THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



45 



think of afterwards, as no longer strang- 

 ers, but friends. Yet notwithstanding 

 these and other obvious advantages of 

 association, how difficult it is to obtain 

 a large membership, or to secure a full 

 attendance. How rarely do we read 

 in the reports of these meetings, that 

 they were unanimously attended, or 

 marked by any enthusiasm. Even the 

 National Society has never nuide such 

 a muster as might reasonabl}^ have 

 been expected at its annual sessions. 

 Yet, if all had been imbued Avith the 

 earnestness oIl some^ — if every one had 

 com'e who could as well have done so 

 as those actually present, there would 

 have been no cause of complaint, but 

 rather abundant reason for jubilation. 

 We regret to learn that the Louisville 

 meeting was thinly attended, owing to 

 a variety of unfavorable circumstances, 

 but we hope this will not discourage 

 those who fi'om the beginning have had 

 faith in the society, and have shown their 

 faith by their works. Let every officer 

 and member resolve, that the next 

 meeting shall be the best ever held, and 

 do all in their power to make it such. 

 The place of meeting is conveniently 

 central, and we have no doubt the 

 Pennsylvania Bee men, with President 

 Hoagland at their head, will spare no 

 pains to make the needful preparations' 

 to secure travelling, hotel and hall ac- 

 commodation, so that if there is only a 

 grand rally from East, West, North 

 and South, the Pittsburgh meeting of 

 1874 will far outstrip its predecessors. 

 •There are other and local gatherings 

 which ought to be well sustained. The 

 Northeastern and several State associa- 

 tions, have yet to meet. Let there be 

 an extra etfort ou the part of Bee-keep- 

 ers to attend them. Do not o-rudire a 

 little time or money. The outlay will 

 pay you well, and be of sei-vice to others. 

 This matter should be viewed not in 



the light of inclination merely, but as a 

 duty. Ease and comfort would perhajw 

 <lictate staying beside one's warm and 

 cozy fireside, but if duty calls else- 

 whei'C, it is ours to obey the summons,, 

 in the assurance that the highest haj)- 

 piness comes in the train of doing right.. 

 '^roo much stress cannot be laid on- 

 the importance of getting up and vigor- 

 ously sustaining neighborhood meet- 

 ings in all those localities where Bees 

 are kept by a number of parties. Even 

 if they are attended only by a few, they 

 will result in much good. We do not 

 know of a pleasanter or better method 

 of promoting apiculture than by hold- 

 a weekly or fortnightly meeting from 

 house to house around the little neigh- 

 borhood of Bee-keepers. A case in 

 point occurs to our recollection. It is 

 that of three Bee-keepers who have for 

 several years been in the habit of meet- 

 ing in this way. They discuss each 

 others' methods and experiences, read 

 and criticize apicultural publications, 

 and concoct questions, answers and ar- 

 ticles for the Bee journals. It need 

 hardly be said, that they are a most in- 

 telligent trio of Bee-keepers, and that it 

 is a high treat to spend an evening in 

 their company. We could wish to see 

 their example followed wherever an as- 

 sociation even as modestly small as 

 theirs, can be formed and worked. 



In our hurry, getting out the January 

 Number of the Aisieuic.vn Bee Journal, sev- 

 eral annoying errors oreurred. We hope to 

 have less of them in tlic future. A few cor- 

 rections are important. On page 7, second 

 lino of article on " Feeding," for " keeping,'' 

 read " feeding." Seventh line from top of 

 second column, for "open," read "only 

 window." In tlie liiird line, for "hives," 

 read " sources." 



E. Kretchmer & Co.'s Price List of Bee- 

 Keepers' supplies is on our table. It contains 

 24 pages, and will be sent free to any one 

 desiring it. Address E. Kretchmer & Co., 

 Coburg, Iowa. 



