189'^ 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



245 



first super is half filled it would be a loss of time to wait for It 

 to be filled," but In some cases there would be no loss in wait- 

 ing at least a little while. So to make sure I didn't overstate 

 the thing, I said what I did, and surely you will agree that I 

 said the truth in saying it would be a waste of time to wait 

 after a super is % filled. I am, however, obliged to you for 

 calling attention to it, for others might also misunderstand it. 



McHenry Co., 111. 



Report of the Illinois Bee-Keepers' Convention 



BV JA8. A. STONE, SEC. 



The Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association met in Spring- 

 field Feb. 2i, 1897, for a two days' session. The meeting 

 was called to order by the President, Dr. C. C. Miller, and 

 prayer was offered by George W. York. 



The Secretary's report was read and adopted as follows : 



THE secretary's REPORT. 



At our last annual meeting arrangements were made with 

 the American Bee Journal by which every one becoming a 

 member of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association, on 

 payment of Si. 00, was entitled to a year's subscription to 

 the American Bee Journal and a copy of the Second Aunual 

 Report. By this plan our membership was increast a little 

 more than 50 per cent, above 1895, and just 50 per cent, 

 above 1894. The expense in doing this has been beyond the 

 Income, but by the present arrangement with the American 

 Bee Journal we are in hopes that the coming year will not 

 overdraw on the treasury ; and as we said last year, it is more 

 our need to increase our membership than to fill our treasury. 



Should the Association see proper to send out return pos- 

 tals for reports, as done last year, we have perhaps enough on 

 hand to last a year. Also, we had on hand about 1,000 cir- 

 culars such as were sent out to encourage membership. 



We believe it is all-important that the present arrange- 

 ment with the American Bee Journal be kept up till some- 

 thing better can be suggested. And with the present condi- 

 tion of the State treasury, we see no use of seeking for help in 

 that direction. 



We are of the opinion that the greatest good that this 

 meeting can do is to take steps to get a law enacted to pre- 

 vent the adulteration of honey, as we suggested in our notice 

 of this meeting, in the American Bee Journal. 



Jas. a. Stone, Sec. 



The Treasurer's report was given by the Secretary, and 

 adopted. 



Next came a paper by George W. York, of Chicago, 

 entitled, 



WHAT COMBINED EFFORT IS NEEDED BY BEE-KEEPERS? 



Now that question is a poser — quite too large a subject 

 for so small a man to handle comfortably or satisfactorily. 

 Also, as to what particular line is meant by ihe query, I can 

 only guess, as I presume that is left for me to suggest. 



In the first place, I am sure that the first direction in 

 which a great combined effort of beekeepers is needed is 

 along the lino of the prevention of honey-adulteration. As I 

 have several times said, in print and elsewhere, I feel that 

 until the question of adulteration of honey is settled, there 

 can come no satisfactory profit or returns from the apiary. 

 The size of the crop will cut no figure in the price of honey so 

 long as the dishonest and unscrupulous are permitted to con- 

 tinue to multiply whatever the crop by ten, by the addition of 

 glucose or other adulterants. 



So I feel that, above all, there cannot be too great a com- 

 bined effort among bee-keepers, it they desire that the adul- 

 teration of pure honey shall be stopt by the enactment and 

 enforcement of legal measures. Here is a wide field, take it 

 either by State legislatures, or through the National Con- 

 gress. But there is no question that somcthinrj must be done, 

 and right speedily, or profitable honey-production is forever 

 doomed. 



Again, it may be that much may be gained by bee-keepers 

 by a combined effort in marketing the honey crop, after we 

 have once secured the necessary auti-adulteratiou laws. But 

 I am not so sanguine of success along the line of a united 

 effort in marketing as I once was. There are some questions 

 whose end can be seen from the beginning. But this one of 

 marketing is not of that kind. The more I think of it and 

 learn about it, the more I am led to believe that it's too pro- 

 digious for me. 



