1897. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



71 



ranks, there was a representative of an adulterating firm, 

 said to be located in Montreal. I had not the pleasure (?) of 

 meeting the gentleman, but I learned from good authority that 

 he was very much afraid of our Bill, and said If it became a 

 law in its then present shape that it would simply close up 

 that branch of their business. 



I have given these particulars that you may understand 

 so^nc of the diflficulties and obstructions to be overcome before 

 we could hope to get anything done for us. Now all this 

 meant lots of hard work, or lose the game, and I determined 

 to work and win. For thirteen days I remained at the capi- 

 tal and pnsht the matter with all my might. 



It was uphill work, but I workt with a will, as tho dear 

 life hung upon success. 



There would be no difficulty at all in securing an Act that 

 would compel all mixers and producers of sugar-honey to set 

 forth in a conspicuous manner on every container the compo- 

 sition of such parcel or package. Indeed, a good many mem- 

 bers urged me to accept such a Bill. I distinctly remember a 

 half hour's talk with a good old senator, who wanted me to 

 accept such an Act, but when among other things I pointed 

 out to him the danger to our good name and reputation as a 

 pure-food producing country, in foreign markets, he declared 

 we should put our foot upon all adulterations. He said, "If 

 the Bill passes the House of Commons, then I will support it." 

 The penalties were mysteriously dropt out of the Bill be- 

 tween the first and second readings. The House had no op- 

 portunity of discussing them at all. Mr. Sproule said that if 

 the penalties in the Adulteration of Foods Act were found to 

 be insufficient, then it would be an easy matter to get the Act 

 amended and the penalties made heavier. 



Our Bill was somewhat mutilated before it became law, 

 but I am glad to say It is a long stride in the right direction. 

 Indeed, I believe it to be the best law in any country against 

 that abominable adulteration business. 



The Act brands "sugar-honey" a willful adulteration, 

 and forbids the sale of it ; it also forbids the sale of spurious 

 honey and imitations of honey entirely. 



Right here I may be allowed to say that Mr. Sproule is a 

 better man when he gets right down to business in pushing a 

 Bill through, than one would take him to be ; quick, alert, 

 shrewd, well posted, vigilant, and, withal, courteous, kind and 

 convincing, and never mixt. Indeed, it was not only a feast 

 but a marvel and an inspiration to hear him push the bill 

 through. 



If we stand to our guns and quit ourselves like men, in the 

 near future we will surely get all we ask for ; but for the im- 

 mediate present I think we had better test what we have. 



I presume most of us know that there are but few Acts 

 past in any country found to be so perfect that they do not 

 need amending sooner or later. If space would permit, I would 

 like to mention the name of Mr. Sutherland, Mr. McNeil, and 

 others who gave valuable assistance in passing the Bill. 



One thing that perple.xt Honorable Gentlemen a good 

 deal was an idea that was circulated, by some means or other, 

 from some source, that bee-keepers generally in poor seasons 

 were in the habit of producing " sugar-honey," so-called, for 

 the use of their own families. This damaging untruth was 

 sprung upon the House so late that I had but little opportun- 

 ity to make the truth known. 



And now, I most sincerely thank you for the confidence 

 you have continued to place in your deputation during all 

 these years. I have all along done the very best I could to 

 carry out your wishes in this important matter. My faith in 

 the eternal justice and ultimate success of our cause never 

 waned nor weakened for a moment. Truth and justice iDUSt 

 triumph in the end. 



I have visited the Capital six times ; have traveled 4,500 

 miles, and adding the distance I have traveled to report, makes 

 in all about .'i, 100 miles. I was on the road and at Ottawa 

 .34 days ; have written hundreds of letters and other matter 

 in the prosecution of this work. 



I have carried the weight and responsibility of the work 

 nearly four years. Indeed, it has been the greatest struggle 

 of my life, but I have done it cheerfully and gladly. Success 

 is a liberal rewarder. S. T. Pettit. 



MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 



A motion was past that it was desirable to have an order- 

 in-council past determining the per cent, of water which must 

 of necessity be found even in pure honey. 



The Treasurer's report showed a balance in hand of 

 .S56.17. 



On the question of amalgamating the National Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Union and the North American Bee-Keepers' Asso- 

 ciation, it was decided to take no action. 



" What is the best method of rendering old comb ?" was a 



question askt. The general verdict was In favor of the sun 

 extractor. 



