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THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



JVov. 19, 



and locust trees are very scarce, the persimmons not very 

 numerous, the sourwoods plentiful ; but I know only one lin- 

 den in the whole neighborhood of my apiary at Mr. Thomp- 

 son's. In the other, at Mr. Pavid's, the conditions are some- 

 what better, as there is an abundance of maples, and quite a 

 number of poplar trees in a tract of land one-half mile away, 

 which belongs to the county. 



I may add that there are several varieties of lindens 

 which do not bloom exactly together. They ought to be 

 secured so as to prolong the season as much as possible. 



SOWING ALONG THE BOADS. 



Planting trees along the roads naturally leads to sowing 

 along the roads, and in other waste places. This requires 

 some consideration. Where hogs are allowed to run at large, 

 as is the case in most of the Southern States, it would be per- 

 fectly useless to plant anything at all, as they will dig out 

 everything in sight. Where only the cattle are allowed out, 

 there it would be necessary to select some plant that they will 

 not touch, or at least not like very much. This depeuds 

 somewhat upon the number of animals out, and how hungry 

 they are. This condition cuts out the sweet clover entirely. 

 There is in the South another objection to sweet clover, that 

 is, it blossoms too soon. It begins here early in June, and 

 follows on, until there is a great number of seeds on the plant. 

 By that time the strength of the plant gives out, it ceases 

 blooming, and dies out in the early part of August. The yield 

 from that source would, therefore (in this locality), extend 

 only one, or perhaps, sometimes, two weeks beyond the sour- 

 wood. 



Our great drawback here from Aug. 1 till winter, is the 

 dry weather. With enough rain, we would have something 

 like a yield during August and September from some minor 

 sources, and plenty during October from the golden-rods and 

 asters. 



What we need is something that resists pasturing by the 

 cattle, that stands a strong drouth, and that blossoms during 

 August and September. Where to find it, I don't know, but 

 perhaps it might be found in California, judging by the excel- 

 lent articles of Prof. Cook on the California flora. 



PLANTING FOR HONEY AND FOKAGE. 



A good deal has been written lately about sowing Alsike 

 clover and sweet clover instead of red clover. To these people 

 I will say that Alsike clover and sweet clover have been tried 

 again and again, in different countries, during the last hundred 

 years or so, and invariably abandoned because they are in- 

 ferior to their competitors — the red clover, alfalfa and sain- 

 foin. The alfalfa gives the best results for hay when cut just 

 before it blossoms, which cuts off much of its usefulness as a 

 honey-plant. The sainfoin, on the other hand, is at its best 

 when the blossoming is nearly ended, and gives a strong yield 

 of first-class honey during about two weeks. I do not know at 

 what time of the year it would blossom here. 



The crimson clover has the disadvantage of blossoming 

 at a time of the year when the nectar from other sources is 

 already abundant. 



There is, however, a way in which sweet clover might be 

 profitably cultivated. There are plenty of worn-out lands in 

 the Southern States that can be bought for a low price — from 

 $5 to §10, or perhaps >i\.b, an acre, according to the location. 

 These could be sown to sweet clover, left to themselves a few 

 yoars, and finally the last growth of sweet clover turned un- 

 der, and by this their fertility would be restored at a very 

 small cost. In order to get the most honey possible, it would 

 be necessary so cut down at least a part of the sweet clover 

 before it blossoms, so as to retard the blossoming. The period 

 of nectar-producing might be thus exteuded perhaps several 

 weeks. Knoxville, Tenu. 



A Criticism on the New Constitutiou Adopted 

 at the Lincoln Convention. 



BY THOMAS G. NEWMAN. 



To the Officers and Members of the North American Bee-Keepers' 

 Association : 



Having received a proof of the Constitution of the pro- 

 posed "United States Bee-Keepers' Union," kindly sent me 

 for criticism by the genial Secretary, Dr. A. B. Mason, with 

 the request to have it submitted to the National Bee-Keepers' 

 Union at the next election, I have carefully weighed each of 

 its provisions, and will in all kindness and candor point out 

 some of its incongruities, as well as its lack of consistency and 

 completeness. 



