isy-t 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



405 



The Old Union and Honey-Adulteration. 



BY PROF. A. J. COOK. 



I did not intend to write again upon this subject for tiie 

 American Bee Journal, but it seems to me the interests of bee- 

 keepers demand something further. I notice that I am some- 

 what criticized for not expressing myself more definitely be- 

 fore on this subject. I thought I had done so. I have felt all 

 the time that amalgamation should not be voted If there was 

 any considerable opposition to it. I believe there was some 

 opposition and so I voted no. I was not personally opposed to 

 amalgamation, but was opposed to changing an organization 

 where money had been paid Into the treasury unless the mem- 

 bers were pretty unanimous in the desire for such change. It 

 still seems to me that such position is correct. 



I did not understand that we were voting, at the time of 

 the taking of the last vote, against doing any new worlj. It 

 seems to me to thus tie the hands of the organization is to 

 emasculate it, and that by so doing we shall very soon destroy 

 its life altogether. I do not believe that the members of the 

 Old Union intended to vote In this way. Of course I may be 

 wrong In this opinion. 



I do not believe that we can afford to maintain two or- 

 ganizations. I think one or the other will soon cease to exist. 

 It is Irrational to provide machinery for two organizations 

 among the same class of people whose duties are so much akin. 

 Thus I believe that one or the other of these organizations 

 ought to, and will soon, go to the wall. 



If the old organization decides to only work In the old 

 lines — which I believe are very nearly worktout — then I think 

 it is very easy to see which will survive. 



I believe at the present time there is hardly a subject en- 

 grossing the minds of bee-keepers that is so tremendously 

 important as that of honey-adulteration. If we except co- 

 operation, I do not believe there is any subject that so justly 

 claims earnest thought and consideration. Therefore it is 

 that I wish strongly to urge that the Old Union take this mat- 

 ter of honey-adulteration in hand. It seems to me that no- 

 where are the conditions more ripe for earnest action than 

 right here in California. The Manager of the Union Is here; 

 California is one of the most important honey-producing sec- 

 tions of the world ; the interests of bee-keepers are seriously 

 menaced, right here in California, by the nefarious work of 

 honey-adulerators. I cannot see how any member of the Old 

 Union would hesitate a moment in urging that action com- 

 mence at once to extirpate this horrid work from our beloved 

 State. We now have a very excellent law, and all opportunity 

 to make a grand and successful fight. The Old Union has a 

 prestige which will also count for much in aiding It to dethrone 

 this iniquitous practice. It would seem as though we would 

 not have to urge this matter at all to secure immediate and 

 most energetic action. 



General Manager Newman writes me that the members of 

 the National Union have voted only to work along the lines 

 which have hitherto claimed his attention. He further adds 

 that under these circumstances he Is not at liberty to take 

 hold of this matter of adulteration. This being the case, 1 

 would urge that all of the vice-presidents write at once to Mr. 

 Newman (at 2096 Market St., San Francisco), urging that 

 such work be begun, and that at once. In case the constitu- 

 tion makes It impossible for such action to be taken, until 

 another vote is had on the subject, then I would be in favor 

 of asking for a vote at once. I have not the constitution at 

 hand, but surely if the vice-presidents all ask for a vote, the 

 Manager would not hesitate for a moment to call for one. 



I urge this strongly because I believe that it is the height 

 of wisdom for the Old Union to take this matter In hand. I 

 <lo not believe that the members will desire to have so large 

 an amount of money idle when such important work Is crying 

 to be done. I believe that unless we do enter this or some 



other field, that there will very soon be a vote to disorganize 

 and hand our money over to some organization that will take 

 hold of such important Issues. 



I do not see any need of any ill-feeling In the matter. I 

 certainly have not the least. It seems to me that we all ought 

 to be privileged to urge our views, and I will very gracefully 

 yield if a majority do not agree with me regarding what is 

 best to be done. I think I know our bee-keepers too well to 

 charge them with any wrong motive. We simply want what 

 is wisest and best, and we will all work hard to get that. If I 

 am In the right, and the majority do not agree with me, I 

 must simply wait action until they can be convinced that my 

 way is the wisest one. I am always Inclined to the opinion, 

 however, that when I am In the minority, the probability is 

 that the other side has the right of the question. 



In the position which I have taken above, I believe I am 

 acting consistently with all my previous action. From what 

 Mr. Newman writes me, I fear I did not give as earnest heed 

 in the matter of the last vote as I should have done. If I was 

 guilty in the matter, I can only urge that I was exceedingly 

 occupied, and had very little time to give to matters outside of 

 my immediate work. Los Angeles Co., Calif. 



Report of the North American Convention Held 

 at St. Joseph, Mo., Oct. 10-12, 1894. 



REPORTED BY LOUIS R. LIGHTON. 



[Continued from page 390.1 



WHAT SHALL WE PLANT FOR HONEY? 



Annuals : — 



Mignonette (Reseda odornta) Is a great honey-producer, 

 and since It blossoms from June to October in the middle por- 

 tions of the Union it may well occupy quite a place in every 

 bee-keeper's garden, and in favorable localities the raising of 

 the seed might be made profitable. I had some correspon- 

 dence with the well-known seedsman, W. Atlee Burpee, on 

 this subject, and tho he did not write very favorably re- 

 garding the attempt to raise seed in the East, still I gained 

 the idea that good seed would find a ready sale. I would like 

 to see the experiment tried. With a few acres near the api- 

 ary a summer yield of honey would be assured. 



Giant Spider Plant (Cleome spinosa of Linn., and C. pun- 

 gens of Willd.) introduced from South America grows wild 

 now in some places in the South, and blooms very freely all 

 summer long and late iiito the autumn, secreting large quan- 

 tities of honey in each blossom. An enterprising New York 

 seedsman has now offered a clear white variety. Cleome In- 

 tegrifolla, known as Rooky Mountain Bee-plant, is quite simi- 

 lar but smaller. All of them are beautiful ornaments which 

 should be in every garden — and especially in the bee-keeper's. 

 They will thrive in very shady locations — under trees and the 

 north sides of buildings — where few other plants succeed. 



Ten Weeks Stock (Mathiola annna) if sown early Indoors 

 may be made to bloom from May until autumn, the plants 

 being set out as soon as danger of frost Is past. Sown early 

 In the open ground honey Is yielded In July and August. 



Eschschnltzin or California Poppy.— F.ne, hardy annual, 

 of which there are several species which blossom in from 30 

 to 40 days after sowing and yield honey all summer. 



Anch\isa. — Known in Germany as Oxtongue, and In Eng- 

 land as Alkanet. Numerous species offered by our seedsmen. 

 They are related to borage and resemble It somewhat, are 

 hardy annuals eagerly visited by the bees for honey, of which 

 they secrete much, during May, June and July. 



Corn Flower, Blue Bottle or Ragged Sailor (Centaurco 



