350 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



The resolutions were referred to Al- 

 bany for revision, and I, as the maker of 

 such motion, am disappointed with the 

 progress there made. The question 

 arises, what shall we now do to accom- 

 plish our aim '? Let us all unite and 

 send our ideas to the bee-periodicals. 

 We can accomplish nothing by delay, 

 and I am of the opinion that we can 

 gain our point before it is time to harvest 

 a new crop. 



Should not the plan be, to first adopt 

 " grades for honey," then decide on the 

 topics, "size of sections," "size of 

 crates," " style of package for ex- 

 tracted ?" etc. These four points can be 

 argued pro and con, and our leading 

 editors then frame their adoption. 



When we have accomplished this, we 

 are in shape to cope with such an enemy 

 or evil as "adulteration," and seek a 

 wider field for " uses of honey." We 

 must seek perfection in our own midst, 

 and then remedy outside faults. Delay 

 is useless ; so everybody, to arms. 



That we may not be successful in 

 finding perfect laws, I am convinced, 

 but do we not grade two of our most 

 widely handled farm products, viz. : 

 butter and eggs ? At times, not often, 

 buyer and seller cannot agree as to 

 grade, and arbitration then decides. 

 This can also be done with honey. 



What benefit can we derive after 

 adopting a set of rules? Every pro- 

 ducer and merchant could have a copy. 

 This would prevent shipments of honey 

 to market that are unsalable, and would 

 permit of exact quotations. I will not 

 advance arguments, but if any discus- 

 sions are contrary, will answer and en- 

 deavor to show merit to my views. 



I will divide the topic. First, grading 

 of comb ; second, grading of honey. And 

 for the former I cannot improve on those 

 rules adopted in Chicago, except that I 

 would call the first grade " Fancy ;" the 

 second, "First;" and the third, "Sec- 

 ond." 



Grades for honey I would have as 

 follows : 



Extnt WJiltc, being water white; 

 White, being what the word implies; 

 Extra C, straw color ; C, being between 

 straw and dark ; D., laeing dark. 



For explanation to* above key, notice 

 the following example : An apiarist 

 writes, " I have 10 crates of first grade 

 white basswood, 5 crates of fancy extra 



C. lind(Mi, or 20 crates of second grade 



D. buckwheat honey." By referring to 

 the list, we know exactly how to re- 

 spond. 



All of our grading will be of no avail 

 unless producers mark on the end of the 



crate both quality and grade, as, for 

 example: 1st, X. C, Linden ; or. Fancy 

 X. W. Clover. 



Each package of extracted to be 

 branded, for example : X. C, Sage ; or, 

 X. W., Alfalfa. 



When the above is accomplished, and 

 every package marked as to grade and 

 quality, with the gross and net weights 

 underneath, it will be a pleasure to 

 show honey to buyers.' But with no 

 system, and every shipper using a differ- 

 ent style of packages and sections, we 

 have no uniformity ; instead, we have 

 extra labor that could be prevented, 

 with but little work on the part of the 

 producer. Let the opposition or advo- 

 cates of this topic act at once, and we 

 then are ready for the next question. — 

 Review. 



Chicago, Ills. 



Wisconsin Slate Con?ention. 



H. LATHROP. 



The Wisconsin State Bee-Keepers' 

 Association met at Madison on Feb. 4, 

 at 10 a.m., Pres. Hatch in the chair. 

 After the reading of the minutes, the 

 President delivered his annual address, 

 as published on page 287. 



Discussion followed on the apiarian 

 display at the World's Fair, and T. E. 

 Turner, J. J. Ochsner, and Mr. Minnich 

 were appointed to decide upon the best 

 method of collecting the material to 

 make a creditable display. This com- 

 mittee reported as follows : 



1. That some proper person be ap- 

 pointed by the Association to arrange 

 the honey exhibit of the State of Wiscon- 

 sin for the Columbian Fair, and that the 

 honey for the Fair be sent to his address 

 in Chicago. 



2. That surplus honey sent to him, 

 not used in the exhibit, be left subject 

 to the direction of each one sending the 

 honey. 



3. That each bee-keeper of the State 

 be requested to bring a sample or sam- 

 ples of honey to our next annual meeting 

 and state the amount of honey he can 

 furnish for the Fair ; and that the Ex- 

 ecutive Committee be empowered to 

 make selections for the exliibit. 



4. That the State be asked to grant 

 $500 to defray the expense necessary to 

 make the exhibit. 



This report was adopted. The subject 

 of freight rates was taken up with the 

 result that the Association decided 

 through its Secretary to request the 



