THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



85 



and unmanl}' assaults so often thrust 

 upon them. When we have a na- 

 tional convention composed of a 

 proper number of delegates from 

 each state association who act for 

 the state associations at their ex- 

 pense, then, and only then, can we 

 feel that we are fully prepared to 

 meet many of the questions which 

 now vex and trouble us. 



Beekeepers write to us asking 

 what particular hive, frame, etc., 

 we prefer. Well, we may give our 

 opinion. The same inquiry may 

 be made of the editors of other 

 journals, each of whom will, in all 

 probability, give a different an-, 

 swer. Now, it is impossible that 

 each one of those fixtures is tiie 

 hest^ and pray tell us why it is that 

 there must be such a diversity of 

 opinion. Is it not that there is a 

 superabundance of self-interest? 

 Nor do these matters grow less 

 complicated. On the contrar}', 

 we are becoming more and more 

 confused in this regard ; until, 

 among the supplj^ dealers, there 

 are hardly two who advocate the 

 same style of hive, or section. 



That noble and honored pioneer 

 of apiculture in America, father 

 Quinby, looking forward into the 

 coming years, portraj'ed this same 

 condition of affairs, and hence 

 wiiile one of the first to test and 

 make use of anything of value, yet 

 withal was very cautious in adopt- 

 ing ever}- new method, or change 

 in hives or fixtures, and always 

 bitterly opposed to non-essential 

 changes, when made for the sole 

 purpose of creating a sale for the 

 goods. 



While we consider it far more 

 just and beneficial to the majority 

 to protect and encourage invent- 

 ive genius by patents than to 

 place every new invention in the 

 hands of a monopoly which depre- 

 ciates and degrades labor, and 

 makes it impossible for small man- 

 ufacturers and dealers to live, yet 

 we are aware that many of the so 

 called improvements are non-es- 

 sential and only made to advertise 

 the goods of their originators, and 

 build up a business for them. 



The question is. How many bee- 

 keepers are willing to join hands 

 in bringing about this reform? It 

 is foolish for beekeepers from every 

 state in the Union to incur the ex- 

 pense of attending a national con- 

 vention which shall result like the 

 last. What good can come to ap- 

 iculture from such conventions? 

 None : rather harm. This is plain 

 talk, but we have truth, reason and 

 justice on our side. When each 

 one who takes prominent part in our 

 conventions is willing to work for 

 the interest and in the benefit of 

 the majority and stand by their de- 

 cisions, then we shall find it easy 

 to adopt such standards as are 

 needed : eradicate foul brood, reg- 

 ulate the honey market, and pro- 

 vide for the proper education of the 

 masses. 



As we have before stated, these 

 matters are becoming more com- 

 plicated each 3^ear, and unless we 

 give them immediate attention, Ave 

 shall find them a burden on our 

 hands, or be compelled to leave 

 them in the hands of a monopoly. 

 How much of injustice and wrono- 



