42b BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Secretary — F. L. Daugherty, Indianapolis. 



Treasurer — Mrs. E. Stout, Indianapolis. 



The President-elect, on being conducted to the chair, spoke as follows ; 



My Friends and Bee Keepers : 



I feel truly thankful to you for the honor conferred, yet, at the same time, I 

 think you could have selected one who would fill the position as President better 

 than I, but you will find none who takes more interest in furthering the cause for 

 which we have gathered here. I hope you will not look for any set speech, but 

 proceed to business at once. There is much to claim our time, and we want to 

 employ it to the best advantage. As brother Bee Keepers we come here to further 

 each other's interests. I hope a spirit of good feeling will prevail through your 

 discussions. As a society we have reason to be thankful for the fact expressed in 

 our worthy President's address, that there had no death occurred among our num- 

 ber the f>ast season, and grateful for the half crop of honey this season. Perhaps 

 we make it in other things, and I see no reason for discouragement. From the best 

 knowledge I can gain throughout the State, the crop is less than one-half ; but 

 none seem to be discouraged and drop out of the society, but keep on, with the 

 assurance, as promised, that "Seed-time and harvest, summer and winter should 

 never fail," and look for a honey season again. We come here to gain all the 

 knowledge we can, and should put our light on a candlestick, that all may see. 



On motion, the following committee was appointed to prepare a programme for 

 the next meeting ; also to extend an invitation to Governor Gray to address the 

 convention, viz, : I. N. Cotton, J. Kennedy, and Mrs. E. Stout. 



Professor H. W. Wiley, United States Chemist, Washington, D. C, read the 

 following address on " Cctoposition of Honey and Adulteration " : 



THE COMPOSITION OF HONEY AND ITS 

 ADULTERATIONS. 



BY H. W. WILEY. 

 Chemist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



Honey has been the theme of the poet rather than of the chemist. Sugar made 

 from starA has been considered legitimate prey for the crucible, but a certain 

 eacredness has enshrouded honey as "divinity doth enhedge a king." 



The bee and the flower, from time immemorial, have been the theme of dan- 

 cing dactyls and stately spondees, and the hand that tries a dull prosaic polemic 

 may well hesitate before the risk of being called impious. 



But although the chemist may not be as felicitous as the poet in the language 

 in which he describes honey, he certainly will be more truthful. Poets and poli- 

 ticians, by common consent, are allowed certain liberties with the truth which 

 chemists and other church goers are not permitted to enjoy. 



