276 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



May 6, 



and also the filling of the top stories with wide-frames with 

 sections in, I was sometimes caught with many unfinisht sec- 

 tions by the sudden closing of a honey-flow. This combination 

 system of taking both section and extracted honey from the 

 same colonies, and the tin frames with separators on, that I 

 got up to suit it, works fine. — Canadian Bee Journal. 



The Two Bee-Keepers' Uuious — Amalgamation. 



BY W. Z. HUTCHINSON. 



I did think, now that amalgamation is defeated, that I 

 would write no more on this subject, but Prof. Cook's excel- 

 lent, but uratiuiely, article has so stirred me that I cannot re- 

 frain. A few articles like this, from leading members of the 

 National Bee-Keepers' Union, last fall and winter, wouid have 

 entirely changed the results — perhaps the Professor's article 

 alone would have done this. Prof. Cook and myself have al- 

 ways been warm friends, and I have always admired his integ- 

 rity, his fairness, and bis comprehensive grasp of even a com- 

 plicated subject, hence it has been a great surprise to me that 

 he should be so slow in reaching the conclusions that he so 

 clearly lays down in his article on page 2-12. In short, I can- 

 not conceive how any clear-headed, conscientious, unpreju- 

 diced mind could reach any other conclusions. 



Nothing was more apparent several years ago than that 

 the National Bee-Keepers' Union had practically finisht its 

 work upon the lines upon which it had been built, and bee- 

 keepers began to demand that it become aggressive as well as 

 defensive, and finally the constitution was so changed that the 

 work of prosecuting adulterators of honey might be added to 

 the work of the Union, but, for some unknown, unexplained 

 reason, no work of this kind was ever attempted. My own 

 personal opinion is that things would have been different if 

 the views of the General Manager had been different, but 

 this is only an opinion, and it may be faulty. Money contin- 

 ued to accumulate in the treasury, but nothing, or next to 

 nothing, was done with it, and finally there came the talk of 

 amalgamation, of uniting the two National Societies into one 

 grand society, and so changing the constitution that the funds 

 and influence of the amalgamated association could be used 

 for prosecuting honey-adulterators, that this be made a prom- 

 inent feature. From the very first there has been, apparen- 

 tly, a silent, unseen, undefinable influence ngninst this union 

 of the two organizations. Gradually there grew, in the 

 minds of some of the members of the Union, the idea tliat the 

 North American v/as after the Union's nioney. But there is 

 no use in going over all of the ground ; those who have read 

 the American Bee Journal know it too well. Then when the 

 matter of a vote finally came, the matter was not put before 

 the members in its true light. It may not be a pleasant thing 

 to say, but there is no use of mincing matters. A good share 

 of the General Manager's report (with which was sent the 

 blanks for voting upon a change of constitution, or fur amal- 

 gamation) was devoted to a special pleading that tended to- 

 wards the defeat of amalgamation. Of course, a General Man- 

 ager has a right to express his views, but no more so than has 

 the most humble member, and to accompany voting blanks 

 with arguments upon one side of a question, and not allow the 

 other side to be heard, is not likely to result in a fair decision. 

 Suppose, instead of the General Manager's views, the voting 

 blanks had been accompanied by Prof. Cook's article. 



Fortunately, through the wise foresight of the bee-keep- 

 ers that gathered last fall at Lincoln, tho amalgamation failed, 

 there is now a New Union formed upon lines that are up with 

 the times. This organization is now complete, with a Board 

 of Directors, and General Manager, and ready to begin to do 

 what the Old Union has failed to do, viz.: work for the sup- 

 pression of the adulteration of honey, and to expose and to 

 punish dishonest dealers, in fact, to do anything that is for 

 the good of bee-keepers. 



I expected that the formation of a new Union would rouse 

 the old Union into life, bring It to its senses and perhaps in- 

 duce it to try and do something in the way of fighting the adul- 

 teration of honey, and Prof. Cook's article is an indication that 

 my expectations were not in vain. Of course Its General Man- 

 ager is opposed to such a course, but I think that he would 

 yield to the wishes of tho majority. But just look at the fool- 

 ishness of the matter. Two National organizitlons with the 

 same object In view ! " In union there is strength," but the 

 present course of bee-keepers looks a little bit like Ji.sunio]]. 

