u A splendid stream runs just a little 

 way from my apiary, where my bees 

 have an abundant supply of water. 1 ' 

 Such conveniences are very nice for a 

 horse or cow, and for sheep and poultry ; 

 they can march down to the edge of the 

 lake or river, and carelessly place their 

 heads down for a sup, and if a wave 

 splashes the water half way to their 

 eyes, they can quench their thirst with 

 indifference ; but how is it with the lit- 

 tle honey bee ? See it on the wing care- 

 fully approach the stream ; it balances 

 itself over the edge of the water, then 

 flirts up, then clown, looking for a spot 

 where it dare to alight ; the ripple re- 

 cedes, it sees a moist pebble or a dam- 

 pened spot on the ground, and ventures 

 to alight, but scarcely has it extended 

 its ligula to sip a drop, when the water 

 returns, and if the poor bee is smart 

 enough to spring into the air it saves 

 its life, but obtains so little water that 

 it goes off in disgust to the barnyard or 

 cesspool, where it knows the water will 

 remain quiet enough for it to get some, 

 even if the water is not so clean. 



" But," says one, "■ I have„a nice foun- 

 tain in my yard, and an earthern flower 

 vase under it, and the vase keeps just 

 full of water all of the time ; it is amus- 

 ing to see the little fellows form a circle 

 clear around the edge of the vase and 

 sip the water ; and if one gets in it soon 

 flaps around to the edge and, the vase 

 being full, it easily gets out." Yes, that 

 is better; but just think what a neces- 

 sity it would be that would compel us 

 to go where we may be very liable not 

 only to get a ducking, but -have to un- 

 dergo all the horrors of a threatened 

 death, even if somebody else did know 

 we would get out alive at last. 



Many ways may be devised to furnish 

 water for bees, where they can get it 

 without danger of getting wet. I will 

 mention a very cheap one : Take an 

 oyster can, remove one side, prepare 

 some thin strips of wood as wide as 

 your tin dish is deep, and just long 

 enough to slip into it ; take some little 

 blocks % of an inch thick and p ;! of an 

 inch wide, and as long as the dish is 

 deep, place a block across each corner 

 of the dish on one side ; then against 

 these place a thin strip, then two more 

 blocks and another strip, and so 

 on until it is wedged full ; it can then 

 be tilled with water and placed near the 

 apiary. There should be at least one for 

 every colony. 



Having now demonstrated that bees 

 need water, and how to obtain it, let us 

 consider 



In what condition the water should be. 



Because people have seen bees around 

 barnyards, hog-pens, cesspools, etc., 



where there was more or less moisture, 

 they have supposed the bees were after 

 salt, ammonia, or something of the like ; 

 but, from observation. I have concluded 

 differently. The urgent need of water, 

 and the great danger to which they 

 are exposed in oilier places, drives 

 them there. Bees, like nearly all other 

 animals, may need a little salt oc- 

 casionally for medicine, and it is 

 well to have a tew dishes of water 

 slightly salted within reach. In order 

 for the bee to carry the water to its 

 hive, it must take it into its stomach ; 

 therefore, the water should be slightly 

 warm. This, I think, furnishes another 

 reason for bees frequenting barn-yards 

 and such places. 



To sum up : First, bees when rearing 

 brood should have an abundant supply 

 of pure, soft water. Secondly, it should 

 be provided for them so that they can 

 obtain it without danger of their get- 

 ting wet ; and, thirdly, it should be fur- 

 nished, fresh and clean, and kept at 

 about the right temperature. 



President Ashworth called for re- 

 marks. 



Mr. Coles, of Howell, thought water 

 essential at all times of the year. 



Mr. Smith, of Leslie, thought the 

 same. 



Mr. Harper thought the natural re- 

 sources quite sufficient. 



Mr. Blackburn asked if water was 

 wanted in winter. The convention an- 

 swered no. 



The Secretary then read an interest- 

 ing letter from Mr. Frank Benton, tBe 

 late Secretary. 



Prof. Cook entered the room, and was 

 received and introduced to the conven- 

 tion by President Ashworth. The Pro- 

 fessor was asked to give his views of 

 Cyprian queens. He did so, giving par- 

 ticulars of his correspondence with Mr. 

 Benton. 



Mr. Baker, of Lansing, moved that 

 the Agricultural College be instructed 

 to obtain Cyprian queens and rear 

 queens for the benefit of the Associa- 

 tion. 



Mr. Harper asked if queens could be 

 obtained direct from Cyprus. 



Prof. Cook said they could. 



Mr. Harper moved that Prof. Cook 

 be instructed to order a queen. 



Mr. Lewis advised caution in order- 

 ing, until the price, chances and condi- 

 tion of shipment be better understood. 



Prof. Cook advised all to wait until 

 their merits are more fully determined. 



President Ashworth then read an es- 

 say on select queen rearing, and gave 

 what lie considered ttie standard ot ex- 

 cellence in queens and colonies. 



Mr. Harper was requested to give his 



