32 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAI.. 



Mr. Snidley calculated to have about 

 300 pounds of surplus honey each fall 

 with which to buy swarms. Mr. Schell 

 had given up artificial for natural swarm- 

 ing. A colony previous to swarming were 

 not inclined to worker comb. To increase 

 worker comb, he found nothing like an 

 old swarm being put into an empty hive. 

 The bees would cluster in that hive and 

 if not given comb, would generate wax 

 and fill the comb with honey. Mr. Delhi 

 had found artificial swarming always suc- 

 cessful where there had been a division of 

 the swarms. Mr. Bair would prtfer na- 

 tural swarming for honey, but not for in- 

 crease. 



The Convention seemed about evenly 

 divided in opinion as to the propriety of 

 natural and artificial swarming, both 

 methods having a number of warm sup- 

 porters. All agreed, however, that artifi- 

 cial swarming should be made as nearly 

 natural as possible. 



Mr. Bondman moved that a vote of the 

 Convention be taken. The motion was 

 carried, and the vote showed that 18 were 

 in favor of artificial swarming, six in 

 favor of natural swarming, and 12 were in 

 favor of using both methods, as the case 

 might be. 



The next general question, "What is 

 the best method of rearing and introduc- 

 ing queens?" was then taken up. Mr. 

 A. J. Hill, of Mt. Healthy, stated that he 

 was engaged in the raising of queens, and 

 said that he took three nice bees, divided 

 his stock, and put half with the queens 

 and half without. As soon as the queen 

 cells are ready to hatch out he cuts them 

 out and puis them in new frames, and 

 puts the old combs into the former frames, 

 and continues tiiis through the season, 

 liaises all queens in large hives. In intro- 

 ducing queens he takes out the old queen, 

 puts the Italian queen in a wire gauze 

 frame, and places that in the center of 

 tlie hive, and in a few days it is generally 

 perfectly at home. 



Mrs. M. A. Bills wanted to know if it 

 was a common thing for queens to leave 

 their stock, and of their own accord go to 

 queenless hives, and wanted to know how 

 tlie custom could be kept up, for it was a 

 very desirable one. 



It seemed to be the opinion of the ma- 

 jority of the members that the case was 

 of frequent occurrence, but that it was 

 .seldom that it occurs as often as was men- 

 tiinied l)y Mr,!. Bills. 



Mr. Zimmerman was in favor of intro- 

 ducing queens in cages. 



Mr. Butler said he got his stock in the 

 be'^t possible condition; then removed the 

 queen, and on the twelfth da}' divided the 

 Slock that had been making queen cells 

 a^d then after a few days put them together 

 aL'-ain. Didn't think the queen could be 

 in roduced except by caging, unless it was 

 piiL in as soon as the queen was taken out. 



Mr. Benedict had a novel way to intro- 

 duce imported queens. He drummed up 

 the queen and destroyed it. He then took 

 a cup of water, put in some essence of 

 peppermint, and threw it over the swarm. 

 When they came out of the stupor which 

 the peppermint and water threw them 

 into, they would accept the new queen 

 without any trouble. 



Several members took the queen to be 

 introduced, put her in a wire cloth cage, 

 put it in the hive and put honey around 

 it. The bees will then come there, recog- 

 nize the flavor of the honey, and soon they 

 recognize her and accept her into the hive. 



For the ensuing year, G. W. Zimmer- 

 man, of Napoleon, Ohio, was chosen 

 President ; B. B. Overmeyer, Lindsey, 

 Ohio, Recording and J. W. Lindsey, 

 Mitchell, Iowa,. Corresponding Secretary; 

 J. S. Hill, Mt. Healthy, Ohio, Treasurer, 

 with a list of Vice Presidents represent- 

 ing various States. 



Philadelphia was selected as the place 

 and the first Wednesday of September, 

 1876, as the time for holding the next an- 

 nual nieeting. 



N. E. Bee-Keepers* Association. 



The sixth annual meeting of the North- 

 eastern Bee-Keepers' Association will be 

 held at the Stauwix House, in the city of 

 Rome, N. Y., on the 2d and 3d of Feb- 

 ruary, 1876. The first session will open 

 promptly at 1 o'clock P. M., of the 2d. 

 Papers of value have been promised by 

 some of .our most noted and experienced 

 apiarists from abroad. Ever}' effort will 

 be made to sustain the national reputation 

 which this Association has gained. Sev- 

 eral members are expected to read essays 

 or prepare addresses. Come prepared to 

 report accurately the season's operations. 

 We wish to know the_ number of stocks 

 kept, spring and fall ; condition, kind of 

 hive, amount of honey produced, box and 

 extracted, wax made, remarks on the 

 value of the honey season, etc. 



Capt. J. E. Hetherington, 



President. 



J. H. Nellis, Secretary. 



1^" "Novice" writes us that he has en- 

 larged Gleanings, and that the price will 

 be hereafter increased to $1.00, including 

 " Our Homes." We shall still club it with 

 The American Bee Journal at $2.50. 



^W ^- H. Hart, Appleton, Wis., writes 

 us that he is giving Lectures on the Honej'- 

 Bee this winter. Those wishing his ser- 

 vices can write him as above. 



