. In 1885 Hungary joined 

 the association. 



The place where the session (which lasts 

 several days) is lield is selected at least one 

 year ahead. The countries take a turn 

 about — one year in Germany, the next in 

 Austria or Hungary. Usually several in- 

 vitations are presented. The selection is 

 decided by vote. The inviting local club 

 arranges for the time of meeting, and for 

 an exposition, and provides for social en- 

 tertainment and an excursion to some place 

 of interest. The; exjiosition includes bees, 

 honej', wax, and products thereof; hives, 

 tools and appliances, books, bee journals, 

 etc. A considerable amount in premiums 

 is distributed among the exhibitors accord- 

 ing to the recommendation of the judges 

 appointed for this purpose. 



The most interesting part of these meet- 

 ing are the numerous lectures by eminent 

 men of science, and practical beekeepers, 

 with the resulting discussions. This part 

 of the program is arranged by the executive 



of the Wanderversammlung. For admit- 

 tance to the exposition a small fee is charg- 

 ed to outsiders. These receipts and a con- 

 tribution from the govei'nment usually cover 

 all the expenses. 



Each country has its own officials which 

 arrange and conduct the meeting when held 

 in their country. The officers — a president, 

 a vice-president, a secretary, and four coun- 

 selors are elected for a term of six years by 

 a majority of the members present from 

 each country. They may be re-elected. Any 

 respectable beekeeper, by paying a fee of 

 75 cts. to one dollar becomes a member for 

 that meeting — is admitted free to all the 

 lectures, to the exposition, the entertain- 

 ments, etc., and has the right to vote. 



With few exceptions these meetings have 

 been held every year. In June, 1854, the 

 meeting that was to be held in Koln in 

 August was, owing. to the warlike disposi- 

 tion of Europe, postponed to 1855. In 

 July, 1859, on account of war disturbances, 

 the meeting was postponed till 1860. In 

 June, 1866, the president announced that, 

 " owing to the seriousness of the political 

 situation which prevails evervwhere, the 

 meeting will not be held this year." 



In 191.'? the meet was held at Berlin. 

 The exposition wound up with a deficit of 



