1872.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOUENAL. 



165 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Washington, January, 1872. 



While politicians are cogitating and agitating the 

 question of a tiew departure or of no deparinre, seem- 

 ingly with little prospect of reaching a satisfactory 

 solution, beekeepers may, we think, look forward with 

 confidence to an extraordinary and unprecedented 

 advance in their business in the year on which we are 

 just entering. They are on the verge of a new era — 

 old modes and practices, ,old-fashioned hives, and 

 hives as hitherto constructed, are destined to be su- 

 perseded ; and that which a few years ago was a 

 mere by-play in the commerce of the country, is about 

 to assume a prominence and an importance hardly 

 conceived of even by the sanguine a year ago. But 

 those who would reap benefit from this progress in 

 improvement, must keep themselves advised of each 

 onward movement as it is made. 



O:;^ Very many articles intended for this number 

 of the Journal, readied us too late to be available. 

 The holidays compel us to be early on the ground, or 

 lag lamentably in the rear. 



JS^ We have received a copy of " Vick's Illus- 

 TKATED Catalogue and Floral Gdidej" for 1872, 

 published by James Vick, Rochester, N. Y., — a de- 

 cided improvement on those previously issued. 



The instrument called rafraichisseur by the 

 French, and used by them for perfuming gloves, 

 handkerchiefs, &c., which we mentioned two years 

 ago, as employed by Major Von Hruschka in intro- 

 ducing queen bees, is simply the instrument long 

 known in this country as the atomizer. It is made in 

 various styles, and sold at prices varying accordingly. 

 It can be readily obtained from or through any drug- 

 gist. Very good ones are sold here, in Washington, 

 at fifty cents each, and they are quite as efficient for 

 the purpose designed, in bee-culture, as those much 

 higher in price. 



We do not share the apprehensions of several 

 of our correspondents, as regards the overstocking of 

 districts with bees, or over-production of honey. In a 

 new business, such as beekeeping for commercial pur- 

 poses is, occasional difllculties will undoubtedly pre- 

 sent themselves, but are sure to be of/ only temporary 

 force. It will be some years yet before the ordinary 

 sources of forage in any district will prove inade- 

 quate to supply the colonies kept there, if these be 

 properly managed ; and then artificial pasturage can 

 be furnished to an almost unlimited extent. Amid a 

 large and rapidly increasing population, also, the de- 



mand for honey is a certain and growing one, and 

 likely to keep pace fully with the supply. Of course,- 

 we do not suppose that " fancy prices " can or will 

 be kept up, nor is it desirable that they should be ; 

 but the business will, on the whole, always be remu- 

 nerative, esisecially as new uses for the article will, 

 from time to time, come in to sustain the markets. 

 With care and attention almost every beekeeper can 

 open and secure for himself, in his own neighbor- 

 hood, a good and steady market for the product of 

 his bees ; and then, even " extracted honey," which 

 now causes so much uneasiness in some minds, will 

 command a good price, and be readily sold. This 

 home market, within his immediate reach, the bee- 

 keeper who aims at a steady and 2}ayi7ig business, 

 should strive to establish and cherish. Suddenly 

 rushing large quantities of honey to a market unpre- 

 pared to receive it, and there ordering forced sales, 

 will, as in the case of any other article of merchandise, 

 produce depression of price and loss. This should be 

 avoided, and may readily be guarded against, as honey 

 is by no means a perishable commodity that must be 

 promptly disposed of, like the small fruits of our gar- 

 dens and orchards, but can be easily and safely kept 

 stored (especially in barrels), and brought out as 

 called for by the requirements of the market. Deal- 

 ers, too, will soon become aware of this fact, and 

 supply themselves with honey, as with other mer- 

 chandise, to provide for the exigencies of trade. 



German Beekeepers' Oonvention. 



The Seventeenth Annual Meeting of German Bee- 

 keepers was held in the city of Kiel, in Holstein, on 

 the 10th of September, and the three following days. 

 Professor Hensen, of Kiel, was President, and Dr. 

 Mobius, also of Kiel, first assistant or Vice President. 

 The second assistant, Mr. Schmid, of Eichstadt, who 

 is the only permanent officer, and is delegated by the 

 Bavarian Government, was prevented by illness from 

 being present, and Dr. Ziwausky, of Prague, was 

 unanimously chosen to supply his place. There were 

 about four hundred beekeepers in attendance. The 

 President announced that donations for distribution 

 as premiums on articles sent for exhibition, were 

 received, as follows : from — 



The Prussian Royal Agricultural Depart- 

 ment $300 



The City of Kiel 300 



The Agricultural Union of Holstein 50 



Various Agricultural Societies 61 



■^gg'i'^O'^i^, S711 

 which would be allotted by the Committee on Pre- 

 miums. 



Mr. Milling, as representative of the city of Kiel, 

 made an address of welcome, and stated that the in- 

 habitants of that city and of the entire province, were 



