174 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



race or variety, and the natural result 

 is a predominance of cross-breeds. 



From past experience with hundreds, 

 yes, thousands of colonies of Italians, 

 blacks and hybrids, under widely dif- 

 ferent conditions, we have not yet been 

 brought to recognize any superior 

 honey-gathering qualities in the amia- 

 ble beauties over the good, old-time 

 Germans of more irritable disposition. 

 That there may exist, in a general 

 sense, a degree of superiority in this 

 respect, we are neither inclined nor 

 qualified to dispute. What we have 

 seen and experienced is but a very 

 small part of that which exists within 

 the pale of American apiculture; yet, 

 like all others, we have our own ideas 

 and personal preferences, and this 

 preference is emphatically in favor of 

 the industrious strain which results 

 from selection in breeding from ener- 

 getic stock, regardless of race or color. 

 This trait we have found as frequently 

 or oftener in dark bees than among 

 Italians. Nor does our experience ac- 

 cord with the conclusions of J. B. 

 Crane, so interestingly expressed sev- 

 eral months since in the Bee-Keepers' 

 Review, that the excellent honey-gath- 

 ering chai'acteristic of the blacks is 

 confined to localities yielding strong, 

 dark and inferior grades of honey. 



We have found the black race fully 

 the equal of the Italians, as to work- 

 ing propensity, in localities where the 

 chief crops come from basswood and 

 clover, mangrove and cabbage palm, 

 sage, bellflower, etc., all of which yield 

 nectar of the lightest color and of mild 

 or delicate flavor. 



The bee-eating habit of the dragon 

 fiy is afiirmed by Professor Gook in the 

 American Bee Journal. 



"Bee-Keeping in Cuba and Porto 

 Rico" is the subject of an interesting 

 paper by Mr. O. 0. Poppleton, read be- 

 fore the Om.aha convention. It will ap- 

 pear in our next issue. 



Ortohe" 



THE U. S. B. K. U. CONVENTION. 



The convention of the United States 

 Kee-Keepers' Union was held as ap 

 pointed in Omaha, Sept. 13-15. We had 

 anticipated the pleasure of presenting 

 some convention notes in this number, 

 but up to the hour of gomg to press 

 they have not yet arrived. We have, 

 however, received copies of some of the 

 essays, which are instructive and in- 

 tensely interesting reading. We shall 

 publish them later. 



The meeting is said to have been 

 the very best and most harmonious as- 

 semblage of bee-keepers ever held in 

 this country by a national association. 



Hon. E. Whitcomb, Friend, Neb., 

 was elected president; C. A. Hatch, 

 Ithaca, Wis., vice president. Dr. A. B. 

 Mason was re-elected secretary. 



Herman F. Moore in American Bee 

 Journal discourages the practice of 

 cleaning all the propolis, etc., from sec- 

 tions. He thinks in the eye of the 

 prospective consumer these adherents 

 impart convincing evidence of genuine- 

 ness and purity — serve to remind them 

 of the honey of childhood days, etc. 

 This advocacy of retrogression con- 

 trasts strikingly with Mr. Moore's us- 

 ually progressive views. 



Short, "meaty" articles on bee-keep- 

 ing subjects are always wanted at this 

 office. The fewer words employed in 

 clearly conveying an idea the better. If 

 you have anything instructive or inter- 

 esting to tell, write it up as concisely 

 as possible and send it in, either defi- 

 nitely stating your price for same or 

 leaving its value to be determined by 

 the editor. Manuscripts thus sub- 

 mitted should be accompanied by re- 

 turn postage. Lengthy, verbose dis- 

 cussions cannot be accepted. Terse, 

 pointed compositions, with photos for 

 illustration, are especially desired and 

 will be paid for immediately upon ac^ 

 ceptance. 



