1896. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



633 



likely as not the others had no surplus crop at all. The fact 

 is, it is aa extremely difficult matter to secure a just estimate 

 of the houey crop of any year. Of course, Gleanings is to be 

 commended for making the attempt, but the few reports 

 received out of the thousands who keep bees, cannot serve as 

 a reliable criterion, whether they be favorable or unfavorable, 

 or both. 



But we can rest assured of one fact, and that is, there is 

 no danger yet of an over-production of pure honey by the 

 bees. The only things just now that need worry the honest 

 producer are the adulterators of honey and the dishonest 

 houey commission-men. 



■*~*~^ 



Farmers' Institutes. — The International Associa- 

 tion of Farmers' Institnle Workers will hold its second meet- 

 ing at the Sherman House, Chii-ago, beginning Oct. 14, at 

 10:30 a.m., continuing two days. Most of the prominent 

 institute promoters in the United States and Canada are ex- 

 pected to be present and take part in discussing the various 

 phases of the work. You are urged to attend and have some 

 well digested experience or outline of some successful method, 

 ready for presentation. The regular program will bo supple- 

 mented by brief talks and discussions, which will give an 

 opportunity for asking and answering questions. 



The following general topics will be treated : " Develop- 

 ing New Workers," "Desirability and Methods of Securing 

 Exhibits," "Irrigation Topics as Applied to Institutes," 

 "Giving Instruction by Use of Models," "How to Broaden 

 Institute Work," " Causes of Failure and How to Overcome 

 Them," "Woman's Work in Institutes," "Closing Discussions 

 and Killing Off Bores," " Special Obstacles to Institutes in the 

 South," " How to Keep Up Interest." 



The discussion of these subjects will be opened with ad- 

 dresses or papers by K. L. Butterfield, of Michigan ; W. C. 

 Latta, of Indiana ; Jno. Hamilton, of Florida ;' G. A. Smith, 

 of New York ; B. W. McKeen, of Maine; C. C. Gregg, of Min- 

 nesota; Geo. McKerrow, of Wisi.-onsin ; Mary A. Mayo, of 

 Michigan ; Chas. F. Fox, of Idaho ; W. S. Devol, of Arizona ; 

 E. J. Vickson, of California ; R. E. A. Leoch, of Canada ; W. 

 W. Miller, of Ohio; O. Clute, of Florida, and others. 



Mr. F. W. Taylor, of Lincoln, Nobr., is the Secretary, to 

 whom application for further information can be made if 

 desired. 



Another Constitution. — About two months ago 

 we were invited to submit a new constitution for the North 

 American, for the consideration of the Committee on Amalga- 

 mation that was appointed at the Toronto meeting last year. 

 We complied with the request, sending in the following, which 

 provides for a representative organization, and which, we be- 

 lieve, would serve as a starter upon which both the Union and 

 the North American could unite without in the least interfer- 

 ing with the effectiveness of the Union : 



ARTICLE I.— Name. 



This organization shall be known as the "United States 

 Bee-Keepers' Association." 



ARTICLE II.— Object. 



Its object shall be : 1st. The protection of the interests 

 of its members. 2nd. The defense of their lawful rights. 

 3rd. The formation of a common bond of union among the 

 apiarian fraternity of the United States, ith. The dissemi- 

 nation of correct information concerning honey-bees and their 

 products. 



ARTICLE III.— Meetings. 



This Association shall hold meetings annually, at such 

 time and place as shall be selected by the Executive Commit- 

 tees, notices to be mailed to members 60 days previously, and 

 the same to be published in the bee-periodicals at least two 

 months before the meeting. 



ARTICLE IV.— DDES. 



The annual Membership Dues of this Association shall be 

 $1.00, payable in advance. 



ARTICLE v.— Membership.' 



Section 1. — The Membership of this Association shall be 

 composed of three classes, viz.: Representative, General and 

 Honorary, each of which shall pay the Secretary-Manager 

 one year's dues ($1.00) when joining, receiving receipt there- 



for, thus indicating the membership of the holder, and enti- 

 tling to all rights and benefits conferred by the Association for 

 one year from the date of payment. In order to retain mem- 

 bership in this Association, the advance annual dues must be 

 paid within three months after expiration of previous year's 

 dues. 



