ESTABLI5HEC 

 0LDE5T BEE-PAPER 



C:FabUalied Weekly, at 91-00 per aaavan. 



Sample Copy sent on -Application, 



36tli Year. 



CHICAGO, ILL., DECEMBER 31, 1896. 



No. 53. 



The United States Bee-Keepers' Union. 



BY DR. A. B. MASON. 



On page 791, in a note under an article signed by 

 " Union," the editor says : 



"As Dr. Mason is really the 'father' of the New Consti- 

 tution, as well as Secretary of the New Union, we take pleas- 

 ure in referring to him any questions in the foregoing that 

 may require replies." 



Were it not that I have been receiving names, each ac- 

 companied by the fee for membership in the United States 

 Bee-Keepers' Union, I believe I should not have replied to the 

 queries by " Union," for, from the way he writes he evidently 

 knows what he is talking about. 



I believe it was the understanding with those who adopted 

 the New Constitution at Lincoln, that it was the start for a 

 now organization, and the feeling was that the National Bee- 

 Keepers' Union would adopt it ; but in the event the National 

 Union did 7iot adopt it, that the new organization would go on 

 and work under the New Constitution ; because it would do 

 the same work the old Union has been doing, and the added 

 work of prosecuting dishonest honey commission-jnen, and 

 those engaged in adulterating honey and selling it. 



I recently received a dollar from a bee-keeper for mem- 

 bership in the " Union," and not knowing whether he meant 

 the National Union or the United States Union, and being 

 desirous of carrying out his wish, I wrote him, to learn his 

 wishes, and his reply was such that his membership is with 

 the United States Union ; and this morning I received seven 

 names, accompanied by $7.00. The names and money had 

 been sent to another party, and upon his asking which Union 

 they wanted to join, the reply was, " The one that is going to 

 prosecute dishonest commission-men," etc. I understand that 

 the New Constitution is to be submitted to a vote of the 

 National Bee-Keepers' Union next month (January), and if it 

 is adopted, this money, and more that I have received for the 

 same purpose, will be handed to the treasurer of the new 

 organization. If it is not adopted, the money will be held and 

 used by the United States Bee-Keepers' Union. 



I imagine it is not a common occurence for seven bee- 

 keepers to get together and talk over the matter of prosecut- 

 ing fraudulent honey commission-men and honey adulterators, 



and forward their money for that purpose ; and I feel quite 

 confident that if the amalgaTaation is not accomplished, that, 

 as soon as practicable, measures will be taken to put the 

 United States Bee-Keepers' Union in such shape that it can 

 look after the work that it was organized to accomplish. 



We have such a good food law in Ohio, and such eflScient 

 officials to enforce it, that it is not at all probable that any of 

 the New Union's money will be needed to induce honey- 

 dealers to handle only the pure article in Ohio. 



Sta. B, Toledo, Ohio, Dec. 22. 



Season of 1896— Production of Comb Honey. 



BY J. A. GOLDEN. 



I expected at the opening of the honey season of 1896 to 

 have a pleasing report for the American Bee Journal, but, 

 alas, alas, it turns out a sad disappointment, and my creditors 

 will be compelled to favor my delinquency another year. 



The season for a good honey-flow in this locality opened 

 with bright prospects, and some twb weeks in advance of 

 former years ; bees built up very rapidly, and were in tiptop 

 condition for the supers, which were about two-thirds com- 

 pleted when all were raised and supplied with the second 

 super, having but one swarm which had been hived in a 

 double super, which completed 58 pounds of section honey 

 out of 72 sections placed on the hive (there being H un- 

 finished sections when the heavy rains set in, and completely 

 cut off the flow). And all the newly-supplied supers were 

 removed, and the partly-filled supers replaced, and instead of 

 completing the already two-thirds filled sections, all the honey 

 was carried below, and I had to feed some of the colonies be- 

 fore the fall flow came to their rescue. 



Had I not taken the 58 sections from the double super on 

 the colony that cast the swarm, and hived back as per my 

 method, I would not have gotten one pound of honey this 

 year. The remaining unfinished sections fared the same fate 

 as all the rest, leaving me several hundred beautiful drawn 

 combs for the wonderful white clover honey-flow we expect 

 to get next year I But I want to say right here, that there is 

 quite a difference between section comb drawn last year and 

 refilled with honey this year, and comb drawn and filled this 

 year, when it comes to eating them, and I would not put 

 such comb honey on the market as fancy, no difference from 

 what source the honey was gathered. In fact, I am aston- 

 ished to see such recommended so highly by some of our bee- 

 fraternity. Why, It does not take an expert to readily per- 

 ceive a vast difference — the refilled comb remains hard and 

 brittle, while the new drawn comb is soft and pliable when 

 taken into the mouth and chewed. I have not decided whether 

 I shall cut out the combs and render into wax, or use them 

 and extract ; doubtless I.would secure a large per cent, more 