If there is a successful "amalgamation," the new organi- 



zation should have a Constitution as near perfection as possi- 

 ble, and as I have been requested to criticise it, I do so cheer- 

 fully; and, with the best of intention, submit the following 

 remarks : 



Section 2 of Art. III. and Sec. 2 of Art. IV. are inappro- 

 priate in a Constitution. They prescribe as to who shall be 

 officers and members in the event of the adoption of the New 

 Constitution by the two societies if amalgamated, and are 

 clearly " out of order " in the Constitution — the document to 

 be thus submitted. They might have been subsequent " reso- 

 lutions," providing for exigencies, in case of the adoption of 

 the Constitution by both societies. 



Article V. creates an " Executive Committee," but nowhere 

 are the duties and powers of that committee defined, i^hould 

 the Executive Committee attempt to do anything, it must 

 necessarily interfere with the duties of the Board of Directors, 

 and a conflict of authority would ensue, which might disrupt 

 the organization and destroy its usefulness. 



If the Board of Directors be not the Executive Committee, 

 what is that Board created for ? What are its duties? And, 

 vice versa, it may be demanded — if the members of the Execu- 

 tive Committee are not to " direct " the business of the organi- 

 zation — what are they to do ? What are their duties ? 



Wten it is sought to obtain an incorporation under the 

 laws of the United States, or any one State, it will be found 

 that the Board of Directors is the only executive authority 

 recognized by the law, and the only body that can be elected 

 by the members; that it is the duty of the Board of Directors 

 even to elect the olHcers of the organization ; that all business 

 done by any other person is illegal and useless ; in other 

 words, that'the Board of Directors is the only legal "Execu- 

 tive Committee" — the only power to make or execute the laws 

 made for the government of the organization. If the Consti- 

 tution and By-Laws of the organization sought to be incorpor- 

 ated are not in accordance with the law, they will be ordered 

 changed by the State officers. That will cause serious delay — 

 for as the convention adopted the Constitution, after consid- 

 ering it section by section (as the Secretary informs me by 

 letter), the committee was discharged, and can have no 

 further power to change or modify anything ; their duties are 

 ended — that committee in fact no longer exists. 



Again, in Sec. 2, Art, V., there is another serious mistake. 

 The postal card ballots are required to be returned to a com- 

 mittee of fico members, appointed by the Executive Committee, 

 to " count " and " certify the result.'' Whoever heard of a 

 secret ballot being sent on a " postal card ?" and more ridicu- 

 lous is the idea that it should be mailed to two members — un- 

 less it is made in duplicate ! Or, was it contemplated to send 

 some to one member of the committee and some to the other 

 member? Suppose those "two members" should reside at 

 different points — perhaps some distance apart — how about 

 their getting together to "count" them, and who is to pay 

 the expense incurred ? Or would they be required to pay 

 their own expenses for the " honor " conferred on them by the 

 " Executive Committee ?" Manifestly they ought to be sent to 

 one, and should be in a sealed envelope, to be opened in the 

 presence of the wliole committee, so as to preserve their 

 secrecy and integrity. 



Again these ballots will be accompanied with the dollar 

 for Dues, and in many cases (if not all), will be forwarded to 

 the General Manager. If they are sealed as they were last 

 year, is that not the proper person to receive them as well as 

 the Dues, for he only can determine who is entitled to vote, 

 by the Dues being paid ; then for him to call the committee 

 together is consistent and proper, in order to open, count and 

 certify as to who are elected ? 



Article VI., Sec. 3, provides that the Secretary of the 

 Union "shall pay to the Treasurer of the Union all moneys 

 left in his hands after paying the expenses of the annual meet- 

 ing.'' Here is a big " loop-hole 1" Article IX. states, " this 

 Union shall hold annual meetings at such times and places 

 as shall be agreed upon," etc. Does the Secretary pay the 

 mileage and per diem of the officers or members, or both ? If 

 not, it would be better to have it deflnitely stated. 



Section 6 of Art. VI. provides also that the Board of 

 Directors "shall meet at such time and place as it may decide 

 upon." How are their expenses to be paid ? If mileage and 

 per diem are to be paid, it should be so stated, and the rates 

 ought to be determined by the Constitution or By-Laws. If 

 they are to pay their own expenses, that fact should also be 

 mentioned before they are elected, for some may object to 

 being so taxed. This is a broad country, aud such a Board 

 should be located so as to represent the whole of it. and the 

 expense of such a compulsitory meeting would be no mean 

 item, whether it came out of the funds of the Union or out of 

 the pockets of the honorary Board. This is a serious matter, 



