THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



379 



When a few persons publicly assemble 

 they at once set about to organize some kind 

 of a society, either formal or informal. 

 Our Pilgrini Fathers, two and a half centu- 

 ries since, when they landed on the rock- 

 bound coast of New England organized a 

 little band. How has that organization 

 spread out until a vast and powerful Nation 

 has resulted! A Nation whose longitudinal 

 extent is bounded by two vast oceans— its 

 latitude reaches from the ice-bound regions 

 of the north to the tepid watf^rs of the Gulf. 



In it behold the vast net-work of smaller 

 organizations, honey-combing all forms of 

 society, from the most barbarous and savage 

 clan to the highest form of civilized and 

 refined life. 



As one of these sub-organizations we meet 

 here to-day. Our object being to further 

 the interests of apiarists, in all the varied 

 fields of thought and action. 



Passing by the experiments and manipu- 

 lations with hives and honey, which will re- 

 ceive the attention of others whose daily 

 experiences in the apiary, eminently qualify 

 tiiem- to discuss those questions in the most 

 interesting manner — we are brought to a 

 stand by the one great question that towers 

 far above all others in its importance to the 

 bee-keeping fraternity, viz.: ^^ How to dis- 

 pose of our honey to the the best advantage." 



In vain do we talk of the best hives; the 

 best implements for every department of 

 the apiary. In vain do we toil and labor 

 from morn till eventide, manipulating our 

 pets and their surroundings. In vain do we 

 tell of the large amount of honey stored 

 away in our honey houses. Vnin is all this, 

 if we cannot dispose of it to advantage and 

 thus "■reap the reivard of ourwell doing." 



The old couplet— "Supply and Demand" 

 — furnishes the key to unlock the massive 

 gates that stand between us and a brisk de- 

 mand for honey. Often the supplj^ exceeds 

 the demand, but in the near future the re- 

 verse will state the case. Already has the 

 dayliglit become visible through the dark 

 gloom of a glutted market and limited 

 demand! Many who, heretofore, have been 

 shipping to large cities have now built up a 

 trade at home that far exceeds their means 

 of supply. By persistent effort, this can 

 easily be accomplished in almost every 

 village and hamlet in the United States. 



We know of a small grocer who had done 

 nothing with honey before; being induced a 

 few days since to take some comb honey, 

 astonished himself by selling 120 lbs the 

 first day it was in his store, and has sold 

 large quantities every succeeding day- 

 building up quite a ti'ade in honey at 25 

 cents per pound. 



As articles for sauce decrease daily, the 

 thrifty house keeper looks around for some- 

 thing to take its place besides canned fruit. 

 Honey is just the thing— and the demand 

 will increase and gi-ow to astonishing pro- 

 portions, if the supply be kept up with 

 honey in good and attractive shape. 



The display of honey at the American 

 Institute Fair in this city is very creditable 

 to those who put it there— but there are 

 some things that invite criticism, about 

 every lot in that display. So much so that 

 the committee found it very difficult to 

 award the medal to any 07ie exhibitor. 

 They wished again and again that the prize 

 had been divided into two— one tor "the best 

 honey" and the other for "the most market- 

 able shape." 



Small frames or boxes will be favorites 

 for comb honey. These small packages 

 will place this delicious article within the 

 reach of all. Small crates or shipping cases 

 containing only one tier of frames or boxes 

 will always command the admiration of 

 those who liandle honey in the comb. 



But some will say: It is very well to talk 

 about creating home markets, but in what 

 way will organization assist us in the sale 

 of honey? We answer— all honey should 

 be graded and a scale of prices established 

 to extend to a given boundary. Now one 

 compelled by his needs may sell honey at 

 the very commencement of the season for 

 any price that may be offered, and thus un- 

 intentionally break down the market by 

 giving a start at too low a rate. In this way, 

 individual action is seriously damaging to the 

 many, and works in a detrimental way to 

 all honey producers. 



Organization could and should help this 

 state of affairs. California, Missouri, and 

 other State's Conventions have taken the 

 initiatory, by appointing committees whose 

 business it is to grade and then dispose of 

 the honey of its members. If this were 

 done in every State or district, we should 

 hear no more of the markets being broken 

 down by premature and forced sales. 



We throw out these suggestions and com- 

 mend this important matter to the serious 

 consideration of the Convention, hoping it 

 will take such action as may result in the 

 most good to all. 



A vote of thanks was passed to the last 

 speaker for his address. 



Rev. J. W. Shearer remarked that the 

 subjects treated upon by the last speaker 

 were very important, and as a correct idea of 

 honey, its production and uses was essen- 

 tial to its more general production and con- 

 sumption, he would move that an address to 

 the public be prepared, setting forth some 

 of the principal improvements made in bee- 

 culture, and giving a few hints concerning 

 its general character and usefulness; that 

 this address be published far and wide, and 

 thus help to increase the consumption of 

 this excellent commodity. 



This resolution was passed, and the Rev. 

 J. W. Shearer was appointed to prepare the 

 address. He hastily penned and submitted 

 the following which was adopted : 



Facts for the Puljlic. 



The National Bee-Keepers Convention, in 

 session at New York, Oct. 16 to 19th, 1877, 

 aware of the general lack of information 

 concerning improved methods of apiculture 

 and its products, respectfully submit the 

 following statement of facts for general in- 

 formation concerning a large source of per- 

 sonal and national revenue in preserving 

 the honey which God has caused to flow so 

 abundantly in the vast and varied flora of 

 our country: 



1. It is now only a few years since the in- 

 vention of movable comb hives has opened 

 up a new era in bee-keeping, and placed it 

 on the basis of a successful business pur- 

 suit. Such hives, adapted to climate, fur- 

 nish every facility for intelligent manage- 

 ment of bees by regulating swarming, 

 guarding against moths, and manipulating 

 both bees and comb. 



2. The inventors of the extractor or honey 

 slinger, a machine which empties the honey 

 from the combs by centrifugal force, with- 



