These figures forcibly present to us the ne- 

 cessity of some mode to regulate the increase. 

 If it was left to our choice we would undoubt- 

 edly select some other than dysentery or foul- 

 brood. Even the "sulphur pit" might be 

 preferable. Nevertheless, the present, proba- 

 bly, is the very best that could be devised for 

 the best interests of the bee-keeper. 



While all suffer alike, the most careful 

 gathers up and saves what the inexperienced 

 and careless let go to waste. Therefore, with 

 a few bees, his hives are again soon re- 

 stocked ; while with the other, combs are de- 

 stroyed by a brood of moth, and his hives go 

 to waste. 



t is the fiat of the Almighty that man 

 " shall eat bread by the sweat of his face," 

 and, possibly, his honey too ; and although 

 bees " work for nothing and board them- 

 selves," some of us have found out that we 

 cannot have much honey without an effort. 



Lawrence, Kan. N. Cameron. 



The N. E. Wis. B. K. Association 

 having had some correspondence with 

 the Postofflce Department on the sub- 

 ject of sending bees in the mails had 

 sent it to the Convention to be read. 

 Mr. Detweiler also presented a letter 

 on the subject, which was read. After 

 some discusion it was 



Resolved, That Prof. Cook, D. A. Jones and Presi- 

 dent Newman be appointed a comraitte to bring the 

 matter before the P. M. General and endeavor to 

 have the ruling reversed. 



A. J. King moved that the committee 

 endeavor to have the comb foundation 

 ruling also reversed. Carried. 



An essay was read by the Secretary 

 entitled 



.Vic Cheap Queens the Most Profitable '. 



The first question asked, when a man 

 purposes entering into a new business or 

 when taking up some new branch of his 

 business is, Will it pay? The rearing of 

 queens is now carried on by a great number 

 of persons, and consequently the supply is 

 increased to such an extent that the prices 

 have fallen so much that men can scarcely 

 afford to rear them at all. They must cur- 

 tail their expenses as much as possible if 

 they wish to make a living profit. 



Certainly in all kinds of business, that 

 which gives satisfaction to buyer and seller 

 is considered the cheapest and most profit- 

 able. When a man invests in untested 

 queens, the probability is that they may 

 mate with black drones and if they do so, 

 all his labor is lost. It would cost him no 

 more labor and but little more money to 

 introduce tested queens, and the result 

 would be far different. Should he fail with 

 his untested queens all will be lost, while on 

 the other hand, he can refer to the seller, 

 who will at once correct his loss. 



Will not the introduction of untested 

 queens into our apiaries prove detrimental 

 to the bee business ? As there is no in- 

 centive to keep colonies pure, will not our 

 bee-keepers allow the purity of their stock 

 to be lost ? 



If our apiaries become filled with im- 

 pure bees, will not the business fall to the 

 ground, and will not the few who keep then- 

 stock pure then make the money ? 



Smithsburg, Md. D. A. Pike. 



The members of the Association were 

 decidedly opposed to the sale of un- 

 tested queens, and fully agreed with the 

 last essay. 



The Secretary then read the paper 

 entitled 



Comb Foundation. 



Can anything that is new or instructive to 

 my fellow members of this Society be said on 

 the subject of comb foundation after another 

 year's trial and experiment? 



Many of us were startled at the last annual 

 meeting by the words of the able and prac- 

 tical N. N. Betsinger in giving his experi- 

 ence for that year anihis words of caution, to 

 "go slow." Evidently its use is extending 

 each year, and that may in some measure be 

 taken as an indication of growing popularity. 

 No statistics are obtainable as to the amount 

 used annually, but in the aggregate it must be 

 enormous. Its use would not be long con- 

 tinued did we not find it profitable. 



In my own apiary it has proved a success. 

 Indeed, were I to choose between comb 

 foundation and the honey extractor as auxi- 

 liaries, I would sooner dispense with the latter 

 than forego the use of the former ; not hav- 

 ing found any serious trouble with sagging, 

 which I guard against by building out in 

 nuclei or small colonies and also in strong 

 colonies while not actively storing honey. 



I like the latter method best, for often in a 

 single night have the cells been so lengthened 

 and strengthened as to withstand ordinary 

 strain. 



However, I would-say that my experiments 

 have been made when no extraordinary or 

 even full flow of honey was coming in, for 

 we have had none such here for two years. 



It seems to be so easy to control this matter 

 of sagging, however, by a little care, that I have 

 seen no necessity for trying the more expen- 

 sive wire foundation. 



If put into full colonies during any period 

 of cessation from honey gathering, or in the 

 brood-chamber where the queen will at once 

 take possession, I have invariably found them 

 to be duly strengthened before any strain 

 comes upon them. 



It seems to be a matter of importance that 

 the top bar be made sufficiently stiff, and it is 

 believed that it needs a stiffer bar than would 

 be required for natural combs. 



What are the advantages to the bee-keeper 

 in the use of foundation ? Among them may 

 be named the more perfect control of drone- 

 production ; a matter of vital moment where 

 purity in breeding is desired. Again because 

 it enables us to multiply rapidly our combs in 

 seasons when their possession alone may de- 



