104 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



get more accurate information. It is a 

 little to early yet to judge accurately of the 

 season. But we know enough already to 

 feel assured that a very large number of 

 bee-keepers will get no surplus. 



The drouth has interfered greatly with 

 nectar -secretion in many places, and es- 

 pecially here in Northern Illinois, but the 

 drouth was broken last night (July 19th) , 

 and the refreshing showers we are now 

 having will help to save the corn crop, and 

 likely to give the flowers another start. 

 The fall crop of honey may yet come to the 

 rescue, and make up for the lack of an 

 early crop. 



ISegfLnning JBee-Keeping-. — "Be- 

 fore starting in the business, the prospec- 

 tive bee-keeper should inform himself in 

 the art." So says Prof. Cook, and wisely, 

 too. One way to " inform himself " is to 

 read the American Bee Journal in connec- 

 tion with the standard books on bee-keep- 

 ing. It is a much mistaken idea to hope to 

 succeed in bee-keeping, or anything else, 

 without some prepartion or previous infor- 

 mation about the work to be undertaken. 



Xo Anierican Bee-Keepers. — Mr. 



Frank Benton, the pushing Secretary of 

 the North American Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion, has issued the following important 

 address : 



TO THE BEE-KEEPERS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



The North American Bee-Keepers' Asso- 

 ciation was organized in December, 1870, 

 with the avowed object of "promoting the 

 interests of bee-culture throughout North 

 America." All who are familiar with its 

 work know, and its published proceedings 

 also show, that it has adhered to this pur- 

 pose, and has contributed as much as any 

 similar society in the world to the spread 

 of a knowledge of practical and scientific 

 apiculture. Reviews, translations, and 

 citations from these Proceedings appear in 

 the apiarian journals of all European coun- 

 tries. Much has in this way been done by 

 this society toward giving to the American 

 system of apiculture the recognition which 

 its great merits justly entitle it to receive. 



APICULTURE PROOKESSING AND THE SOCIETY 

 FLOURISHING. 



The Association was never in a more 

 flourishing condition than at present, hav- 

 ing reached at the last meeting the highest 



membership it has ever possessed. But the 

 remarkable progress made by apiculture in 

 the United States and Canada within the 

 memory of many who are still among the 

 active members of this society— in fact, 

 the development of this industry until it 

 has become one of considerable national 

 importance— makes it certain, when we 

 consider the wide fields yet unoccupied, 

 that still greater things may be expected. 

 If all who are interested in this pursuit, 

 and are proud of the rank which the api- 

 culture of America holds are willing to as- 

 sist the objects of this Association to the 

 extent at least of becomhiij members and re- 

 tamhig cunthiuous membership, results not 

 merely gratifying to all, but substantial 

 benefits to every member will follow. The 

 field is wide enough for all, and there 

 should be no holding back through a spirit 

 dictated by a feeling that one's own ad- 

 vancement is hindered by the well-earned 

 progress of his fellow-man. Each should 

 have instead a just pride in the knowledge 

 that he has contributed to the general ad- 

 vancement. 



WHAT THE SOCIETY CAN DO. 



The North American Bee-Keepers' Asso- 

 ciation might aid in obtaining National 

 and State legislation favorable to the inter- 

 ests of apiculture, both in securing and 

 promoting attention to-: this branch at ex- 

 periment stations, and in checking the sale 

 of adulterated apiarian products. Should 

 this body be composed permanently (as it 

 certainly ought to be) of three-fourths or 

 more of the intelligent apiarists of the 

 country, its opinions, resolutions, and re- 

 quests would carry with them far more 

 weight and influence than they do at pres- 

 ent. The time has come, in fact, when 

 apiculture, having arrived at the dignity 

 of a distinct pursuit, and having enlisted 

 the attention of some 300,000 of our citizens, 

 has within itself forces worthy of much 

 consideration— forces that should be united 

 in order to do more eff"ective work. 



EVERY BEE-KEEPER, 



therefore, whose eye falls on these lines is 

 personally requested to ally himself with 

 the members of our society, whether he 

 can be present at the regular meeting or 

 not. The Proceedings, published in pamph- 

 let form, are sent to all who pay the annual 

 membership fee, and the names of all mem- 

 bers appear in the printed list. 



