part in the proceedings, and a number of 

 regrets at inability to be present were re- 

 ceived. Tlie reports on wintering sliowed 

 unusual success, in part owing to the favor- 

 able winter, but more to an increase of 

 knowledge on the subject through our jour- 

 nals. J. E. Callbreath wintered 300 colonies 

 without any loss. Others state marked suc- 

 cess on a smaller scale; some wintering on 

 summer stands, others in cellars. 



The following statement from T. F. Eeed, 

 Brooklyn, April 26. 1878, was read: " On 

 April 20, while handling my bees, I met with 

 a strange incident. 1 had a weak colony 

 which I wished to strengthen, and to that 

 end removed two full frames of capped 

 brood from a strong hive and placed them in 

 the weak one. While I was thus engaged, 

 the dinner bell rang, and in my haste I neg- 

 lected to shake all the bees from one of the 

 combs before placing it in the hive, and 

 closed the hive and went to dinner. When I 

 came out again I noticed bees fighting on the 

 alighting board. I immediately suspected 

 the cause of the trouble, and upon lifting 

 out some of the frames saw the bees clus- 

 tered upon the bottom board. I dispersed 

 them with a little smoke, and looked tor the 

 queen but could not find her; stepping in 

 front of the hive I noticed a knot ot bees on 

 the alighting board of an empty hive near 

 by, and upon examination found it con- 

 tained the queen. 1 separated her and she 

 escaped from me into the hive. I opened the 

 hive as soon as possible and found her sur- 

 rounded by bees, which were trying to bite 

 and sting her. I picked up the bees and 

 queen, and after picking the bees oiT, I no- 

 ticed that one of her wings w^as a little ele- 

 vated; upon looking under it I saw a bee's 

 sting sticking into her left side just behind 

 the wing and a little below it. With con- 

 siderable diificulty I managed to extract it, 

 and the wounded side bled. I caged her 

 until the 32d, when I liberated her and she 

 was accepted. I saw her to-day running 

 around on the combs. It is a young queen 

 which I raised this spring, and I think she 

 was fertilized before this took place. I have 

 seen bees stung and die almost immediately, 

 and supposed that this queen would, but she 

 does not seem at all disposed to do so. I 

 have never heard of a similar case. I am 

 very sorry that I cannot be present at the 

 meeting, but hope it will be lively and in- 

 teresting." Theo. F. Read. 



S. Gary, Roselle, N. J., remarks on pur- 

 chasing bees and his success: "Lost half 

 in wintering." Careful fall examination re- 

 commended, and other requisites to success. 



The question of stimulating by feeding 

 was discussed. Mr. Cook had not succeeded, 

 Mr. Coe reported marked success, thereby 

 securing surplus from earlier sources than 

 he otherwise would have secured. Feed 

 just enough to stimulate breeding. A trifle 

 more in bad weather, and regularly as to 

 time, but not so much that they will store 

 any. All should be consumed in rearing 

 brood. 



J. Van Winkle, Jr., feeds by hanging a 

 frame of honey outside the division board 

 and the bees can take it as they require it. 

 His experience is only of one year. Pegan 

 with 5 colonies, increased to 17. All now in 

 good condition but one, which had a drone 



laying queen. Advised to remove the drone 

 laying queen and to strengthen by one or 

 more frames of sealed brood, according to 

 their strength to take care of it, and he 

 would soon have a strong stock and a young 

 queen presiding over it. Feeding can be 

 done to best advantage by giving close at- 

 tention to the weather, sources of sup- 

 ply, etc." 



Mr. Coe— "The end desired is to bring 

 bees In best condition for the white clover 

 harvest, and described his feeder which lie 

 places on top of tlie frames; uses a quilt in 

 place of a honey board. Begins feeding in 

 February, a spoonful twice a day regularly, 

 in bad weather a little more. Recommends 

 all to have feeders and to use them judi- 

 ciously. Feeds white sugar syrup about 

 the thickness of honey; brings to a boiling 

 point; sometimes ])ut in a little soda. Puts 

 on boxes the beginning of white clover har- 

 vest. Some succeed in getting honey stored 

 from fruit blossoms by early feeding. Mr. 

 Read is now experimenting to secure fruit 

 blossom honey from the body of the hive, 

 and will soon re])ort. Bees will not breed 

 much when not gathering stores. One sea- 

 son after white clover, fed three spoonsful a 

 day to each hive, and increased breeding 

 very much and never had such good fall 

 success. One neglected comb, so full of bee 

 bread that moths had not attacked it, I i)ut 

 in a strong colony, and in eight days they 

 had cut it down nearly to the base of the 

 cells, built it out, and stored in it eight 

 pounds of honey. The planting of trees on 

 the road-side and elsewhere for ornament, 

 preference given to those yielding honey 

 was advocated. Much can be done in this 

 direction by the formation of village im- 

 provement societies. Basswood, tulip, and 

 sycamore maple ]iarticularly recommended. 



Mr. Knapp's experience extended over 17 

 years ; has kept from 1 to 12 hives, and has 

 hitherto pursued the box-hive system and 

 killing, but now has 15 colonies, which he 

 thinks combines all the good features of the 

 various hives exhibited at the American 

 Institute. He entered upon a detailed 

 description, which, in the absence of a 

 hive or model, was not very clear. It was 

 therefore proposed by Mr. Crouch that 

 hereafter, all who desired to explain the 

 hive they used, or anything employed in 

 the apiary, bring a model ; and Mr. Van 

 Winkle further suggested that at our next 

 annual meeting, each member bring a 

 model of the hive he uses, which met the 

 approval of all present. 



This closed the meeting, and the mem- 

 bers then held an informal talk on subjects 

 relating to the apiary. 



Ehrick Pakmly, Sec'y. pro tern. 



Albany Co., N. Y., Association. 



The bee-keepers of Albany county met at 

 Clarksville, May 11, 1878, and organized a 

 county association. The constitution and 

 by-laws of the North-Eastern Association, 

 were offered, voted upon, and adopted as 

 those of the organization. 



The following officers were elected for 

 the ensuing year': President, H. W.Gar- 

 rett ; Vice-President, A. Snyder ; Secretary 



