1896. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



11 



your annual gatherings, and the interest manifested in the es- 

 says read, and the discussions following, have confirmed my 

 belief in the great benefits to the apiarists of the State from 

 hearing and reading the proceedings of your meetings. 



Your committee has assigned me the very pleasant duty of 

 welcoming you to the beautiful capital of your State. You 

 are not only welcome to the hospitality of the city, but to our 

 homes and hearts. The good work your Association has done, 

 and is doing, entitles you to a very cordial and hearty recep- 

 tion, which you will receive at the hands of all who are made 

 acquainted with the object of your visit to Springfield. 



The good work you have assumed to perform for the bee- 

 keepers of Illinois, has been performed to the entire satisfac- 

 tion of all who are familiar with the very creditable reports 

 published by your organization. 



Having had exceptional advantages for a thorough exami- 

 nation of the work of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion, I do not hesitate to most heartily commend the efforts of 

 your Secretary, Mr. Stone, and other officers who have so ably 

 and heartily "co-operated with the leading spirits in the ad- 

 vancement of the best interests of this industry. 



With assurances of the high personal esteem with which 

 you are held by our citizens, I again assure you of a most cor- 

 dial welcome to the State capital. Chas. F. Mills. 



After the address, a vote of thanks was extended to Col. 

 Mills, and both he and Rev. Cobb were made honorary mem- 

 bers of the Association for the year 1896. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved, 

 when a recess was taken for the reception of members. 



The Secretary's report was read and approved, as follows: 



The summary of matters pertaining to our Association 

 for the year past, can be given in a very brief space of 

 time. Matters in this line are about like the honey crop for 

 this year. 



When we first sent out our cards for reports from the 

 members, in May, some answered that the prospect for a 

 honey-flow was promising ; but as the season advanced the 

 reports became more and more discouraging. When they were 

 sent out in September so few answered (and they very dis- 

 couragingly) that we did not think best to send again in 

 October. 



As to the membership in the Association : We think it is 

 on account of the poor season that we have had fewer fees 

 sent in than in other years. Why would it not be well to re- 

 duce the annual membership fee to 50 cents, instead of §1.00? 

 or why not make arrangements with the bee-papers on some 

 basis (to be arranged with them) by which a certain sum will 

 entitle a member to both membership and a bee-paper for one 

 year ? I would suggest that something be done along this 

 line, if possible. 



The expense of running the Association is not heavy, and 

 if it were, we think more money could be raised on a small 

 fee than on a large one. The principal thing is members, 

 not money. 



In the report last year I stated that we had a good many 

 of our Annual Reports, both 1st and 2nd, on hand, with no 

 postage to send them out. And as our last Legislature failed 

 to make an appropriation for us, we still have no postage to 

 send them. Some of the legislators asked for them for their 

 constituents, but many are still on hand. What shall be done 

 with them ? I am of the opinion that our 2nd Annual Re- 

 port, containing the proceedings of the North American Bee- 

 Keepers' Convention for 1893, at Chicago, and many things 

 relating to the honey exhibit at the World's Fair, will be a 

 desirable thing to have among bee-keepers, in years to come. 



As all were aware, we were troubled to get a date for our 

 Chicago meeting — after the collapse of the Coliseum — no Fat 

 Stock Show to secure us railroad rates. But, finally, as you 

 know, we fixed upon the time of the National Cycle Exhibi- 

 tion, Jan. 9 and 10, 1896. 



The time of this (Springfield) meeting was fixed by the 

 Executive Committee, soon after our meeting last year. And 

 when at a later date the di£Ferent associations of stock breed- 

 ers organized, and fixed their date, we were present and used 

 our influence to get them to meet at this date. But they set 

 their time of meeting for January. (They have now secured 

 an open rate of 13ii fare for the round trip.) We feel disposed 

 to present this matter to the Executive Committee, and advise 

 that this Association enter — and become one — with the other 

 farmers' organizations in forming what will be known as the 

 Illinois Stock Breeders' Association. We will thus, without 

 doubt, secure good railroad rates, and perhaps one fare for 

 the round trip, and be identified with them in whatever good 

 we may strive to obtain ; apart of which will be reports of our 

 meetings, programs, etc., printed along with the same of the 



other associations, comprising the Illinois Stock Breeders' 

 Association, at a very small cost. 



