F*tib7fsherf WeeU^ly, at ^IMO per annum. 



Sample Copy sent on A.pft1ioation, 



36th Year. 



CHICAG-O, ILL., OCTOBER 22, 1896. 



No. 43. 



Report of the Proceedings 



OF THE 



Twenty-Seventh Annual Convention 



OF THE 



North American Bee-Keepers' Association, 



HELD AT 



LINCOLN, NEBR , October 7 and 8, 1896. 



BY DR. A B. MASON, SEC. 



The convention was called to order by the President, A. I. 

 Root, of Medina, Ohio, at 10:15 a.m., in the chapel of the 

 State University, at the close of the students' chapel service. 

 During this service most of the bee-keepers present were 

 seated on the platform, with the Chancellor of the University. 



Master Johnnie Heath, the 12 year old son of H. E. 

 Heath, the editor of the Nebraska Farmer, gave a piano solo, 

 entitled "Ben-Hur March." 



Then came the following paper by Hon. E. Whitcomb, of 

 Friend, Nebr., on 



linportHiice of Watering in the Apiary. 



Many bee-keepers have entirely overlooked the impor- 

 tance of brineing water into the apiary and thus allowing the 

 bee to search for this much-needed article as best she can, and 

 usually at a great loss to the colony, especially during the 

 warm days in winter and early spring. Like the farm or 

 dairy, it is a close attention to the small items that pays best, 

 and uegligenc'e in the apiary is just as prolific of losses as 

 when applied to any other industry. Many of us as bee-keep- 

 ers do not consider the important uses to which water is ap- 

 plied in the apiary, or the losses resulting from a neglect to 

 fully and carefully supply it. 



The necessity of water by the honey-bees is to dissolve 

 honey which sometimes becomes candied in the cells, and in 

 brood-rearing they can make but little progress without an 

 abundant supply of water. In early spring, when compelled 

 to go long dlstanc^es or to secure a supply from hydrants, 

 tanks, brooks or drains, the losses will be Oeyond cnmprehen-' 

 sion, and the ' areful apiarist is fully aware of the value of 

 these little water-gatherers at this season of the year. Ho 

 could well afford to lose four times their number a month or 

 two later on. It is apparent that many cases of so-called 

 spring-dwindling is traceable to the want of water of the 

 proper temperature supplied atconvenient places in the apiary. 



The advantages of providing water for the bee is, Orst. to 

 avoid the disease called thirsi; second, when allowed to for- 

 age away from the apiary they obtain, oftentimes, that which 

 is impure atid of so low a temperature that it is injurious to 

 the delicat" orgatiistn of the bee, and it becomes chilled and 

 cannot return to the hive. 



To obviate these difiictilties I bring the water in close 

 proxtmity to the -lolony, in all its purity, and lit a cotidition of 

 temperature best suited to meet the reyutrements of the deli- 

 cate fiirtn of the bee. Thus she may secure an abundatit sup- 

 ply on making the shortest possiiile jnurney to and fro, and 

 also at a temperature even warmer thau the surrounding 



atmosphere. Many of us have taken great pains in locating 

 the apiary to secure the most sheltered point, where the chill- 

 ing winds of spring may be the least liable to reach them, and 

 at the same time have allowed our bees to wander out perhaps 

 a mile into the cool currents of air in questof water, perchance 

 sipping the water from tanks or streams almost ice cold, and 

 yet our colonies wintered fairly well, but we complain of los- 

 ing a great per cent, by spring dwindling, and giving the mat- 

 ter a little thought, water had the most to do with our difficul- 

 ties. 



To avoid this altnost entirely, I have adopted the plan of 

 supplying an abundance of pure drinking water in easy access 



Chancellm- McLean, of Nebraska State University. 



to the colony. To accomplish this as effectually and cheaply 

 as possibly, I use the otie-half gallon fruit-jar, removing the 

 screw top and rubber (any tii;ht vessel will answer equally as 

 well), atid takitig an intth ho rd from four to eight inches 

 square (the size is immaterial) ; now with a small gauge or a 

 cotiimon pocket-knife cut a groove diagonally across the block 

 nearly front one corner to the opposite one, takitig care not to 

 cut the groove quite to the cortier. The cetiter of this block 

 may be cut out to stiit your fancy, and may he turned if so 

 desired, and you have an excellent and cheaply devised water- 

 ing apparatus. 



Now (ill the jar with water, placing the block over the 

 mouth of the jar, invert the whole, and set in convenient 

 places or desired points in the apiary. The points I claitn for 