Mr. Facfarlane, Chief Analyst of the Dominion Govern- 

 ment, who was present, made some remarks, dwelling on the 

 special aroma in honey which the chemist could not analyze, 

 and askt if it were not posssble to cultivate certain llowers 

 from which bees could get the necessary qualities tn give 

 honey the aroma. It was explained that properly ripened 

 honey contained the necessary aroma, while that extracted 

 too soon did not. 



In response to Mr. Fisher's request, a resolution was past 

 recommending Mr. R. B\ Holtermann as Apiarist at the Ex- 

 perimental farm at Ottawa. 



Mr. Fixture, of the Experimental Farm, Ottawa, presen- 

 ted some reports of experiments on comb foundation, which 

 were ordered to be embodied in the annual report of the Asso- 

 ciation. 



Mr. Macfarlane, Chief Analyst, gave a sketch of the 

 method followed in analyzing at Ottawa and in prosecuting of- 

 fenders against the Adulteration Act. The vendor was the 

 one proceeded against, as in the English Act a clause provides 

 the retailer be acquitted if he can prove that he bought the 

 adulterated article in the same state as he sold it. A charge 

 of $5 is made by the Department for analyzing, but if anyone 

 suspects that someone is selling an adulterated article, he can 

 notify the Inland Revenue Department, which will get a sam- 

 ple at its own cost and proceed against the offender if the 

 analysis shows that the sample is adulterated. 



After some discussion the Executive Committee was ap- 

 pointed to watch proceedings in regard to prosecutions. 



The report of affiliated societies showed them to be 12 in 

 number, of which nine reported. Of 1,553 colonies reported 

 the increase in bees was 55 per cent, in the fall ; the amount 

 of comb honey produced by them, 9,899 pounds, and of ex- 

 tracted honey 80,00ii pounds. 



The election of officers for the ensuing year, resulted as 

 follows: 



President, .7. K. Darling, of Almonte; 1st Vice-President, 

 N. B. Holmes, of Athens ; 2nd Vice-President, W. J. Brown, 

 of Chard. 



Directors— C. W. Post, of Trenton ; J. W. Sparling, of 

 Bowmanville ; A. Pickett, of Nassagaweya ; Israel Overholt, 

 of South Cayuga ; W. Couse, of Streetsville ; F. A. Gemmill, of 

 Stratford ; W. A. Chrysler, of Chatham ; N. H. Hughes, of 

 Barrie; J. B. Hall, of Woodstock ; fiom Agricultural College, 

 Dr. Mills. 



Secretary, W. Couse, of Streetsville. 



Foul Brood Inspectors — W. McEvoy, of Woodbur;i, and F. 

 A. Gemmill, of Stratford. 



Delegates to Fair Boards — Toronto, R. F. Holtermann, of 

 Brantford ; Western, John Newton, of Thamesfotd ; Ottawa, 

 J. K. Dirling, of Almonte. 



Auditors— A. E. Hoshal, of Beamsville ; J. Newton, of 

 Thamesford. 



Revising Committee— J. D. Evans, of Islington, and D. W. 

 Heise, of Bethesda. 



Hamilton was selected as the place where the next annu- 

 al meeting will be held. 



A Ne'w Binder for holding a year's numbers of the 



American Bee Journal, we propose to mail, postpaid, to every 



subscriber who sends us 20 cents. It is called " The Wood 



Binder," is patented, and is an entirely new and very simple 



arrangement. Full printed directions accompany each Binder. 



Every reader should get it, and preserve the copies of the Bee 



Journal as fast as they are received. They are invaluable for 



reference, and at the low price of the Binder you can afford to 



get it yearly. 



^-.-•^ 



Tlie Alsike Clover Leaflet consists^of 2 pages, 

 with illustrations, showing the value of Alsike clover, and 

 telling how to grow it. This Leaflet is just the thing to hand 

 to every farmer in your neighborhood. Send to the Bee Jour- 

 nal office for a quantity of them, and see that they are dis- 

 tributed where they will do the most good. Prices, postpaid, 

 are as follows : 50 for 25 cents ; 100 for 40 cents ; or 200 



for TO cents. 



^-•-^ 



The ?Iauies aud Addresses of all your^^bee- 

 friends, who are not now taking the Bee Journal, are wanted 

 at this office. Send them in, please, when sample copies will 

 be mailed to them. Then you can secure their subscriptions, 

 and earn some of the premiums we have offered. The 

 next few months will be just the time to easily get new sub- 

 scribers. Try it earnestly, at least. 



