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MISSOURI. 



The Bce-Kecpers in Counsel at 

 Mexico, Mo. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 



BY J. W. ROUSE. 



The Missouri State bee-keepers' an- 

 nual convention was called to order on 

 Oct 22. at 2 p.m., at Mexico, Mo., by 

 President K. B. Leah}. 



After the reading and approving of 

 the minutes of the ]\Iarsliall Conven- 

 tion, 16 members responded to roll- 

 call, and 14 new names were added 

 to the list. 



The report of the Secretary was then 

 listened to, and on motion was ap- 

 proved. Then followed the 



president's annual address. 



Fellow Bee-Keepers and Friends : — It 

 devolves upon me as your President to 

 deliver to you what our by-laws call the 

 annual address. I am somewhat at a loss 

 just how to frame this address, but after I 

 am through you will, perhaps, pardon me 

 for my short-comings, and endeavor to 

 bring out in the discussions to follow what 

 I omitted. 



This Association is now one year old, and 

 we have fairly launched upon the sea of 

 life, hoping that our voyage may be pros- 

 perous, and that this noble new industrial 

 ship may frequently enter harbor with 

 overflowing cargoes of nectar. This is not 

 the first Association in this State of like 

 character, though its predecessor was dif- 

 ferent in many respects. It was different 

 in that it embraced a smaller territory 

 than this ; it was held at one place, and its 

 members from a distance soon grew tired 

 of making a long pilgrimage to its annual 

 meeting point,and those near its established 

 seat equally soon grew tired of playing its 

 footstool. It did not increase in member- 

 ship ; was moved to Kansas City, and 

 there it died, with some three or four mem- 

 bers holding a walie over its remains. It 

 has been buried three years. 



One year ago we organized the present 

 Association at Higginsville, and this body 

 has started forth with every promise of 

 success before it. At its first meeting some 

 twenty members were enrolled, and at 

 Marshall, last April, as many more were 

 added. Benefiting by the experience of its 

 predecessor, its conventions cannot be held 

 twice in succession in the same town, thus 

 enabling many beekeepers to attend its 

 sessions without having to travel a long 

 distance to do so. Other advantages are 

 derived under this rule, among which I 

 might add the fact that it does not devolve 

 upon one set of men to carr\' the Associa- 

 tion on their shoulders. Its meetings are 

 held semi-annually, giving us an opportun- 

 ity twice a year to compare notes of the 

 past, and indulge in interchanging ideas 

 for the future. 



Our last Convention was held in the city 

 of Marshall. It was successful, instructive, 

 and profitable. New and old ideas and 

 methods were discussed and examined, and 

 each left with the proud conviction that 

 the intercourse with his fellows had been 

 one of profit as well as pleasure. 



The question of adulteration of extracted- 

 bonej' has been most iirouiinently before 



this Association since its inception. It is a 

 question that interests us all to a high 

 degree, and it is but right and just that the 

 question be agitated and held prominently 

 to view. It is a question that concerns two 

 classes of people, viz. : bee-keepers first, 

 and the people at large, second. If we do 

 not agitate the question no one will do it 

 for us, and it behooves us to hammer away 

 at it until every drop of glucose stuff is 

 driven from the" market. 



At the Higginsville Convention one year 

 ago a committee was appointed to examine 

 the law on the matter, and it reported at 

 Marshal! by reading the law governing 

 the adulteration of food and drinks. A 

 committee was then appointed to draft 

 resolutions on the subject, and it presented 

 the following report : 



"Whereas, It is known to this Association 

 that extracted- honey is largely adulterated 

 with glucose and grape sugar, and, as in 

 our opinion, the practice is damaging to 

 the producers of honey in this State, and a 

 fraud on the general public, therefore be it 



'^Resolved, That this Association does 

 emphatically denounce the practice of 

 adulterating extracted-honey with glucose 

 or gi'ape sugar ; 



" Resolved, That we urgently request the 

 Bee-Keeping Associations of the different 

 States, and others, to co-operate with us in 

 presenting this subject to the consideration 

 of the International American Bee-Associa- 

 tion, that they may memorialize Congress 

 to pass laws regarding the matter ; 



''Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- 

 tions be sent to each State Bee-Keepers' 

 Association, and others." 



The Secretary was instructed to request 

 a reply to these sentiments from the Asso- 

 ciations to which he sent these resolutions. 

 What these are the Convention knows 

 from the Secretary's report. With this 

 resume as to what this Association has 

 done in this matter, I would again say, do 

 not let it rest here. 