Sec. 2. — The Representative Membership of this Associa- 

 tion shall consist of two delegates to be selected by each 

 State association, and to be seated upon showing receipt for 

 payment of dues and presentation of proper credentials, the 

 same to be approved oy the Committee on Credentials. 



Sec. 3. — The General Membership shall consist of all, ex- 

 cepting Representative members, who join the Association by 

 the payment of annual dues. 



Sec. 4. — Honorary Membership shall consist of those who 

 may receive a two- thirds .vote of all the members present at 

 any annual meeting, in consideration of some valualale service 

 rendered in the interest of apiculture. Honorary members 

 may also become General members upon the payment of the 

 annual dues, and thus be entitled to all the benefits of the 

 Association. 



ARTICLE VI.— Officers and Duties. 



Sec. 1 — The oCBcers of this Association shall be, a Presi- 

 dent, Vice-President, Secretary-Manager, Treasurer, and 

 Attorney, whose duties (all except the last named) shall be 

 those usually performed by such officers. They shall consti- 

 tute the Executive Committee. 



Sec. 2. — The Vice-President shall also 'be the Committee 

 on Credentials of Representative Membership. 



Sec. 3. — The Secretary-Manager shall have in charge all 

 the legitimate work of the Association, and carry out the same 

 under the advice of the Executive Committee. 



Sec. 4.— The Treasurer shall furnish a bond of ,$1,000 

 for the faithful accounting of the funds of the Association, 

 the same to be approved by the President and Secretary- 

 Manager, who shall sign all vouchers for the paymentof funds. 



Sec. 5. — The Attorney shall attend to the legal work of 

 the Association, as directed by the Executive Committee, and 

 receive therefor the customary fees. 



Sec. 6. — All officers shall be elected by a majority ballot, 

 and hold their several offices for one year from January 1st, 

 or until their successors are elected and qualified. 



ARTICLE VII.— Election of Officers. 



All members in good standing on Dec. 1 shall have the 

 privilege of voting, which shall be done by mail, upon 

 proper blanks furnished (with a full list of membership) to 

 each member, by the Secretary-Manager, on that date, the 

 votes to be returned by the following January 1st. The An- 

 nual Report of the Secretary-Manager shall also accompany 

 the Voting-Blanks. 



ARTICLE VIIL— Funds. 



The funds of the Association shall be used for any pur- 

 poses in the interest of the pursuit of bee-culture, when ap- 

 proved by the Executive Committee, and to pay the legitimate 

 expenses of the Association. 



ARTICLE IX. — Salaries and Milage. 



Sec. 1. — The salary of the Secretary-Manager shall be 15 

 percent, of the gross annual membership Dues received in 

 each calendar year. He shall also be allowed the necessary cost 

 of a stenographer for taking the proceedings of ihe annual 

 meeting. 



Sec. 2. — The railroad mileageof the ExecutiveCommittee, 

 when attending the annual meetings, shall be paid by the 

 Association. 



Sec. 3. — The railroad mileageof the Representative mem- 

 bership shall be partially provided for in the following man- 

 ner : 20 per cent, of the gross amount of annual dues paid by 

 the membership of this Association found in each Slate, shall 

 be paid to the two delegates from such State attending the 

 annual meeting, to be equally shared by them. For instance ; 

 Any State having a membership in the Association of 100, 

 would be entitled to $20 to apply on the mileage expense of 

 her two delegates to the annual meeting. The mileage of any 

 State's delegates not equalling the amount such State is en- 

 titled to, the balance shall be paid into the Treasury of the 

 Association of such State. 



ARTICLE X. — Amendments. 



This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of 

 all the members, provided that all proposed amendments shall 

 be presented in writing, signed by five members, and sent to 

 the Secretary-Manager before Dec. 1, so that they may be 

 mailed with the Voting-Blanks and his Annual Report. 



