THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



57 



Tiijis, paper, wood, or tobacco, thoroughly 

 <litVuscd throiiiih the atmosphere, will do it 

 ■let^eetually. This has lon<? been used. But 

 he will ask if the best way of ajiplyinj!; it has 

 yet been discovered; if he is thorough he will 

 iiiul whether it can be api)lied so etVectually 

 that none of this poison will be perceiUible 

 in the air, and no bee have cause for anger or 

 disposition to sting. And he may go into 

 their midst without fear, nor tremble at the 

 a])proach of a tiny bi'C; and he can jiursue 

 his studies and make disioveries unmolested, 

 and add to our knowledge of the science. 



When this is known, this inirsuit will be 

 made more attractive and profitable to ladies 

 und children, and eiw.n fdrmerx' .sons. When 

 we can trace the natural history of the bee as 

 it is, not as said to be by thousands who have 

 <lrawn on imagination for theories, that can 

 be upset by the first scrutinizing observation 

 of facts, we shall be more likely to interest 

 the student. Witness the mistakes made — 

 almost with his last breath — by one of the 

 most profound naturalists of the age, liefore 

 a college of students. It was copied by the 

 agricultural press extensively. It was criti- 

 cised by one who had made this branch of 

 natural history a specialty. Few, probably, 

 would dare sanction the criticism, not know- 

 ing enough of the real history of the hee, to 

 decide upon its merits; they would be likely 

 to conclude, as most of us would, that the 

 eminent man was probably nearest correct. 

 It is our duty to examine all these things, 

 tthat we may be able to decide for ourselves, 

 and advance science. 



I have endeavored to show that Ave are not 

 ito blame for what we do not know — that we 

 •cannot make a thought. But when we have 

 a thought, which, given to others, would 

 make them think, and we refuse to give it, 

 are we not censurable ? I have endeavored 

 to give some of the reasons why the people 

 do not keep bees; also some reasons why 

 they should keep bees. Will each of you go 

 farther and explain things clearer. 



Upon motion of Captain Hetherington, a 

 "vote of thanks was tendered to President Quin- 

 by for his able address. Mr. Alexander, of 

 Camden, expressed his deep appreciation of 

 the unselfish motives and generous good will 

 which induced the President and other emi- 

 nent bee-keepers to prepare addresses for the 

 instruction of their fellow-men when no hope 

 •of pecuniary reward could incite them. 



Mr. S. Alexander, of Camden, read a pleas- 

 ing paper, of which the following is an ab- 

 stract : 



Whether the Darwinian theory of evolution 

 be the true one, that matter is its own law- 

 maker, or whether, with Agassiz, it requires 

 some special hitches occasionally, or whether, 

 with Davis' harmonial phi]osoi)hy, that sjiirit 

 acts in and througli matter, is to me, at pres- 



ent, of very little account — enough that this 

 world contains bees and men, and that they 

 are, mutually advantageous, and, perhaps, 

 mutually instructive. While others, with 

 philanthroi)ic intent, are hoping to educate 

 them to resignation to be i)lundered scientific- 

 ally, as we are legally, be mine the task to 

 try to educat(! myself, by studying some of 

 their peculiarities and characteristics. 



Their polity, their government, their way 

 of doing things, 1 think is somewhat instruct- 

 ive. They can not be said to be strictly 

 communists but thorough co-operationists, 

 which I think is as far as they have gone, and 

 farther than we have gone. I think we might 

 take some useful lessons from them ; for in- 

 stance, from their manner of disposing of 

 gentlemen of leisure, though on humane and 

 philosophical principles,! am opposed to cap- 

 ital punishment; but I am willing to let them 

 try out-door exercise even if the coming sea- 

 son be somewhat inclement. Whether these 

 gentlemen are credit mobiliers in the hive or 

 out, or only go in for w'atering stocks, I will 

 not attempt to say, but the patrons of hus- 

 bandry of the hive seem to consider them as 

 middle-men, only to be used when absolutely 

 necessarj', and at all other times worthy of 

 immolation. Whether they go for salary 

 grab, or civil-service reform, seems entirely 

 inconsequential to the internationals, Italian 

 or otherwise. Indeed the gold-ringed counts 

 seem to be as radical as our black republicans. 

 And then there is the woman question; here,' 

 perhaps w^e differ some, the most of our lady 

 apiarians maintaining, I presume, that it is the 

 best government ever devised by bees or men 

 — queen in regal dignity, presiding with 

 graceful authority; while others, — and that 

 they should have the Quiuby authority in 

 their favor ! that it is a strict democracy. 



Captain Heathcrington, Treasurer, read his 

 report, acknowledging a total of receipts of 

 $51.00, including the previous year's balance. 

 The receipts of the last convention were $17. 

 The expenditures for the year were $21.09. 



Agreeable to a suggestion, the Secretar}- 

 read the Constitution, and an opportunity wa.s 

 offered for the enrollment of new members. 

 Several new names were added to the list. 



The election of officers for the coming year 

 was eft'ected with the following results : 



President — M. Quinby, of St. Johnsville. 



Vice President — S. Alexander, of Camden. 



Secretar}^ — J. 11. Nellis, of Canajoharie. 



Treasurer — J. E. Heatherington, of Cherry 

 Valley. 



President Quinby presented the following 

 question for discussion : " Does the clipping 

 the wings of the queen injure her capacity for 

 usefulness V " 



P. H. Elwood had never observed that clip- 

 ping, properly done, injured the queen. If 

 the clipping Avas too close he had known the 

 workers to kill her. 



