we find ourselves confronted by this 

 question : " Can we not command bet- 

 ter and more uniform figures for our 

 surplus honey?" 



We need not dwell upon the import- 

 ance of this problem. To its speedy 

 solution we invite your earnest and 

 careful consideration, believing that, 

 by the co-operation of our practical 

 apiarists, an affirmative answer will be 

 the result. 



To make our position clear and un- 

 mistakable, please allow us to present 

 an example by way of illustration. As 

 you well know, Chicago is the great 

 mart of the northwest. One of her 

 busiest streets is devoted almost exclu- 

 sively to the purchase and sale of our 

 agricultural, horticultural and apicul- 

 tural products. Her three hundred 

 commission merchants solicit consign- 

 ments of our honey. 



Now there are in our vicinity three 

 or four persons making bee-culture a 

 specialty. Three years ago, we (the 

 writer and his neighbors) shipped our 

 honey to as many different firms hand- 

 ling that article, each one of course ex- 

 pecting to get the best prices. The 

 outcome showed a wide difference in 

 point of results, net prices varying from 

 12 to 22c. per pound. Why this dif- 

 ference? We found that the firm 

 realizing the best prices was better 

 adapted, and possessed better facilities 

 for the handling of honey. To-day our 

 honey goes to one house (whose adver- 

 tisement appears in your programme), 

 and we all obtain satisfactory prices. 



Now the point we wish to make, is 

 this ; can we not, by concentrating the 

 honey trade, obtain better prices than 

 we now do ? Our experience is posi- 

 tively on the affirmative side of this 

 question. A common sense view of the 

 situation, it seems to us, corroborates 

 our position ; the history of the com- 

 mercial world confirms it. To give 

 one, or at most two firms in each of the 

 large towns and cities, control of the 

 honey trade, is essential ; but equally 

 essential is it, that these firms shall be 

 composed of men of large business ex- 

 perience ; that they shall possess tact 

 and energy ; and that they shall be men 

 of known ability, and unquestioned 

 integrity. Such men can be found, 

 shall we not make such an arrangement 

 with them as shall be alike advanta- 

 geous to them and to ourselves. If, 

 these few hurried thoughts shall be the 

 means of awakening our bee conven- 

 tions to better views of their most vital 

 interests, and direct their energies into 

 this practical channel, then indeed shall 

 we rejoice that we have striven to cul- 

 tivate " a neglected field." 



W. Illinois and E. Iowa Convention. 



The seventh semi-annual meeting of our 

 Society will be held at Monmouth, Warren 

 Co.. 111.. Thursday and Friday, April 29-30, 

 1880. All bee-keepers and others who are 

 in any way interested in bees or honey, are 

 cordially invited to be present. 



The Rev. O. Clute, of Iowa City, Iowa, 

 will again favor us witli a lecture on the 

 evening of April 29th, on some topic of 

 general interest to all. 



The committee of reception will receive 

 and exhibit free, all articles sent by bee- 

 keepers or manufacturers, if sent to the 

 Secretary at Monmouth, 111., and charges 

 prepaid. The hotels will keep bee-keepers 

 at reduced rates. From letters received we 

 think this meeting will fully equal if not 

 excel any previous meeting of the Society. 

 Many valuable prizes have already been 

 offered and more will be forthcoming. 



Monmouth was the birth-place of our So- 

 ciety, let us show them how large we have 

 grown. Let every member turn out that 

 can, and bring many bee friends. 



The prizes which have been given away 

 at our meetings have added not a little to 

 the success and interest of the sessions, and 

 it is a pleasure to deal with men who do 

 just as they say they will. For one the 

 Secretary can say that the pair of Black 

 Cochin fowls drawn by him at Burlington 

 last fall, from Dr. J. R. Baker, Keithsburg, 

 111., are most superb specimens of that ex- 

 cellent variety of fowls. Among other 

 prizes offered, the Doctor and his wife give 

 a pair of Black Cochin chicks, to be 

 delivered next September, value $5.lNi and 

 a setting of eggs of either Black Spanish, 

 Black Cochin or B. B. R. Game, value $2.00. 

 Will. M. Kellogg, Sec. 



Oquawka, 111. 



From the Journal of Horticulture, London. 



British Bee-Keepers' Association. 



The annual meeting of this Associa- 

 tion was held Feb. 18th, under the 

 presidency of the Baroness Burdett- 

 Coutts. After the usual preliminaries 

 the Baroness expressed her pleasure at 

 the manifest progress of the Associa- 

 tion, and suggesting that the Presi- 

 dents of county associations should be 

 elected as Vice Presidents of the parent 

 Association. The condition of Ireland 

 was referred to. The Baroness ex- 

 pressed a hope that the work which 

 Canon Bagot lias taken up would do 

 much in enligtening the peasantry in 

 better methods of bee-culture to their 

 immense advantage, as the plans they 

 now follow are very crude and profit- 

 less; and adding that perhaps the 

 British Bee-Keepers' Association might 

 see it wise to organize a series of gat tid- 

 ings in the sister island. The report 

 was moved from the chair, and carried 

 unanimously. 



Dr. Ogle and Mr. Jackson of Slindon, 

 in moving and seconding a vote of 



