1900 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



49 



receptacle should be arranged to tighten 

 up from the side with follower and wedge, 

 thus firmly holding the sections together, 

 and leaving no room at the joints for 

 propolis. 



The next important thing is the liberal 

 use of comb foundation. We believe 

 that it is money well invested to use full 

 sheets of the thinnest make, in the 

 sections. Separators are also indispens- 

 able in the production of fancy comb 

 honey. When separators and full sheets 

 of foundation are used the sections are 

 more uniform in their filling and weight, 

 neater in appearance, easier to handle 

 and pack in the shipping cases, more 

 inviting, and command enough better 

 price in the general market to more than 

 pay for foundation and separator. 



The next important thing is to know 

 when to put the sections on and when to 

 take them off. Now the old orthodox 

 rule is to put the sections on as soon as 

 the bees begin to whiten the combs along 

 the top bars of the brood nest. Some- 

 times this rule is right, and sometimes 

 not; but you had better follow it until you 

 have learned by a series of yearly observa- 

 tions when to expect your honey flow 

 from this, and when from that, and then 

 have your sections on just in time to ac- 

 commodate them. Just as soon as a su- 

 per of sections is all capped, except the 

 outside row or corner-section, take them 

 off; take the unfinished sections from 

 several supers and put them in one and 

 set them on a colony to be finished. By 

 posting vourself thoroughly on when 

 your honey flows will commence, and the 

 probable duration of each, you can man- 

 age so you will not have a great many 

 unfinished sections left at the end of the 

 season. 



Another thing is the sections them- 

 selves. If you are going to produce first- 

 class, fancy honey, use nothing but No. 

 I white sections. Absolute cleanliness 

 and neatness must be the rule used in 

 putting your product on the market. Re- 

 move every speck and spot from your 



sections, as you would a spatter of mud 

 from your Sunday clothes. If you don't, 

 you are leaving a blemish upon your re- 

 putation as a fancy comb honey producer. 

 EBENEZER SKIES. 



Convention Notes. 



From the Meeting of the Ontario County 

 Bee=Keeper8' Association. 



Reported by Secretary K. Greiner. 

 ,HE Ontario County (N. Y.) Bee- 

 Keepers' Association held their 

 annual meeting in Canandaigua 

 Dec. 14 and 15, 1899. The address of 

 President- Marks was attentively listened 

 to. He urged in particular upon those 

 present to take more interest in our meet- 

 ings and if possible try and interest those 

 who now in apathy stay away. 



Since all the local associations may 

 now enjoy the substantial aid of the 

 State through the Bureau of Farmers' 

 Institutes, it seems that a new era is 

 dawning upon us in reference to the bee- 

 keepers' associations. The presence of 

 noted speakers and others from a distance, 

 that may be procured by this aid, always 

 lends a charm and great influence to 

 meetings, and entices and persuades— it 

 is our experience— many a bee-keeping 

 friend to attend these gatherings. Presi- 

 dent Marks also explained the advantages 

 of selling our honey under the special 

 trade mark and seal of the Association, 

 as had been practiced by several members. 

 He himself has often had call for honey 

 guaranteed by the Association and sealed 

 with their seal. 



The first paper read before the conven- 

 tion, entitled "Bees versus Man." com- 

 posed and delivered by Mrs S.J.Smith of 

 Manchester, N. Y., was appreciated by 

 all present. 



Profes.sor F. Benton, Assistant Ento- 

 mologist of the Agricultural Department, 

 Washington, was the center of attraction 

 and made addresses on both days. He 

 spoke of the functions of differernt 

 organs of the bee and her relationship to 



