52 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



6. Will upward ventilation in the cellar or 

 room where bees are wintered prevent damp- 

 ness and disease V 



7. AVhat is tlie best forage for bees '? 



The fimt of these questions had been quite 

 thoroughly discussed in tlie absence of tlie 

 committee— but in addition, Dr. Blakeslee stat- 

 ed it as his opinion that if properly used the 

 product of the apiary would be doubled, and 

 agreed with Mr. Thurman that honey could 

 be afforded at less price than box honey and 

 yet the aggregate pro tit would be greater. Mr. 

 llare stated that some purchasers thought it 

 was a spurious article because separated from 

 the comb by a new and novel process, and the 

 public mind needs to be disabused on this 

 point. Further discussion showed a large 

 preponderance of opinion in favor of the ex- 

 tractor when properl}' used. 



The second question was briefly discussed. 

 Dr. ®ren said that a chemical test was the true 

 one, while the Presicfent, Mr. Thurman, Mr. 

 Hare and others believed that the experience 

 of most persons would enable them to deter- 

 mine the matter, especially when considering 

 the fact that the globules of the pure article 

 were unlike the spurious. The pure would 

 keep longer and not become candied, and the 

 taste would also indicate the difference. By 

 bringing pure honey to a boiling heat and al- 

 lowing it to cool gradually, it may be kept 

 years in a liquid state without injury. 



On the tldrd question the oi)inion was quite 

 general that the swarms should be allowed a 

 liberal supply of pure honey, and small, late 

 and weak stocks should be fed in the autumn 

 or incorporated with strong swarms. 



The fourth question was warmly discussed. 

 Dr. Oren said he could not respect the Italian 

 bee as lie once did, and yet he liked them 

 very well. Mes.srs. Thurman, Hunt, Good- 

 hue, Hare, Pierce, Thomas, Tangman, New- 

 comb, Porter, of Illinois, and others, were 

 generally agreed in their praise of the Italian 

 bee. 



On the fifth question each had his own pe- 

 culiar method for dividing and hi\'ing swarms, 

 all agreeing that the honey-bee, of whatever 

 nativity, knew how to sting. 



The Hix'th question elicited a full discussion 

 as it involved the vital points in relation to 

 the great loss of bees in the winter of 1873-;i, 

 and in the spring following — many losing 

 their entire stocks, and others nearly all. 

 The cellar, the clamp, burying them, allow- 

 ing them to remain on the stands as in the 

 summer and (covering them with lilankets, 

 were severally considered. Tlie concurrent 

 opinion was, however, that in any case, a dry, 

 pure atmosphere and a Avarmth or tempera- 

 ture of ;]() to 50 degrees and uniform as near 

 as practicable, should be maintained to se- 

 cure safety and freedom from disease. Freez- 

 ing and dampness should never be; allowed. 

 The severity of tlie winter of 18T2-;5, followed 



by a backward, wet s])ring made very indif- 

 ferent forage for those that survived the win- 

 ter, and want of experience in giving proper 

 care, contributed to superinduce disease and 

 the heavy or total losses. Still, those who- 

 observed the most approved care and caution 

 hitherto used by the apiarian, suttered heavy 

 losses, indicating that much is to be learned, 

 and that thorough search into the cause of the 

 disaster should be made, and remedies sought; 

 also, that special encouragements, legislative 

 or otherwise, should be atforded those who, 

 in the face of discouragements, dilligently 

 pursue a research that promises so much 

 wealth to the State. 



The seventh question was considered at 

 some length. Linn and Alsike clover were 

 highly appreciated. Mr. Hare, also Mr. Fur- 

 man, said they had raised this clover for bee 

 pasturage and were much pleased with it. 

 It should be sown early, on well prepared 

 ground — even on snow if the land had been 

 thoroughly prepared in the preceding fall, 

 arid a hay crop, as well as honey, would be 

 the result. Great care should be observed 

 in selecting seed, lest sorrel (a bane to the 

 farmer) should be mixed with it. 



Convention adjourned until the following 

 day, at !)i o'clock. 



TIITUi) DAY. 



Convention called to order by the President. 

 The question whether or not bees were taxa- 

 ble property was raised by Mr. Goodhue and 

 discussed generally by the members of the 

 Convention, when the Secretary offered as a. 

 means of solving the question the following 



MEMORIAL. 



To the General Assembly of the State of 

 low*, in Senate and House of Representatives- 

 assembled : 



Your petitioners, citizens of the State of 

 Iowa, respectfully call your attention to the 

 following considerations : — First, That Iowa 

 has, until 1878, been deemed one of the best 

 bee raising and honey producing States in the 

 Union — its trees and flowers furnishing, in 

 the language of apiarians, abundance of bee 

 pasturage. Second, That in the winter of 

 1873-0, and in the spring following, about 

 five-mxths of the swarms of bees in the State 

 perished by disease. Third, that many per- 

 sons have become discouraged, and have 

 abandoned, or propose to abandon, the busi- 

 ness, preferring to do so tliai> to be taxed on 

 so precarious ;i business. Fourth, That the 

 native riches, in honey, of the tree and flowei' 

 blossoms referred to, will remain undevelojied 

 and valueless, unless the gathering and util- 

 izing of this dormant wealth is in some way 

 fostered and encouraged ; and as the State 

 may advance its material interests by encour- 

 aging those now engaged in apiculture and 

 inducing others to do so, and as no injury 

 can arise to the State or its revenues, but ex- 



