THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



103 



The NorthEastern B. K. Association. 



The Seventh Annual Convention of the 

 North-Eastern Bee-Keepers' Association was 

 held at Syracuse, N. Y.. on Feb. 7-9, 1877. Mr. 

 B. Bacon, President, in the chair. 



Mr. J. H. Nellis, of Canajoharie, Secretary, 

 read the minutes of the proceedings of last 

 year's convention, which were approved. 



Among those present were : Messrs. P. H. Ell- 

 wood, Starkville ; G. M. Doolittle, Borodino ; 

 N. N. Betsinger. Marcellus Falls ; F. H. Gates, 

 Chittenango ; M. B. Warner, Syracuse ; J. H. 

 Dudliston, Chittenango; C. D. Jones, Kerk- 

 wood; E. D. Clarke, Randallsville ; E. F. 

 Wright, Lakeport: J. H. Nellis, Canajoharie, 

 Sec'y, and R. Bacon, Pres. 



The committee appointed at Rome last win- 

 ter to arrange for the representation of apicul- 

 tural products at the Centennial, reported. 

 Prizes were offered for the best essay, and for 

 best display of honey. The Sec. reported that 

 theCentennial Commission had announced no 

 awards yet, but it is believed that Capt. J. E. 

 Hetherington was entitled to the premium for 

 the best display of honey, and the proper com- 

 mittee had awarded Prof. Cook the premium 

 for the best essay. The report was adopted. 



President Bacon then delivered his opening 

 address, in which he dwelt on many impor- 

 tant items. [This we will publish in our next 

 issue with otiier essays.— Ed. A. B. J.] 



The constitution was amended so as to make 

 the admission fee 50c instead of SI. 



Keception of members loUowed and 26 names 

 were added to the roll. 



The election of ofhcers was then proceeded 

 with, and the result was as follows: president, 

 P. H. Elwood, Starkville; vice-president, G.M. 

 Doolittle, Borodino; secretary, J. H. Nellis, 

 Canajoharie; treasurer. Reubm Bacon, Ver- 

 ona; honorary vice-presidents, E. D. Clarke, C. 

 I). Jones, Dr. A H. Marks, and N. N. Betsinger. 



A committee of four on order of business 

 was appoint(-d. as follows:— C. D. Jones, N. N. 

 Betsinger, M. P. Warren, G. M. Doolittle. 



A motion made by the Sec'.v that no mem- 

 ber be allowed to speak more than twice, and 

 not longer than 5 minutes at a time ; carried. 



A proposition to appoint delegates to the 

 convention of the National Association was 

 laid on the table for the time being. 



Tlie following questions were submittc>d : 



Will the introductio7i of a young queen 



into a stock before they get the swarming 

 fever prevent swarming ? 



Mr. Betsinger— had tried the experiment, and 

 the bees swarmed. 



Mr. Doolittle— Thi.s is true of Italian bees, but 

 not generally of black l>ees. 



Mr. EUwood— The introduction of a youner, 

 fertile queen will retard swarming, but will 

 not always prevent it. 



Mr. Dooliitle— Everything swarmed with me 

 the past season, in spite of all I could do. 



Mr. Nellis— Had little experience, but was of 

 the opinion that the introduction of a young 

 queen would have little effect at prevention. 



Mr. Betsinger— Did not think the condition 

 of a queen made any difference as to there- 

 suit. She may be fertile or a virgin. 



With box-honey at 20 nts. per lb., ivhat can 



extracted be sold at to yield same profit f 



Mr. Ellwood— About 15 cts. 



M. B. Warner— Was able to get as mucli for 

 extracted as for box honey, and got twice as 

 much extracted. 



Mr. Nellis— Extracted at 10c is as profitable 

 as box at 20c. It is more difficult to market 

 extracted, but at 10c— the price of syrup-lt 

 ought to sell readily. 



Mr. Doolittle— Due allowance is not made for 

 extra work in extracting honey. 