The statistics gathered at the Marshall 

 Convention showed satisfactory and en- 

 couraging prospects for the season. Reports 

 were received from 1,980 colonies, Fall 

 count, and these had reduced to 1,909 col- 

 onies, Spring count, or a decrease of about 

 3-,.^ per cent. This was a very good report, 

 but the dry season greatly damaged the 

 honej'-crop, which, in many localities, was 

 only 50, and in others 33)3 per cent, of 

 what it should have been with a good sea- 

 son. But this partialj failure has also 

 many advantages. It resulted in securing 

 a better price for honey, and placed or 

 forced on the market much old honey, thus 

 cleaning the store houses of the producers, 

 and opening the market for fresh goods 

 next season. The late rains we had, and 

 the encouraging growth and hardihood of 

 honey-producing plants, and especially 

 white clover, during the past few months, 

 have all inspired new hopes and confidence 

 for a large crop next year. With these 

 matters before us, and the recollections 

 that it is not all sunshine and success in 

 any other industry, bee-keepers have, in 

 my opinion, little room for complaint. 



Since I have but a few hours to serve as 

 your President, I do not wish to enter into 

 a number of recommendations for the 

 future action of the Association, but will 

 leave them for my successor. Yet there 

 are a few things I wish to call to your 

 attention. 



I would recommend that every member 

 of the Association invite and urge his 

 neighbors to attend the sessions of the 

 Convention, and especially those who ad- 

 here to the old box-hive. It is here where 

 the methods of practical bee-keeping are 

 discussed, and there is no better plan to 

 break up the bo.x-hive and side issue busi- 

 ness than to introduce their advocates to 



the methods and devices here presented 

 and discussed. 



The successful business man, no matter 

 what line of industry may hold him, is 

 continually alert for new devices, appli- 

 ances and methods for pushing the trade or 

 profession in which he is engaged. These 

 devices and methods are carefully exam- 

 ined, and if they do not prove either labor 

 saving or money saving, are given a wide 

 berth. If the bee-keeper desires to make a 

 success of his chosen pursuit, be must be 

 equally alert, and not only carefully ex- 

 amine the new methods, devices, appli- 

 ances, and ideas presented, but put all the 

 push and energy he can command into the 

 business ; watch every opportunity, and 

 take advantage of every point gained. 

 Every box-hive and side issue man who 

 can be converted into the cause is a point 

 gained for the uplifting of the business, and 

 better prices. I say converted into the 

 cause, because you can bring nine men to 

 adopt the improved methods and devices 

 where you can drive one out of the 

 business. 



There are a few characteristics for the 

 bee-keeper who wants to succeed to note 

 and develop. These are necessary to his 

 success, and should be cultivated with 

 every opportunity. The first of these is 

 morality. This is necessary in any pursuit, 

 and if .you will look about, you can readily 

 perceive that fifty moral men succeed 

 where one immoral one does. But in bee- 

 keeping it has a peculiar influence not felt 

 elsewhere, and coupled with patience, the 

 two elements make a first essential, which, 

 if lacking, wUI alone cause failure. With- 

 out patience, as we all know, the handling 

 of bees is dangerous, and where morality 

 does not exist,patience is apt to be lacking. 



Add to these two characteristics, industry 

 and perseverance, cast them in one mold, 

 and you will produce a being who will 

 make bee-keeping a success. 



An organization made up of such men 

 can accomplish a wonderful amount of 

 good, not only to their cause, but the peo- 

 ple at large. Of such men, I take it, this 

 body is composed, and success is certain if 

 we will grasp it. But to make it a success 

 every member must bring into display the 

 qualities I have named, enter into hearty 

 co-operation with his fellows, cultivate a 

 brotherly feeling toward one another, stand 

 united, and work for the interest of each 

 other. In this way we can develop an 

 association which will not only accomplish 

 great good, but in which the social and 

 instructive features are worth many times 

 more than the effort has cost us. 



Moved by Morton and Robinson to 

 suspend the rules and take up a pro- 

 posed araeudment to the Constitution. 

 Carried. 



G. P. Morton oft'ered an amendment 

 to the Constitution, viz. : To amend 

 Article VI. so that the Convention can 

 be held annuall}-. instead of semi- 

 annually, and three days, instead of 

 two days. The amendment was lost. 



The election of officers was next in 

 order, and resulted as follows : Presi- 

 dent. R. B. Leahy ; Vice-Presidents, G. 

 P. Morton for Central Missouri, J. S. 

 Atkins for Noi'thwest. John Nebel for 

 Northeast, E. R. Garrett for South- 

 west, and J. W. Clark for Southeast 

 Missouri. Secretary. J. W. Rouse ; 

 Treasurer, R. Gaines Robertson. 



It was moved that a question-box be 

 estaldisliecl on the same basis as the 

 Marshall Convention. Carried. 



