In 1877 Mr. A. I. Root made a smoker em- 

 bodying the direct draft principle of the 

 Bingham, but from its awkward form and 

 the inconvenience of handling it, it can 

 never win favor where the Bingham and 

 Quinbv are known. 



In 1878 Mr. L. C. Root, by perforating the 

 tube leading from the bellows to the fire- 

 chamber and by other improvements, great- 

 ly changed for the better the Quinby smok- 

 er. Yet it still lacks the free, open draft of 

 the Bingham, and after a time is less ready 

 to burn, and troubles more by being dead 

 just when the bees are most alive. 



Early the present year, John G. Corey 

 described a cold draft smoker which is now 

 made by A. I. Root. Mr. Bingham has by a 

 simple addition made his capable of being 

 changed into a cold draft smoker. In those 

 smokers the air driven by the bellows does 

 not pass through the lire, but around it. 

 The advantages are cold smoke, a cool fare- 

 tube, and less danger of blowing out fire 

 among the bees. The danger is that the gen- 

 eration of smoke cannot be made at once 

 equal to the fury of a hive of intractable 

 hybrids. _ . 



For fuel to be used in fumigation I prefer 

 wood in the first stages of decomposition. 

 This makes less heat, burns longer, and is 

 more readily prepared. 



To use the smoker, first blow a little 

 smoke, three or four whiffs, into the en- 

 trance, then uncover the bees, and blow in at 

 the top as long and as often as it is required 

 to make the bees quiet. I would advise 

 using smoke only when needed. When 

 the bees are gathering rapidly they seldom 

 sting, and as smoke makes a commotion 

 and interrupts their labors, it is but slightly 

 detrimental. 



Albany Co., N. Y., Convention. 



The regular meeting of the Albany Coun- 

 ty Bee-Keepers' Association was held at 

 Clarksville, May 6th. It was well attended, 

 and had a good display of Italian bees, comb 

 foundation, knives, boxes, smokers, etc. 



The meeting was called to order by Pres- 

 ident II. W. Garrett. The reports of the 



Secretary and Treasurer were received and 

 approved. 



The report of committee on constitution 

 and by-laws was adopted. This changed 

 the same so much as to meet the require- 

 ments of the Association, with an addition 

 to the constitution, called "Article X." 



It can now offer premiums for the best 

 display of productions of the apiary. The 

 name of the Association was changed to 

 " The Albany County Bee-Keepers' Union 

 Association." Bee-Keepers from adjoin- 

 ing counties can now join the Association. 



In the afternoon the President read the 

 following address : 



" Ladies and Gentlemen : — It is now one 

 year since the organization of this Society, 

 by the bee-keepers of Albany county, and 

 this is our third convention. If it has not 

 been very instructive, it has been most 

 pleasant, and much enjoyed by me ; and I 

 trust that in getting better acquainted with 

 each other, our common interest as bee- 

 keepers has been advanced. 



•' Without education and practice we can- 

 not expect to become practical bee-keepers; 

 to get this is the object of this society. We 

 are making some headway by increasing 

 the circulation of the bee literature of the 

 day, and the adoption of movable frame 

 hives and single comb boxes. I hope that 

 all bee-keepers in this and adjoining coun- 

 ties will unite with us. What most of us 

 lack is a practical education in bee-keeping. 



"To illustrate, 1 will take Albany city as 

 a home market. How many present have 

 had a similar experience to the following : 

 ' What do you ask for honey ? ' ' Fifteen 

 cents.' 'Oh, you are too high. Yesterday 

 a man had a whole load, and asked only 

 10c' Then another and another comes 

 along ; they have all seen that load. Per- 

 haps the last man wishes to purchase, if 

 you will take 10c, or give it to him. ' What 

 do you ask for honey ? ' ' Fifteen cents.' 

 '1 could have bought a load yesterday for 

 10c' ' What shaped boxes ? ' ' Just like 

 yours ; about so big square.' ' How many 

 combs ? ' 'I don't know, but the honey 

 was as good as yours.' By this time our pa- 

 tience is about exhausted. By being often 

 stung, we partake, more or less, of our pet's 

 nature, and if we had their weapons they 

 would catch it. 



" Well, we are here with our honey, and 

 want to dispose of it, so we go to some gro- 

 cery. Our trouble commences anew. ' Do 

 you handle honey?' 'No.' 'Don't you 

 think you could sell some of this ?' ' That 

 is nice ; but some 3 or 4 weeks ago I pur- 

 chased some, and my store was full of bees, 

 hornets and flies, and it drained all over 

 everything. I don't want any.' 



"Being industrious and persevering we 

 try again. ' Do you sell honey ? ' ' Yes, 

 sometimes.' ' Do you want any to-day '? ' 

 'What price?' 'Fifteen cents.' 'I only 

 paid 10c for that.' ' But mine is in better 

 shape for retail.' ' Yes : but I must dis- 

 pose of what I have on hand, and by that 

 time it will be lower.' 



" So we continue with like results, and 

 finally leave it at some store, or take it 

 home to give away. Now we have found 

 out two things: That a good many gro- 

 cerymen will not purchase honey; while 