No doubt there is a better way to profitably market honey 

 than is generally practiced, but what is it ? Is it by the " Ex- 

 change " method ? Perhaps so — and perhaps not. While the 

 city commission plan answered well before large honey crops 

 were produced, I think it will now be admitted that very soon 

 some other way will have to be adopted. 



For some time the city commission houses have been over- 

 stockt with honey — it has been a drug on the market. And 

 why ? It cannot be that people have stopt eating honey, espe- 

 cially when the price is so low. But is the price .so low — the 

 refaif price — the price which the consumer pays ? No. And 

 therein I believe lies one important reason. The trouble is, 

 the retailers in many cases are almost robbers. For instance, 

 many Chicago retail grocers purchase the best %-pound sec- 

 tions of honey at 12 cents per pound, or less, at the commis- 

 sion houses, and then retail them at 16 to 18 cents each ! 

 That's a profit of about 100 per cent! They will buy a %- 

 pound glass jar of extracted honey for 12 cents and retail it 

 at 18 cents ! A profit of 50 per cent.! Is it any wonder that 

 at these prices but little honey is used by the city public ? 

 The wonder is that nny is sold. 



I tell you, there must be some other method devised 

 whereby the producer will get a larger share of the retail 

 price, and also that the consumer may be enabled to get honey 

 at a more reasonable figure. And perhaps a combiued effort 

 will be necessary before these two important objects are 

 secured. 



I might enumerate other lines in which combined efforts 

 are needed — such as securing foul brood laws, protection 

 from fraudulent commission dealers, etc., but perhaps I have 

 suggested enough to start a discussion that may result in 

 something of value even if what I have said is worthless. 



George W. York. 



In the discussion that followed Mr. York's paper, all were 

 of the opinion that grocers generally demanded a larger per 

 cent, in handling honey than in the other products of the 

 farm or country. 



The question was brought up in regard to the "pound" 

 section, and about all the members were in favor of a full- 

 pound section, tho Dr. Miller said, as it was impossible to get 

 all the sections a full pound, that it was not worth while to 

 stand closely by it. 



Mr. Smith — I sell my honey to the grocers by the section, 

 and those that are light I cut out and sell to my neighbors by 

 the pound, and X can sell all the honey I can get. 



Mr. Robbins— I think we can come near enough to a 

 pound to average 15 ounces. 



The President reminded the convention that they were a 

 little off the point of discussion, and referred them to the rec- 

 ommendation in the paper read by Mr. York— that action be 

 taken as to adulteration— whereupon a motion made by Mr. 

 Robbins prevailed, that a committee of three be appointed by 

 the chair, as a LegislativeCommlttee, to secure the enactment 

 of a law to prevent the adulteration of honey in the State of 

 Illinois. The President named as that committee those who 

 lived near the capital— Jas. A. Stone, J. Q. Smith, and Geo. 

 F. Robbins. 



Mr. York advocated combined effort among bee-keepers, 

 in the way of selling each other's honey. 



A motion prevailed to adjourn to meet at 1:30 p.m. 



At 1:30 p.m. the convention was called to order by Pres. 

 Miller, and with unanimous consent it was thought wise 

 for our meeting to join in with the State Farmers' Institute 

 for the afternoon and evening; especially as our President 

 was on their program in the evening. 



SECOND DAY. 



At 8:30 a.m. the meeting was called to order with Dr. 

 Miller in the chair, the Secretary opening with prayer. 



The Secretary then outlined the work needed for the year, 

 recommending that we offer for this year again the American 

 Bee Journal for one year free to all who become members of 

 our Association and pay their fee of §1.00 to the Secretary 

 (to which Editor York kindly agreed) ; and also a copy of the 

 Second Annual Report, which contains illustrations of the 

 honey exhibits at the World's Fair, and a full report of the 

 North American Convention of that year. 



The Secretary also recommended, for this year again, the 



