400 



An Italian queen to be pure sliould be of 

 agoldeu or leatlier color, inediuin size, larji;e 

 but fine wings, and active ; sliould be noted 

 for ber gentility, industry and prolificness. 

 Her working progeny sliould be distinctly 

 marked by three yellow bands across the 

 body ; they should be mild in temper, but 

 quick on defence, when suddenly alarmed, 

 and gentle in manipulations of the hive, 

 adhering closely to the comb. The purity of 

 the queen can only be tested by her progeny. 



THE EXHIBITS. 



There were over 40 exiiibits comprising all 

 the various kinds of this delicious food. 



Among the most prominent of the bee- 

 furniture were a standard Langstroth hive, 

 several sections, and a machine for inserting 

 foundation in sections, by W. D. Parker, 

 Defiance. Ohio. 



k Geo. Wilson & Son of Toledo, had several 

 styles of Langstroth hives, together with 

 frame sections, bees, cfec. 



Capt. W. F. Williams, of Liberty Center, 

 exhibited a single frame neuclus colony, 

 with pure Italian queen ; also a caged queen 

 with l)ees. 



P T. G. Newman, Editor of the American 

 Bee Jouknai., on his way to tlie National 

 Convention to be held at Cooper Institute 

 in New York, had on exhibition some Italian 

 bees, and drones in alcohol, beautifully 

 marked, from his apiary in Chicago. Mr. 

 Newman also showed several fine samples 

 of honey in chrystal phials from three city 

 apiaries : From the Journal apiary, Chi- 

 cago ; C. F. Muth. Cincinnati ; J. Y. Det- 

 wiler. Toledo, and B. O. Everett, who is, 

 located a few miles from Toledo. 



B. O. Everett, exhibited some fine sam- 

 ples of honey, a Bingham & Hetherington 

 honey knife and various other apiarian 

 supplies. J. Y. Detwiler, exhibited a home- 

 made comb foundation machine, made by 

 electrotyping a siieet of foundation and 

 fastening the copper deposit to a pair of 

 steel rollers. Also, a pair of plates made 

 by the same v>r<>-ess. A microscope with 

 several mounted objects, relating to the 

 anatomy of bees. The six jars of honey 

 wliicli were exhibited by J. Y. Detwiler, of 

 this city, was donated to the yellow fever 

 fund by that gentleman. 



A. Fahnestock, Se&y. pro tern. 



Albany Co., N. Y., Association. 



The bee-keepers of Albany county met at 

 Chesterville, Albany county, and held the 

 second semi-annual meeting of the above 

 named Association. After the calling of 

 the roll, and the reports of the Treasurer and 

 Secretary, the President read the follow- 

 ing address : 

 Ladies (ind Gentlemen : 



It affords me great pleasure to greet so 

 many of the bee-keepers of Albany county, 

 after the anxieties, cares, toils and slings 

 of tlie honey harvest, to discuss the best 

 methods in the management of bees, and I 

 trust that the interchange of sentiments and 

 experiences on different topics may not 

 only be pleasant but profitable. The first 

 meeting of the bee-keepers of Albany 

 county was called at Clarksville, the 11th 



of May last, when we organized " The Al- 

 bany County Bee-Keepers' Association," 

 and adopted a constitution and by-laws, and 

 at this time we hope to increase our mem- 

 bers, as all bee-keepers are, or should be, 

 interested in an oiganization of this kind. 

 Every occupation, profession or trade has 

 its association, whose purpose is to better 

 the class they represent. 



I venture to say, that according to the 

 number of colonies of Oees, that there is not 

 another county in the State that produces 

 less surplus iioney, and in as poor-shaped 

 packages for market, as Albany county. 



Now, shall we adopt the improvements of 

 leading apiarists of the United States, or 

 still continue to use the old box hive, and 

 have our surplus honey stored in 8 and 12 lb. 

 boxes, that we are obliged to sell at a low 

 price, and to the detriment of those who 

 liave theirs stored in single-comb boxes of 

 1 and 2 lbs. each ? 



Honey put up attractively commands ready 

 sale and at good prices. The grocer has no 

 call for the 8 and 12 lb. package, hence it is 

 a drug in the market. The old box hive has 

 the capacity but for 4 boxes at a time, so the 

 yield must be small per hive. 



This question was settled by the Western 

 bee-keepers long ago. All practical apiar- 

 ists use some kind of a movable-frame hive, 

 the advantages of which are that with a 

 Bingham smoker, you have full control of 

 your bees ; to make a swarm or to prevent 

 it; to keep all strong by interchanging 

 frames or uniting colonies ; and to intro- 

 duce new blood, to prevent "in-and-in 

 breeding." 



Stock-growers and farmers understand 

 that if they breed from the same stock, 

 without change, the young progeny will be 

 dwarfed or crippled, and without increase ; 

 just so wltii our bees ! Who has not noticed 

 in May and June the large number of young 

 bees tiirust out wingless, and with other de- 

 formities from tliis cause ? 



To have our bees prolific and industrious, 

 we must introduce new blood ; give them a 

 good movable- frame hive, witli ample room 

 for surplus boxes, and the result will be 

 astonisliing ! 



Some say, "I have no time to look after 

 my bees." Now, as all avocations are fol- 

 lowed for the profits, why not make our l)ees 

 pay ? With proper care and attention they 

 will pay, and we shall find a large increase 

 in our "receipts, for all labor and expense 

 bestowed on them. 



The President then called upon Mr. New- 

 man, editor of the American Bee Jour- 

 nal, Chicago, (who was present by 

 invitation), for a speech. He spoke at some 

 length upon the improved methods of pro- 

 curing honey and marketing it, &c. 



Reports of members, for the statistical 

 table, were tlien called for and received. 

 New members were also reccorded. 



Mr. Newman then delivered a very inter- 

 esting address touching various points, 

 among which were standard honey package; 

 extracted honey and its uses for food and 

 me<licine ; in-and-in breeding, and the im- 

 ))rovement of our race of bees. Il(^ exhib- 

 ited phials of honey, gathered in the heart; 

 of the cities of Chicago, Cincinnati and To- 



