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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



nals. You can't do anything with them. 

 They don't produce much honey, anyhow. 



Mr. Kimble — I have offered just as 

 much as they could get at the store, and 

 spot cash at that, and they wouldn't sell 

 to me, and it is often poor in shape. 



Mr. Hammond — Amateur bee-keepers 

 don't do it all. When the amateur does 

 ship his honey to city markets, he 

 doesn't often compete with the more ex- 

 perienced. 



Next was the following essay by D. D. 

 Hammond, of Malone, on 



UNION OF BEE-KEEPERS. 



I take pleasure in responding to a call 

 made by our earnest Secretary, to write 

 upon the subject of union of bee-keepers. 



Trusting that all may have already 

 learned the good lesson taught them 

 through the nature of bees, I need not 

 further urge the union of hands, the 

 union of hearts, and the union of deeds, 

 in the spirit of a true bee-keepers' fra- 

 ternity ; placed at the head of all ani- 

 mate creation, the Giver of all good 

 things has expected we will honor and 

 glorify the land with true and noble 

 deeds. 



Then where is union needed worse, 

 and where is sympathy less, than in our 

 ranks ? For in a large majority of 

 cases our noblest deeds are considered a 

 fraud and a deception ; we are sus- 

 picioned In every transaction connected 

 with bee-keeping. In my first dealing 

 in bees I practiced selling for less than 

 the value of my articles ; the results 

 were I received about this class of com- 

 pliments, and I guess I am not alone in 

 the same ; it was, " Beware of a tamed 

 wolf ; a baptized Jew — bee-keepers as a 

 class !" O when shall we hail the long- 

 looked-for day when the "lamb " of the 

 innocent bee-keeper and the "lion "of 

 uncultured enemies of the many true 

 heroes who have spent many weary, 

 toiling hours, searching deep in the 

 genius of not only the most genial to 

 man, but the most wonderful of all in- 

 sect nature — when shall they lie down 

 in peace and harmony on the banks of a 

 second Jordan, when the short-comings 

 of the few of our ranks, and the true and 

 noble deeds of the many may be placed 

 in rank and file with other legitimate 

 business, and all non-union of fellow- 

 men pass away like the dew before the 

 uprising sun of life and light ? 



Dare I say I think that I am intruding 

 upon the principles or belief in any way 

 of the honest bee-keepers, when I say 

 yes, a thousand times yes, in favor of 

 the union of bee-men ? The trusts of 



all other pursuits are constantly forming 

 in all parts of the known world, for the 

 protection of dishonest work and deal- 

 ings. Then, why fail, brothers, In unit- 

 ing to protect an honest industry ? The 

 time is coming when we should use our 

 united effort in protecting ourselves 

 against unprincipled opposition of adul- 

 teration against us. Then, as bee- 

 keepers, let us rise and assert our rights 

 in requesting all bogus honey to be sold 

 and branded as such. In one way, and 

 one only, can we accomplish this, and 

 that is by our united efforts. 



D. D. Hamnond. 



After the above essay was read, there 

 was a short discussion, and it was 

 thought that never since bee-keeping 

 became an important industry was there 

 more need of united effort than now. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



Do bees locate their future home be- 

 fore swarming ? was asked. 



Mr. Fetch — Some swarms know where 

 they are going. 



Mr. Benton — My neighbor's bees 

 swarmed and came right into my hive, 

 and that without ever clustering at his 

 place. 



Mr. Merritt — It is a common thing to 

 see bees cleaning out hollow trees in the 

 woods. 



Mr. Benton— When I have a swarm 

 that insists on leaving me, they are sup- 

 plied with empty combs, and that ends 

 it. 



It was thought by some that where 

 bees do locate their future home before 

 swarming, their chances are very poor 

 to stay at home unless the queen's wings 

 are clipped. 



The subject of wintering bees was as- 

 signed to Conrad Kuebler, of Calamus, 

 but on account of a sick child, he could 

 not be present ; however, the question 

 received much discussion. 



SUGAR SYRUP OR HONEY FOR WINTERING. 



Which is the better for winter stores, 

 sugar syrup or honey ? 



Mr. Hines — Natural fruits of the bee — 

 anything else would be artificial. Sugar 

 fed for winter stores always candies for 

 me. 



Mr. Bowman — I have had the very 

 best of honey to candy. 



Mr. Hines — That sort of candy isn't 

 crystallized into little, hard pellets. 



Mr. Fetch — Some bees that I fed sugar 

 syrup soon died, while those having 

 honey lived through. 



