6 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



The Introduction of bumble- 

 bees into New Zealand a few years ago, 

 to secure the fertilization of the red 

 clover, and the remarkable success of 

 this venture are matters of record. 



Mr. George M. Thomson, in the New 

 Zealand Journal of- Science, presents an 

 interesting article on the introduced 

 bumble-bees in New Zealand, giving also 

 a list of the plants and flowers whicli are 

 visited by these bees. 



He makes the interesting statement 

 that, with a few exceptions, he has never 

 heard of these bees visiting the flowers 

 of indigenous'plants, but states that they 

 have become so extraordinarily abun- 

 dant that the question has even arisen 

 ill his mind as to whether they would 

 not become as serious a pest to the 

 apiarist, as the rabbits have proved to 

 be to the farmer and cultivator, on 

 account of their absorbing so much of 

 the nectar of the flowers. 



He also points out the remarkable 

 fact in connection with the life of the 

 bumble-boe in New Zealand, that in 

 many parts of the colony it is to be seen 

 daily on flowers all tbe year round. 



Essays at conventions are sometimes 

 quite unnecessary, as they were at the 

 late convention at Chicago. At some 

 conventions, we know that they are not 

 only desirable, but very necessary. Dr. 

 Miller, in the last Oleanings, in his 

 usual happy vein, writes thus on this 

 subject : 



Wlien Newman, of the American Bek 

 .loiin.XAL, changes his mind, he mal<es 

 no l)ones of saying so. ' Formerly he 

 argued that essays at a convention were 

 essential. Now he says, in the most un- 

 reserved manner: " Tiie Norlhwestorn 

 was a convention without essays, and it 

 was a charming succi'ss. Tliere was no 

 want of subject-matter to discuss, and 

 no lack of enthusiasm." 



It was only the Doctor's ' extreme 

 modesty which prevented him from 

 (|uoting the whole item. The rest of it, 

 on page 709, reads thus : "VVitli such 

 a rrcsident as Dr. Miller, no essays or 



programme are ever needed."' And that 

 is the key to the situation. 



If the President is thoroughly capable 

 of being the programme himself — if he 

 is "full and running over" with subject- 

 matter — if he is so well acquainted with 

 the members as to grasp instantly their 

 individual opinions and views, so as to 

 call out a full discussion, by continually 

 suggesting that Mr. So-and-so " holds a 

 difl'erent view and we would like to hear 

 from him on the subject," or words to 

 that effect — then neither programme or 

 essay has any place in such a meeting. 



President Miller is so much at home 

 as chairman of a bee-keepers' assembly, 

 that he knows liow long to carry on a 

 discussion — in what channel to direct it, 

 when to stop, so as not to weary the 

 members, and has a happy manner of 

 saying so— that he is a whole convention 

 in himself, including essays and pro- 

 gramme. 



The Doctor's extreme modesty led him 

 into this " exposure," and he must not 

 now complain. So far as the item in 

 Olennings was concerned, it did not 

 represent us correctly without the last 

 sentence — and so it was^necessary for us 

 to correct it. 



Dr. J. W. Vance wisely remarks thus 

 in the Wisconsin i^rn'juer, on this subject: 



The American Bee Journal says 

 there were no essays read at the recent 

 meeting of the Northwestern Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Association, and yet there was no 

 lack of subject-matter for discussion, 

 nor want of enthusiasm. The conven- 

 tion was an eminent success. The 

 editor adds : " With such a President 

 as Dr. Miller, no essays or programme 

 are needed." 



I am inclined to think too many or too 

 lengthy essays are not good for our 

 annual meetings. Generally we have 

 had good essays, but the greatest interest 

 of the meeting has centered upon the 

 discussions, which often had to be cut 

 short when at the most interesting point. 



Essays should only lead far enough to 

 suggest i)oints for discussion, and in 

 that way they are very good. But if 

 they overi)ower and crowd out discus- 

 sion, they are worse than useless. 