I might name the work that has been done by the com- 

 mittee on State Experimental Station, State Fair, etc., but 

 will leave that for the committee to report upon. 



The amount of fees received during the year, by the Sec- 

 retary, is just 75 cents more than that paid out per Secre- 

 tary's account. Jas. A. Stone. 



Dr. Miller moved that the recommendations in the Secre- 

 tary's report be taken up seriatim, and acted upon. Carried. 



The first was the sending out of the return postal cards, 

 for members to report condition of honey crop, bees, etc. On 

 this question there was considerable discussion, when it was 

 finally voted that they be sent out on June 1, July 15, and 

 Sept. 15. 



Treasurer Dr. Millerreported the amount received from 

 the former Treasurer as SS3.52, which still remained on hand. 

 The report was accepted. 



The convention then adjourned to 1:30 p.m., when the 

 meetiug was called to order by Pres. J. Q. Smith. A piano 

 was rolled into the room, and all listened to several songs by 

 Dr. Miller, some of them being joined in by Mr. York. The 

 Odd Fellows, who were in session in tne State House, crowded 

 into the doors after filling all the chairs in the room, and then 

 as Dr. Miller sang, " Lead Me to the Rock that is Higher than 

 I," we saw the tear-drops starting from eyes that were look- 

 ing in through one of the doors — showing how much the singer 

 was moving his hearers, and thus proving the merits of the 

 feast we had. 



The next recommendation in the Secretary's report was 

 taken up, on the reduction of the membership fees. 



Dr. Miller offered figures showing what was possible to be 

 done by adding the probable membership at 50 cents each to 

 an appropriation from the State, and then expend it in the 

 purchase of subscriptions to bee-papers. 



The afternoon session was consumed in each one present 

 suggesting what might be done, and finally the Secretary was 

 instructed to draw up a resolution to embody the sense of the 

 members, to be reported the next morning. 



A letter from the President of the Board of Directors of 

 the Illinois University to the Committee on Experimental 

 Station was read as follows : 



Urbana, III., Jun. 18, 1895. 



Jas. A. Stone, Geo. F. Robbins, W. J. Finch, Jr., Commit- 

 tee Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association, Bradfordton, 111. 



GeJif!eme?i :— Your communication of March 15,1895, 

 on the part of your Association, was duly considered at the re- 

 cent meeting of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station here. It was, however, decided that it was 

 not feasible at the present time to take up the matters re- 

 ferred to in your communication for investigation or experi- 

 ment. This does by no means indicate any want of apprecia- 

 tion of the importance of such work, but it is absolutely im- 

 possible for the Station to do all that would be desirable to 

 have done, or to fill at the same time all the requirements of 

 practical matters in the various lines of affairs coming under 

 the general title of Agriculture. One factor in the decision is 

 that the locality here is deemed a poor one for this work ; 

 while under the present circumstances it is not deemed feasi- 

 ble to establish such experiments elsewhere. 



The adverse decision concerning taking up in a prominent 

 way special questions in agriculture, does not include giving 

 such attention to the matter as will be possible in connection 

 with the other work that is being carried on here. We shall 

 be glad to be of any service, whenever it is possible, and some- 

 time more attention may be given to your practical lines of 

 investigation. 



I am, however, glad to inform you that instruction in 

 Apiculture is offered in the University, to be taught by Mr. 

 W. G. Johnson, who is a scientific entomologist, as well as a 

 practical bee-keeper. Very truly yours, 



T. J. BUKRILL, 



President Board of Directors. 



The convention then adjourned to meet at 9:30 a.m., the 



next day. 



[Concluded next week] 



Xlie McEvoy Foul Brood Treatment Is 



given in Dr. Howard's pamphlet on " Foul Brood ; Its Natural 

 History and Rational Treatment." It is the latest publication 

 on the subject, and should be in the hands of every bee-keeper. 

 Price, 25 cents ; or clubbed with the Bee Journal for one year 

 —both for $1.10. 