Mr. Nellis— A reduction in price would en- 

 courage consumption, Would accept 20c for 

 box and 10c. for extracted, if the latter were 

 taken off his hands without extra trouble. 



Mr. Betsinger^ Would change my hives and 

 produce only extracted, if sure of 10c. for it. 

 Mr. Ellwood sold extracted as readily as box. 



At what age do bees begin labor in fields ? 



Mr. Ellwood— It is stated in bee books that 

 they begin at 2 weeks, I think much earlier. 



Mr. Betsinger— They begin to labor as young 

 as 6 days, if compelled to. 



Mr. Doolittle tried many experiments, but 

 could not, by any natural process, get bees in- 

 to the field younger than 16 days. They are 

 nurse bees or comb builders up to that time, 

 they can be forced into the field at 6 days, but 

 will return with light burdens. 



It was voted to liave an informal meeting in 

 the evening, beginning at 7 o'clock, and that 

 the daily sessions begin at 9 a.m. 



The evening session consisted of an informal 

 conversation whicli may be summed thus : 



If wintering bees in a house or cellar, do not dis- 

 turb them during winter. The cold frame has been 

 found unsuccessful ; bees are wont to enjoy their 

 freedom. To prevent bees from swarming, make 

 an artificial swarm, and use the extractor. More 

 than one swarm will usually prevent the produc- 

 tion of a good crop of honey. By cutting out every 

 cell and putting back the second swarm it generally 

 remains. A safe device to prevent a second swarm 

 is, after 4 or 5 days, to cut out all the queen cells, 

 wait 4 or 5 days more, and again cut out all cells; 

 have extra queens ready, and upon introduction 

 they will be accepted in the original hive. They 

 will rarely swarm when no honey is in the hive. 

 Some have prevented swarming by changing the 

 location of hives just before the climax. A stream 

 of water played upon a swarm will always hold 

 them when in the air. When honey is moderately 

 gathered and weather hot, it is almost impossible 

 to prevent swarming, owing to the vast amount of 

 brood produced. When bees are gathering honey 

 abundantly they are crowded, and there is a ten- 

 dency to swarm. These principles are true of 

 Italian bees. The disagreement of doctors, was 

 quite marked during the discussion, which ended 

 at 9 o'clock. 



SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. 



The treasurer reported a balance in the 

 treasury of $36.71. 



Blanks for statistical reports of bee produc- 

 tion were distributed. Ex-president Bacon 

 urged attention to this matter. 



A communication from L. C. Root stated 

 that illness prevented his attendance. He 

 criticized a communication in The American 

 Bee JotiRNAL, from T. P. Bingham, declaring 

 that nothing had been publislied in the jour- 

 nals that contained any information on bee- 

 culture not found in tlie books. Mr. Root pro- 

 nounced this untrue, and his sentiments were 

 endorsed by the convention. 



The question of sending delegates to the 

 National Convention to meet in New York 

 next October, was discussed, and it was moved 

 that 6 delegates be sent. The motion was car- 

 ried. The delegates appointed consisted of 

 Messrs. Nellis, Bacon, Jones, Doolittle, Bet- 

 singer and Warner. 



Mr. Nellis moved th«t the committee be em- 

 powered to use the influence and funds of 

 this Association for the promotion of tlie in- 

 terests of the National, and of this, at the dis- 

 cretion of said committee. Carried. 



A communication from James Heddon was 

 read. He said that repositories for bees 

 should have solid walls and be extremely 

 thick. He used a cellar under a building set 

 close to the ground, well ventilated. He is not 

 in favor of a winter tlight, believing it hastens 

 destruction. He rather discouraged organiza- 

 tion, because bee-keepers are so scattered. 

 California is at present flooding the Chicago 

 and other markets, but prices will in time 

 come down so low as to make it unprofitable 

 for that State to send honey East. 



Mr. Bacon— I favor organization, to prevent 

 persons ignorant of the market from ruining 

 it at improper seasons by selling too low. 



Mr. Nellis— We must produce honey cheap 

 enough to compete with other sweets, to. 



