1898. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



It has now been definitely decided 

 to hold the United States Bee-Keepers' 

 Union convention at the Delone hotel, 

 corner Fourteenth street and Capitol 

 avenue. Omaha, Neb., Sept. 13, 14 and 

 15. Mr. B. Whitcomb, who has in 

 charge the apiarian branch of the 

 great Trans-Mississippi Exposition 

 has made all necessary arrangements 

 for the entertainment and comfort of 

 members in attendance, at reduced 

 rates. For those who find it conven- 

 ient to be present, we bespeak a most 

 enjoyable time. 



A correspondent from the south 

 writes that moths are bad this year, 

 and reports the loss of several colonies 

 as a result of their attacks. It would 

 be strange, indeed, if this should be a 

 year in which moths were not bad in 

 the south, for they are there constantly 

 on the alert for neglected combs; but 

 the moth fares poorly in a well-kept 

 apiary in any country. Our own neg- 

 lect has been directly responsible for 

 every comb that we have lost by moths. 

 They are bred by negligence and upon 

 the fruits of carelessness thrive and 

 grow fat. 



The officers of the new organization 

 for the development and protection of 

 the queen-rearing industry of the 

 United States, as shown on another 

 page, all hail from Dixie's land Mr. 

 Hufstedler lives in Texas, Mr. Case has 

 his apiaries in Florida, Mr. Pridgen's 

 home is in North Carolina, while Mr. 

 Grimsley is located in Tennessee. Any 

 movement tending to improve our stock 

 and to encourage and protect honora- 

 ble business methods, is worthy of 

 commendation, and, so long as the pro- 

 visions of the constitution are adhered 

 to, good work may reasonably be ex- 

 pected to result from this united effort 

 of competent breeders. We trust the 

 National Queen Breeders' Union may 

 realize a successful and complete ful- 

 fillment of its mission. 



A correspondent in American Bee 

 Journal speaks of a queen "hatching" 

 from the cell. By way of correction 

 Mr. Doolittle says: "Emerge, not 

 hatch; the larvae hatch." The sug- 

 gestion is a good one, though its im- 

 portance is generally disregarded by 

 writers of the day; and if the afore- 

 said correspondent should feel disposed 

 to defend his expression as correct, 

 there would be no lack of authorities 

 who might be cited to justify its use. 

 He might quote the author of "Scien- 

 tific Queen-Rearing" with some effect. 



Of Mr. Thomas W. Cowan, who, in 

 com_pany with Mrs. Cowan, has been 

 visiting America this year. Editor 

 Root, of Gleanings, says he is the most 

 talenied and best informed bee-keeper 

 living today; that he has traveled over 

 nearly the whole civilized world; reads 

 eleven different languages; has had 

 honors innumerable conferred upon 

 him by diffenent societies for the aid 

 he has given in the advancement of 

 science; is editor of the British Bee 

 Journal; is president of the British 

 Bee-Keepers' Association; has the most 

 extensive library relating to bees of 

 any man in the world; is familiar with 

 the writings and teachings of the bee- 

 masters, in whatever language, from 

 the ancients down; yet he is modest, 

 unassuming and of quiet manner. Is 

 this not a distinguishing charactt^ristic 

 of all truly great men? Intellectual de- 

 velopment begets charity, of which 

 modesty is the offspring. 



WHITE, OR DARK SECTIONS? 

 Some very sensible suggestions have 

 been offered through our exchanges of 

 late regarding the inexplicable prefer- 

 ence of bee-keepers in general for a 

 snow-white section, when, it is a fact 

 unquestioned, that the whiteness of the 

 comb is displayed to better advantage 

 in "cream" sections. A very radical de- 

 parture from established customs is 

 not liable to meet with general ap- 



