June 21, 1906 



American Dee Journal 



not name any. The criticism contained in the editorial re- 

 ferred to can be applied only to such persons or associations 

 as it may fit. If the coat does not fit, it is not necessary to 

 put it on. 



Mr. Hanegan says that the reasons for the St. Croix 

 Valley Honey-Producers' Association dropping- the National 

 will probably not be known ; also, that it was an action en- 

 tirely on the part of the Executive Committee of that Asso- 

 ciation. Of course, if such action is satisfactory to all of 

 the 280 members, it must be all right, for we believe in the 

 membership of an association running the association, or 

 delegating their authority; But we can not see from this 

 just what the St. Croix Valley Honey-Producers' Associa- 

 tion has gained in severing itself from the National. We 

 can see this, however, that if every member of that associa- 

 tion should join the National individually at $1.00 each, it 

 would cost them about $140 more than necessary, because 

 any local association can join the Na.tional in a body at SO 

 cents per member instead of $1.00. 



We are glad to know that the St. Croix Valley Honey- 

 Producers' Association is not using its influence against 

 the National. We do not see why any local association 

 should try to use its influence against the National, but, 

 rather, that such influence should be used in its favor. We 

 thoroughly believe that every local bee-keepers' association 

 in this country should be affiliated with the National, and 

 that one or more delegates from such affiliated associations 

 should be sent to the annual meetings of the National. It 

 seems to us that hardly in any other way can the National 

 keep in proper touch with the interests of bee-keeping 

 throughout the whole country. 



The National Bee-Keepers' Association has done some 

 splendid work for the bee-keeping industry during the past 

 nearly 36 years of its existence ; it can still do much good 

 work, and we believe that under its present management it 

 means to continue to doit. So far as we know, its officers 

 and Board of Directors enjoy the confidence and support of 

 practically all the bee-keepers in America. Of course, there 

 may be some exceptions, as noted in the editorial on page 

 461, where a few, having become dissatisfied, endeavor to 

 injure it, but this.it seems to us, can be but for a short 

 time, if they have any influence whatever. 



We are fully aware that no local association can be 

 compelled to join the National in a body ; in fact, we do not 

 think that any one would think of compelling such uniting. 

 It seems to us it ought to be considered a privilege by the 

 local association to become members of the National in a 

 body at SO cents per member. We believe every local asso- 

 ciation owes it to the National to affiliate with it in that 

 manner. And while it is economy for the local association 

 to do this, on account of the larger membership that would 

 be gained in this way by the National, it results in larger 

 financial resources, and also gives the National the added 

 influence of numbers in membership, which count a great 

 deal in many ways. The German Central Union of bee- 

 keepers has nearly 40,000 members. America has not yet 

 been able to get 3000 bee-keepers into one organization. We 

 believe the last United States census shows that there are 

 something like 700,000 bee-keepers in this country. We do 

 not believe our National Bee-Keepers' Association can pos- 

 sibly ever be as large through only individual membership 

 as it would be by local associations joining in bodies at the 

 lower rate of membership fee. 



This writer is not an officer in the National, but simply 

 one in the ranks, and desires to see it grow in numbers and 

 power as the years pass on. It now has the largest amount 

 of money in its treasury in all its existence, and we believe 

 it is in a position to do great things for all the bee-keepers 

 of this continent. In order to do this, however, it will need 

 the hearty support of all other organizations of bee-keepers 

 in America. 



We wish to thank Mr. Hanegan for writing, even if he 

 was wrong in thinking that the association of which he is 

 the able manager was referred to in the editorial in ques- 

 tion. Possibly some good may result from what has been 

 published so far, and, if so, it will be all right. The Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal has stood by the National organization of 

 bee-keepers in this country longer than has any other bee- 

 publication, and it expects to continue such support so long 

 as it can consistently do so. Just now we believe that with 

 the exception of a few minor points the National is in a 

 position to do the best work of its life for the bee-keepers of 

 this country, and it has the opportunity. The question is, 



Will it embrace the opportunity, and prove itself all that it 

 can be, not only to its membership but to the whole bee- 

 keeping industry of this continent ? 



A Book a Necessity for Beginners 



Beginners sometimes expect to get all the information 

 they need through the question department of this Journal, 

 and are not well pleased when told they ought not to utilize 

 that department until after having made a thorough study 

 of some good book of instruction on bee-keeping. But no 

 sounder advice could be given for their own profit. Here is 

 what the British Bee Journal says about it : 



The first " instructions " we invariably give to beginners with bees 

 is to procure a reliable " guide-book " on the subject. Without such 

 help it is like groping in the dark. We are also careful to impress on 

 beginners that it is impossible to teach the art of bee-keeping in our 

 " Query and Reply " column. All we can do is to give advice in cases 

 where unforeseen difficulties arise which are beyond the skill of 

 novices; but there are many things that can not be done by rule of 

 thumb, nor is it possible to frame instructions that will meet all cases, 

 seeing that " bees do nothing invariably." 



So there is always plenty of room for questions after 

 the most thorough study of the book, and nothing here said 

 is intended to discourage the sending in of such questions. 



■ 



Miscellaneous 

 flews Items 



The National Convention Report is begun on page 

 533. We expect to continue it in smaller installments from 

 week to week. This will insure a more careful reading, we 

 think, as a little of it can be read weekly, while if all were 

 given at one time perhaps none of it would be read. It will 

 certainly be profitable to go over all of it very carefully, as 

 there are many good things in it. 



J. T. CalveFt, Treasurer and Business Manager of the 

 A. I. Root Co., dropped in to see us last week when passing 

 through Chicago. He reported a good business in bee-sup- 

 plies east of the Mississippi, and especially in the eastern 

 part of the country. West of the Mississippi the honey sea- 

 son having been poor last season, and also there being a 

 greater loss of bees in that territory, there has not been so 

 great a demand for bee-supplies this season. 



Those " Two ' Long Fellows ' of Beedom," on the first 

 page, are getting to be pretty well known in beedom, or at 

 least among the readers of the American Bee Journal, and 

 that includes the best part of the bee-keepers who read bee- 

 literature. In them is splendidly represented the bee-keep- 

 ers of the " North " and the " South," for Mr. Pettit (6 feet 

 1 inch) is the editor of " Canadian Beedom," and Mr. Scholl 

 (6 feet 3 inches) is editor of " Southern Beedom." 



They are two young " boys " that appear to be quite 

 able to look out for themselves — and several others besides. 

 But they may have to " stoop to conquer," should they ever 

 decide to attempt to persuade some fair young damsels to 

 share their " lofty " lives with them. They certainly are 

 two of about as " high livers " as can be found amongst 

 bee-keepers. Most of us have to " look up to them " 

 whether we want to do so or not. 



Handling Honey Years Ago.— Dr. F. D. Clum, of 

 Cheviot, N. Y., sends us the following on the honey com- 

 mission business many years ago : 



When I was 16 years of age, I was clerk and book-keeper for Dan- 

 iel W. Quinby, a near relative of Moses Quinby. At one time he con- 

 trolled the selling price of honey in New York City. After awhile, 

 when Mr. Quinby became advanced in years, a certain wholesale 

 grocer went to his largest shippers and offered them a cent or two in 

 cash above the probable price oSEered by D. W. Quinby, and they 

 ruined his honey-business. 



D. W. Quinby was a very honest man, of Quaker descent, and I, 



