34 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



and if I do not mistake, Ilether- 

 ington's hive is very similar and 

 older still. 



I, myself, for example, have used 

 a half bee-space above and below 

 the frames in the stories of my 

 hives since 1880, and can pro\e 

 this by sufficient evidence. So I 

 cannot see anything new in the 

 Heddon hive, except this slatted 

 honey-board. This is of great 

 value, but not patented. 



Selma, Texas. 



For the American Apiculhirist. 



THE BEEKEEPERS' CON- 

 VENTION AT CHICAGO. 



Joshua Bull. 



The wise man said that, " Iron 

 sharpeneth iron ; so a man sharp- 

 eneth the countenance of his friend." 



I think the foregoing proverb is 

 very pertinent to the Beekeepers' 

 Convention which was held at the 

 Commercial Hotel, in the city of 

 Chicago, on November the 16th to 

 18th inclusive. A goodly number 

 of beekeepers were in attendance 

 from adjoining states, east, west, 

 north and south, from Florida to 

 Canada, and among the rest a few 

 ladies favored us with their cheering 

 presence. One encouraging feature 

 which characterized the entire con- 

 vention was the lively interest man- 

 ifested in the discussions upon the 

 various topics presented for consid- 

 eration. And this interested feeling 

 seemed to intensify at every succes- 

 sive session. There was no remiss- 

 ness, some one was always ready to 

 occupy the time, and it frequently 

 happened that two or three or more 

 would arise to speak all at once ; 

 yet all went on harmoniously and a 

 spirit of cordial friendship seemed 

 to pervade the whole convention 

 throughout all the discussions and 



deliberations. Although a very 

 pronounced difference of opinion 

 was often manifested, yet there 

 was neither wrangling nor chafing. 

 Good nature predominated. It 

 was a source of much satisfaction 

 to the writer on this occasion to 

 meet face to face with many whose 

 writings have rendered tiuiir names 

 familiar as household words, greet 

 them with a friendly shake of the 

 hand, and hear them voice tiieir 

 thoughts, each one in his own char- 

 acteristic manner and tone, which 

 conveys to us a much clearer under- 

 standing of their sentiments than 

 we frequently get by reading what 

 they have written. The manner 

 in which anything is said ofttimes 

 appeals more forcibly to our senses 

 than do the words of the speak- 

 er. Mind comes in contact with 

 mind and new tlioughts are sug- 

 gested, new ideas conceived, new 

 resolutions are formed, a fresh im- 

 petus is given to our zeal, and 

 fresh energy infused into all of 

 our plans for the future. Thus, bj'' 

 a mutual intei'change of thought, 

 all may be benefited. 



It was a matter of regret that 

 there were not more beekeepers 

 present from the eastern states, and 

 from Canada, in order that we 

 might make their acquaintance, 

 enjoy their company, and draw 

 from their store of knowledge for 

 the general welfare of us all. 



When the convention had finished 

 its labors, and the final adjourn- 

 ment was announced, it was not 

 without feelings of reluctance 

 that we took our leave of tiie nu- 

 merous friends with wliom we had 

 formed such pleasant acquaintance 

 during the tlu'ee short days in 

 which we had been associated to- 

 gether. I think that all who were 

 present returned to their homes 

 feeling that they had been ampl}' 

 repaid for coming together. The 

 many advantages to be gained by 

 attending these conventions may 