 But how could it be helpt? It seemed the only course left. 



But I have no desire to abuse the old Union. I don't know 

 as any one has such a desire. I feel.that many of its members 

 have been deluded, and have unwittingly voted against their 

 own Interests, but if they can use what money and influence 



they have in doing good, we certainly ought to bid them God- 

 speed, and join hands and help all that we can. That is, we 

 ought not to try and negative the gocjd that they can do, but I 

 do think that our dollars and our influence ought to go to the 

 New Union that, under difficulties and opposition, has come 

 forward ready to put its shoulder to the wheel without wait- 

 ing until it was actually forced into this position. 



There has been some talk about changing its name to 

 something besides that of " Union," as it somewhat conflicts 

 with that of the old Union. Of course, when the name Union 

 was chosen, it was with the hope and expectation that there 

 would be an amalgamation, and thus only one association left. 

 Now that this has failed, it may be well to change the name, 

 (I would favor "Alliance" as a name) at least, so long as the 

 old Union is in existence. I say " so long as the old Union Is 

 in existence," because I fully believe that eventually there will 

 be only one National association of bee-keepers, and that It 

 will at once be social, educational, defensive and aggressive. 



Genesee Co., Mich. 



XHii: t.iNUE:>r. 



BY HON. EUGENE SECOR, FOREST CITY, IOWA. 



I come with a song for a tree near my cottage — 



A treasure God placed in his own garden-bed; 

 A tree which has stood while my wife and my children 



Grew sweet as the creamy-white blossoms o'er head. 

 Around it the giants of Nature are standing — 



The oak and the walnut — primeval and grand ; 

 But nothing in forest or field can compare with 



The linden in whose cooling presence I stand. 



When suns of mid-summer are hot and oppressive. 



We keep our noon-trysting beneath its deep shade; 

 Its emerald root gives a promise of shelter 



From fiery old Phoebus when scorching the glade. 

 The catbiri and robin have left the ripe berries, 



To rest in the boughs of my favorite tree; 

 They'll give me a song for the fruit which they pilfered, 



And evening shall witness a bird-jubilee. 



How charming to me is the music created 



By swift-flying bees when exploring its bloom! 

 My dreamy repose as I swing in my hammock 



Is often enricht hy its grateful perfume. 

 Oh, sing not to me of blest Araby's odors — 



Of spices and incense from tropical seas ! 

 But watt to my senses the fragrance of linden 



Exhaled by the breath of the homecoming bees. 



— Gleanings in Bee-Culture. 



Bees, Honey and Flowers in California. 



BY PROF. A. J. COOK. 



The California bee-keepers are expecting a large honey 

 crop the present season. The rain has been very abundant 

 all through Southern California. The flowers are already 

 very abundant, and there seems only one further factor re- 

 quisite to a fine crop of honey, and that is good weather. Oc- 

 casionally, just as the honey season opens, there come dry, hot 

 winds, or possibly cold winds, which seem to dry up the flow- 

 ers, so that there is an absence of nectar. This, however, 

 very rarely happens in Southern California, and so we may 

 hope with some confidence for a good honey season. 



The last week has been very warm. The flowers have 

 opened in great numbers, and the bees have been fairly jubi- 

 lant as they rush to tho fields in search of the precious nectar. 

 This has led to swarming, which has been taking place very 

 generally the past week. It is feared that it has taken many 

 bee-keepers by surprise. One bee-keeper came to mo and 

 wisht to know if I had hives to spare. The wise bee-keeper 

 will always take time by the forelock, and be prepared for just 

 such emergencies. It is not wise to leave the purchase of sup- 

 plies to the last moment. Such action often leads to no incon- 

 siderable loss. In California there seems the less excuse, for 

 we usually know as early as February if the rainfall will war- 

 rant a honey season. With this knowledge, hives and other 

 supplies should be secured that all Tniiy be in readiness at the 

 dawn of the swarming season, as also at the dawn of the honey 

 season. 



The new comer in California is always meeting with sur- 

 prises. This season a new surprise has come to me. I have 

 already stated in tho American Bee Journal that California 

 flowers are very long in blossom. I think this more remarka- 

 ble of California than of any other regioti that I have ever vis- 

 ited. This season our flowers came out much earlier tbaa 



