THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



811 



the desire is to obtain such a race or 

 strain of bees as will be conducive to 

 that end. 



With the above object in view, I 

 shall therefore tell what 1 have now 

 and what I prefer. I have as yet 

 found none having all the good 

 qualities and being possessed of none 

 of the bad ; and none therefore that 

 suit me in every particular. I am not 

 now breeding either Cyprians or 

 Syrians in their jjurity for my own 

 use, but for experimental purposes 

 and to supply the demand for pure 

 Stock. It must not, however, be sup- 

 posed because of this that they are 

 not without many good qualities ; 

 such is not the case. 



Different climates have different 

 requirements, as evidenced by the 

 success of Mr. 13. F. Carroll, of Texas, 

 with pure Cyprians, and of Mr. A. 

 W. Osburn, in Cuba, with Holy-Land 

 bees or Syrians. I simply assert that 

 they are not so suitable for our 

 clirnate as are others. After the ex- 

 perience of years I find that for this 

 particular climate, several crosses 

 give far better results than do the 

 races in their purity. This experience 

 is the outcome of experiments con- 

 ducted on an extensive scale, and 

 with all possible care as to selection 

 and breeding — the latter on isolated 

 islands in the Georgian Bay. Crosses 

 between Italians and Cyprians or 

 Syrians, and between Carniolans and 

 Cyprians or Syrians, seem to give the 

 best results. One-third Cyprian or 

 Syrian is sufficient with two-thirds 

 Italian, or half Carniolan and half 

 Cyprian or Syrian, work well together. 



While bees are all crossed the same, 

 the results vary for a time till tlie 

 strains become more fixed. It is not 

 well to decide because the first cross 

 is of extraordinary value, that you 

 have found just what you are seeking 

 for; in after experience you will find 

 that they seldom duplicate themselves 

 in this respect. These first crosses 

 are too often adopted as the standard, 

 with the impression that breeding 

 from them will always give equally 

 good results. Who knows, unless 

 with proper facilities for breeding, 

 what these crosses are 'i On the 

 islands of which 1 have spoken, I 

 have found that at all times I cannot 

 be successful, especially in those par- 

 ticular points that I most desire. 

 Unless the mating of the queen can 

 be better controlled than now, per- 

 fection cannot be reached, and the 

 best races or strains of bees produced. 



The breeds of horses and other ani- 

 mals over which we have perfect 

 control,are being constantly improved, 

 through persistent efforts which have 

 been going on for hundreds of years ; 

 it is not a mere assumption, then, to 

 assert that by crossing, re-crossing, 

 selecting and re-selecting, we certainly 

 make much progress ; but these opera- 

 tions will need to be much more care- 

 fully conducted than is generally the 

 case, as few, from their surroundings, 

 are enabled to properly prosecute tlie 

 work. Where pure races best meet 

 the requirements of the climate, it is 

 well to have them in all their purity. 

 Mr. Benton is still engaged in the 

 East in the exportation of queens of 



the different races, and his efforts are 

 worthy of proper recognition, and 

 should receive such. 



In reply to inquiries, Mr. Jones 

 said— I do not believe that any one 

 living in a Northern climate can 

 profitably produce honey with pure 

 Syrian or Cyprian bees. I prefer 

 Syrians crossed with Italians. The 

 Carniolans do not swarm with us any 

 more than do the Syrians or Cyprians. 

 My advice is, if you have good bees 

 keep ttiera ; don't fool away money by 

 sending for new kinds of bees, and 

 paying big prices. We cannot keep 

 queens long enough to test them, and 

 then sell them at a low price. Buy 

 them and test them yourself. In 

 buying queens, buy of a reliable 

 breeder. Carniolans crossed with 

 Italians cannot be distinguished from 

 Italians crossed with blacks. I prefer 

 crosses to pure races. 



James Heddon — I must say a word 

 in favor of the blacks ; I want their 

 excellent comb-building qualities, 

 and their disposition to keep the 

 honey out of the brood-nest. I have 

 crossed them with the Italians for 

 perhaps 20 generations. 



The committee to whom was refer- 

 red the address of Mr. T. G. Newman 

 on the National Bee-keepers' Union, 

 reported in favor of uniting the two 

 societies. Mr. Heddon, president of 

 the Union, remarked that he did not 

 quite see how it could be done, and 

 the resolution was tabled. 



