U5 



the purpose. I would not advise any 

 one to pay for a patent right. Every- 

 thing necessary to a good, movable- 

 comb hive is now, and has been for 

 years, public property, and the patent 

 features of most at least of those that 

 are still covered by patents, are attach- 

 ments that may be left off, not only 

 without detriment to the hive, but with 

 positive advantage. The simplest form 

 of movable comb hive, in my judgment, 

 is the best. I want no movable sides, 

 no metal corners, no moth traps, nor 

 any other expensive and useless 

 attachments. 



The next requisite to successful bee- 

 keeping is bees. A man who has no 

 bees cannot keep them, though he may 

 have ever so good a hive, and there is 

 a great difference in bees, as well as in 

 hives. There is a difference in the 

 qualities and profitableness of different 

 families of black bees. Some are more 

 vindictive and more difficult to manage 

 than others. The difference is not only 

 in the treatment they have had, but in 

 the blood. The same is true of Italian 

 bees. While as a rule they are more 

 peaceable and every way more easily 

 handled than black bees, there are 

 exceptions to the rule. Occasionally 

 we mid a colony of well marked and 

 apparently pure Italians that are 

 crosser than the average blacks, with 

 this difference, that they are quiet and 

 peaceable until they are disturbed. 



Having had nearly 10 years' experi- 

 ence with Italian bees, I give them a 

 decided preference over the black race, 

 and advise all who have not already 

 done so, to get them. And as there is 

 a great difference in the qualities of 

 different strains of Italians, get the 

 best, without regard to expense, and 

 keep no others. 



In successful bee-keeping, more 

 depends on the bee-keeper than on the 

 hive, or the particular strain of bees. 

 In order to succeed in this pursuit, a 

 good degree of intelligence is indispens- 

 able. But a man may be intelligent in 

 other things, and yet be a flat failure as 

 a bee-keeper. He must become 

 thoroughly acquainted with the natural 

 history of the bee. He must be so 

 thoroughly acquainted with bee instincts 

 as to know with approximate certainty 

 just what the bees will do in any given 

 circumstances. He must be familiar 

 with the entire internal economy of the 

 hive, so that if anything is wrong he 

 can ascertain what it is and apply the 

 remedy. 



I do not believe that anyone will suc- 

 ceed as an apiarist who has not a 

 genuine love for bees. The successful 

 bee-keeper must feel enough interest 



in his bees to know at all times, winter 

 and summer, their exact condition, and 

 he must be careful to do for them what 

 needs to be done, and to do it at the 

 right time. If bees are to be left with- 

 out further attention than to "rob" 

 them when they have more honey than 

 they need, then the best hive (beyond 

 comparison the best (is a section of a hol- 

 low tree, with a board nailed on one end 

 for a honey-board, and a box on top for 

 surplus honey. People wl o have no 

 skill in handling bees should adhere, by 

 all means, to the old methods. 

 Logansport, Ind. 



Southern Michigan Convention. 



The annual meeting of the Southern 

 Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association was 

 held in this city on Feb. 6, 1880 ; about 

 20 apiarists being present. The num- 

 ber of colonies reported on hand last 

 fall was 442; increase during the past 

 season was 300, largely by artificial 

 swarming. One man had 120 in the 

 fall of 1878, and but 1 left in spring of 

 1879. He purchased 8, and increased to 

 78 colonies. 



Those present reported 228 colonies 

 packed in chaff on the summer stands ; 

 129 in cellar ; and 45 out of doors. As 

 near as I could estimate, the crop of 

 honey in general was not more than 

 one-third as large as in 1878. 



All the officersof 1879 were re-elected. 

 The interest in bee-keeping is increas- 

 ing and we hope to make a better report 

 during the coming year. 



Adjourned to meet on the first 

 Wednesday in May next, at 10 a.m. 

 B. Salisbury. Sec. 



Battle Creek, Mich., Feb. 15, 1880. 



North Eastern Convention. 



[The following Keport is condensed from the- 

 Utica daily papers. We ""lit someof the discussion, 

 and all the essays for want of foom, as the <•<>)•>" "'as 

 not received from the Secretary until this JOURNAL 

 was neariy all "set up."— Ed.) 



The Xortheasten Bee-keepers' Asso- 

 ciation met at Qtica, N. V..on Feb. 11, 

 1880, at 1 p.m., Fres. L. C. Root in the 

 chair. The annual Reports of the 

 Secretary and Treasurer were read and 

 filed. 



Several gave their experience during 

 the past season and then the Secrerary 

 read a paper on the "Improvement of 

 the Italian Bee," by A. F. Moon, of 

 Rome, GJa. 



This evoked some discussion upon the 

 merits of Italians as compared with the 

 native bees. Some being loud in their 

 praise of black bees. Mr. X. N. Bet- 

 singer remarked : ll We have several 



