AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



367 



Report of the Eastern Iowa 

 Bee-Keepers' Couveiition. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY FRANK COVEEDALE. 



The Eastern Iowa Bee-Keepers' Con- 

 ventiou was called to order at 1 p.m., 

 with President H. S. Bowman in the 

 chair. Twelve members were present. 

 After the preliminary business, the 

 convention spent some time in discus- 

 sions. 



COMB HONEY FOR MAKKET. 



Preparation of comb honey for the 

 market, and the production of the same, 

 was first taken up. 



T. O. Hines fastens a strip of comb 

 foundation along both the top and bot- 

 tom of the sections, causing the bees to 

 •fill out a very plump and nice section for 

 the market. It also ships well. 



D. Benton — I think that we should use 

 full sheets of thin foundation ; this 

 would prevent the building of drone- 

 comb, and help very much in securing 

 very nice, straight combs for the market. 



E. J. Petch — I shall use full sheets 

 next season.- 



H. S. Bowman — Don't allow thje bees 

 to propolize the wood-work of the sec- 

 tions, and what little may be glued on, 

 scrape ofif, and you will laave neat sec- 

 tions of honey for the market — all other 

 things being done right. 



FULL SHEETS OF FOUNDATION. 



Shall we use full sheets of comb foun- 

 dation in the sections or in the brood- 

 nest? 



Mr. Hines^Foundation is no good ex- 

 cept for guides }4 inch along the top- 

 bars of the brood-frames, and 3< inch 

 fastened aloilg the top and bottom of 

 the sections. 



Mr. Bowman — Why not simply rub 

 beeswax along the lower edge of the 

 brood-frames ? 



Mr. Hines — Where foundation in full 

 sheets is used, the bees secrete the wax 

 anyhow, and it does no good. The same 

 holds good with full combs, and the more 



I use them the more I am convinced of 



the fact. 



Mr. Benton — I notice that when I hive 

 bees on full combs, they won't leave me. 



A Member — I have been taught from 

 experience, that the bees fill out the 

 combs faster where full sheets are used ; 

 in fact, too much honey is often stored 

 below, and the queen is restricted in 

 laying-room. 



Mr. Petch— The bees will move the 

 honey up into the sections if full sheets 

 are used there also. 



F. M. Merritt — I notice that where 

 only starters are used below, the queen 

 uses the first cells made by the new 

 swarm. 



SECOND DAY— MoBNiNG Session. 



The meeting was called to order by 

 the President. 



BUILDING UP colonies IN SPRING. 



The best way to build up colonies in 

 the spring to prepare for a honey crop, 

 was discussed. 



Mr. Merritt — In the first place, I leave 

 my bees out all winter snugly packed in 

 chaff. In spring, a super is placed on 

 top to retain the heat for brood-rearing. 



W. M. Kimble — I don't think it pays to 

 fuss much with weak colonies. Take 

 good care of the strong ones. 



D. D. Hammond — I think it is not best 

 to draw from the strong to build up the 

 weak, but on the other hand do all that 

 you can to make the weak colonies 

 strong. 



Mr. Kimble — I used to advise the 

 spreading of the brood, but if the 

 weather proves unfavorable, the brood 

 may be chilled. 



Mr. Benton — My neighbor spread his 

 brood last spring, and his bees far out- 

 stripped mine in strength, and gathered 

 more honey. 



Mr. Hammond — I am inclined to think, 

 on account of the severe changes in the 

 weather, that an amateur should go 

 slow in this direction. About all we can 

 do is to keep them warm, with plenty of 

 stores. 



BEGINNERS AND THE MARKET. 



How can beginners be best educated 

 not to ruin the honey market? 



Mr. Hines — Buy their honey. 



Byron Crevlin — Beginners, as a rule, 

 do not produce honey that will sell on 

 the city market. 



Mr. Bowman — Get them to come out 

 to conventions ; educate them by wiser 

 heads and bee-periodicals. 



Mr. Merritt — They won't take jour- 



