46 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



A small furnace will not keep a large 

 room warm in a cold day. So it is with 

 bees; and if you keep them warm they 

 will breed faster and prosper better. By 

 closely watching their procedure this will 

 readly be seen. 



Jas. Heddon — The brush heap isn't a 

 proper illustration! It would be a par- 

 allel case to inserting a hollow lube in 

 the centre of the brood nest. Experi- 

 ments have demonstrated the fact that 

 bees are rearing brood in the spring when 

 the outside combs are cracking with in- 

 tense cold. How much heat escapes from 

 a hive when the cover fits so poorly as to 

 leave a large crack all around ? So little 

 that it can scarcely be detected. We 

 theorize too much. Those swarms that 

 are " ventilated to death" in the spring 

 months, breed just as fast as those that 

 are so snugly and cosily " tucked up in 

 quilts " and the like. I remember that one 

 spring after setting out my bees, the 

 covers warped so badly, that I feared the 

 consequences of so much upward ventila- 

 tion, and procured a quantity of listing 

 with which to close up the cracks. I 

 worked with a will until the listing was 

 exhausted, with some 10 or 12 hives that 

 were still " all ventilation," but as I was 

 completely tired out, thought they might 

 get along as best they could, they couldn't 

 any more than perish anyway. What 

 was the result? Three that were left to 

 shift for themselves were ^'((si as strong and 

 vigorous in June, as the others. • 



Julius Tomlinson — The contraction of 

 hives depends altogether on circum- 

 stances. No rules can be given that will 

 apply to all cases. Exercise care and 

 judgment, ^nd adapt yourself to your 

 surroundings. 



W. W. Millard — Related experiments 

 of crossing dift'erent breeds of animals 

 with a view to the development of certain 

 desirable qualities. In breeding bees, we 

 should aim to cultivate their comb-build- 

 ing and honey-storing qualities. Com- 

 bine, if possible, the best characteristics 

 of the two races. 



Pres. Balch — I have noticed one 

 peculiarity of the blacks, that has not 

 been alluded to — they " hang out" worse 

 in summer than the Italians. 



Dr. Southard — Upward ventilation 

 will obviate it. 



J. H. EvERARD— Bees " hang out " from 

 excessive heat and heavy combs of new 

 honey. Have had bees winter well that 

 were exposed to a direct current of cold 

 air. 



The Secretary then read a paper on the 

 " Fallacies of Bee-Culture." He took the 

 ground, that notwithstanding we had 

 made commendable progress in scientific 

 bee-culture, there yet remained a vast 

 amount of empiricism and error, that 

 passed as science ; and proceeded to point 

 out the more common and glaring falla- 



cies. The paper elicited much comment, 

 agreeing in the mass with the views he 

 expressed ; but as most of the ideas ad- 

 vanced are contained in the report of yes- 

 terday's session, the discussion is omitted. 



After the transaction of business relative 

 to the affairs of the Association, and the 

 adoption of a motion, extending a hearty 

 vote of thanks to those who had kindly 

 furnished us valuable papers, the Conven- 

 tion adjourned to meet in Kalamazoo, on 

 the first Wednesday of May, 1876. 



We may add that the Convention was 

 harmonious and united throughout, and 

 that all seemed to feel amply repaid for 

 the time, trouble and expense incurred in 

 attending the present meeting. And thus 

 ended one of the best and most profitable 

 apistical gatherings of American apicul- 

 turists ; a gathering that, in the opinion of 

 many present, will mark a new era in 

 scientific and profitable bee-culture in 

 America; and that convening on the 

 threshold of the first centennial of the 

 Republic, it might prove to be an auspi- 

 cious beginning of a brighter future for 

 American apiculture, was the earnest and 

 sincere wish of all in attendance. 



Herbert A. Burch, Sec'y. 



South Haven, Mich. 



Yoices from among the Hiyes. 



Columbus, Ind. — Jan. 3, 1876. — " My 

 bees are doing finely ; they commenced to 

 work on rye flour Dec. 23, and seem as 

 anxious about it as if it were spring. The 

 queens have all commenced to lay and I 

 find brood in all stages, from the egg to 

 hatched bees. This is something uncom- 

 mon, to test the purity of late hatched queens 

 by their worker progeny in Dec. and Jan. 

 The temperature Jan 1, showed 78 deg. 

 in the sun. Should the winter continue 

 open, I expect bees (with the start they 

 now have on brood rearing) to swarm 

 about the time apples bloom this season." 

 J. M. Brooks. 



Wayne Co., O.— Dec. 21, 1875.—" I had 

 10 swarms in the spring, have now 21j 

 from one I had three, and 20 Bbs of box- 

 honey. My bees are all on their summer 

 stands, packed around with straw, and 

 covered to keep them dry. I had nothing 

 but white clover and corn fields for my 

 bees to work on this snmmer." 



D. H. Ogdkn. 



Monmouth, III. — Jan. 1, 1876. — "I put 

 my bees in the cellar Nov. 9. The past 

 ten days have been unusually warm for 

 this time of the year. Temperature out 

 of doors 50 to 62 degrees. The past two 

 days we have had ccmtinuous rain, and to- 

 night I find water in the cellar 3 inches 

 deep. Am afraid I shall have to move 

 them out to prevent their being drowned. 

 This is the first time since 1869 that water 

 has come into my cellar." T. G. McQaw. 