The committee on resolutions re- 

 ported the following, which were 

 unanimously adopted : 



Besolved, That the thanks of this 

 Society be, and are hereby presented 

 to the retiring President, Secretary, 

 and Committee of Arrangements, for 

 their energetic and efficient services 

 in connection with this meeting. 



To the railroads by which reduced 

 fares were given to members attend- 

 ing this meeting. 



To the proprietors of the Antisdel 

 House for reduced rates, excellent 

 fare, and polite attentions. 



To tlie editors of the various bee- 

 periodicals, also the publishers of the 

 Prairie Farmer, for the publication of 

 early and full notices of this meeting. 



Resolved, That this Society has felt 

 it an especial privilege and pleasure 

 to have had the presence of the 

 patriarch of American apiculture, in 

 the person of Rev. L. L. Langstroth. 

 It has gratefully appreciated the ac- 

 tive part that he has been enabled to 

 take in the discussions at this meet- 

 ing, and rejoices that slill, in his old 

 age, he is enabled to do something for 

 his favorite pursuit. The warm 

 affection and best wishes of all pres- 

 ent will hover about him so long as 

 he shall be spared in this life, and his 

 memory will be held dear while honey 

 distils and bees fly. 



Besolved. That we appreciate the 

 presence of ladies in larger numbers 

 than ever before, particularizing Mrs. 

 L. Harrison, of XhB Prairie Farmer, 

 and Miss Johnson, of the Michigan 

 Farmer. 



The committee also recommended 

 the adoption of the following : 



Resolved, That a committee of one 

 be appointed to present to the Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture our apprecia- 

 tion of his valuable efforts to aid our 

 business in" urging the importance of 

 apiarian statistics, and suggest our 

 desires in respect to the chemical 

 examinations which we deem very 

 important to our pursuit. 



Resolved, That the thanks of the 

 North American Bee - Keepers' So- 

 ciety are due to Prof. C. V. Riley 

 and to the United States government 

 for its action in forming an experi- 

 mental station for the promotion of 

 apiculture. 



Resolved, That wetender the thanks 

 of this Society to the Department 

 of Agriculture in sending to our 

 meeting in Detroit, Prof. McLain, 

 and for the able paper he has pre- 

 sented to us. 



Resolved, That we recognize this 

 step of the Department of Agriculture 

 as in the right direction, and bespeak 

 for it your continued support. 



Resolved, That we recommend t» 

 the Department the making of ac- 

 curate reports of all data concerning 

 the production of honey, and have 

 them embodied in the usual agricul- 

 tural reports. 



Resolved, That the Secretary of this 

 Society present a copy of these resolu- 

 tions to Prof. McLain for transmission 

 to the Department of Agriculture. 



The above were also adopted. 



Prof. Cook, who was about to leave, 

 expressed the great pleasure he had 

 experienced in meeting so many bee- 

 keepers, especially the Eastern 

 friends. Mr. L. C. Root responded, 

 saying that he had hoped great things 

 for this meeting, and he now felt 

 certain that the Society had done 

 wisely in coming to Detroit. 



It was voted to hold an evening 

 session, and the meeting adjourned 

 until 7:30 p.m. 



EVENING SESSION. 



The meeting was called to order at 

 7:.S0 p.m., Ex-President Root in the 

 chair. 



Mr. Dadant introduced the subject 

 of beeswax, and urged the desirable- 

 ness of inducing the United States 

 (Jovernment to take off the protective 

 duty in order that a supply might be 

 obtained from other countries. 



D. A. Jones remarked that this had 

 been readily done by the Government 

 of Canada on application, and it was 

 highly probable that the American 

 Government would do the same if 

 asked. One or two members doubfcd 

 if it was worth the trouble, for al) 

 the beeswax that could be got from 

 foreign countries. Much of the bees- 

 wax obtained from abroad was very 

 inferior. 



C. F. Muth remarked that much of 

 the beeswax offered in this country 

 was very inferior, and went on to 

 speak of several adulterations, some 

 of which were such close imitations 

 of the genuine article as to deceive 

 experienced dealers. The greatest 

 care should be taken to get pure 

 beeswax. 



