186 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



December 



jokers, he must be seen to be appre- 

 ciated 



Mr.Whitcomb of Nebraska, thought 

 it not desirable to force honey on the 

 market. 



The reports of the honey crop pub- 

 lished by A. I, Root in Gleanings 

 were calculated to serve as pointers 

 in regard to supplies of honey' and 

 consequently prices which might be 

 expected. 



Dad ant advised sending to good 

 commission men and directing the 

 same to sell at a certain price or make 

 no sale. 



Honey packages were next taken up. 



F. H Richards, Laclede, Mo., used 

 sloping tin vessels. His customers 

 would not buy in glass, being pos- 

 sessed of the idea that all such honey 

 came from second hands, and was 

 consequently adulterated. 



Editor Stilsou of York, Nebraska, 

 used all glass. Believed in turning 

 on the light showing exact condition 

 of honey. California sage and other 

 honey would not granulate for years, 

 while alfalfa granulated very readily. 



Mrs. Strawbridge, Ottawa, Kas., 

 president Kansas State Association 

 used Mason fruit jars. 



Bee paralysis was the next subject 

 taken up. No positive cure known. 



Editor Holterman never saw a case. 



Mr. Whitcomb of Nebraska, found 

 " fly poison " almost always at the 

 bottom of bee paralysis, often put 

 out purposely for the dertruction of 

 the bees. 



A. I. Root said it was a criminal 

 act to poison anything anywhere 

 within the United States. 



F. H. Richards thought the bees 

 were poisoned by the indiscriminate 

 use of spraying liquids. 



Mr. Carrington of Maryville, did 

 not believe the poison theory, as all 

 would be affected. Had tried the 

 salt cure, fumes of sulphur, change 

 of queen, each with but little or no 

 success. 



W. L. Porter, Denver, Colo., thought 

 perhaps fumes from the smelters the 

 cause of paralysis. 



Dadant ascribes the trouble to con- 

 stipation. 



Secretary Benton suggested that it 

 might be owing to a potassium com- 

 pound in cherry and other blossoms, 

 as the ravages of the disease were 

 most perceptible during the time of 

 their blooming. 



Mrs. Whitcomb used dry salt plac- 

 ed at the entrance as a remedy. 



Editor Stilson thought burning the 

 best plan. 



President Abbott recommended 

 placing a cake of sugar over the brood 

 frames, leaving between a one-half 

 inch bee space. Never lost a colony 

 so treated. Used it both in cellar and 

 outdoor wintering. No matter how 

 much honey on hand, put the sugar 

 on also. 



Mrs. Strawbridge found one dead 

 which had been supplied with the 

 cake of sugar. 



Spring Dwindling next come up for 

 consideration. 



President Abbott. — That cake of 

 sugar is an excellent remedy. 



Mr. Whitcomb attributed spring 

 dwindling to loss of bees while in 

 search of water. Bees were the same 

 as other stock and during brood rear- 

 ing needed large supplies of water. 

 Illustrated his method of watering, 

 which was to invert ordinary fruit cans 

 filled with water over blocks having 

 slight grooves cut in them, said grooves 



