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THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Dec. 23, 



another sense) would ever present itself : If we are to be 

 made one, which one will it be ? 



Getting now to my subject, I may state that previous to 

 1880, bee-keeping in Canada was in a very crude state. 

 There were many comparatively large yards of bees through- 

 out the country, but the honey extractor was very little 

 known, and less used. No comb foundation was used, and no 

 sections employed. Comb honey was secured in small boxes 

 placed on top of the honey-board, but the most of those who 

 kept bees got their honey by the old method of brimstoning, 

 and the individual who happened to secure a few hundred 

 pounds of honey was considered very fortunate indeed. 



In 1879, Mr. D. A. Jones, of Beeton, Ont., conceived the 

 Idea of making a trip to the Par East in search of new races 

 of bees. He accordingly secured the services of Mr. Frank 

 Benton as a general assistant, but principally as an Interpre- 

 ter in the East, as he spoke several languages. For his ser- 

 vices, Mr. Benton received a heavy salary, and all expenses 

 paid, Mr. Jones assuming the entire cost of the expedition. 



Mr. Jones bought bees in Cyprus and establlsht apiaries 

 there, and in many parts of Palestine, Jerusalem and vicinity, 

 and at Joppa and Beyrout, and other places. 



Having left Mr. IJenton in charge of his interests in the 

 East, Mr. Jones returned to Canada in 1880, bringing with 

 him nearly 200 colonies of bees. He, however, received hun- 

 dreds of colonies from the East at a later date, as he kept Mr. 

 Benton there for sometime rearing and shipping bees to him. 

 This was the first move toward bringing bee-keeping into 

 prominence In Canada. 



In 1880, Mr. Jones made the first large display of honey 

 at the Industrial Fair at Toronto. His exhibit consisted of 

 about 10 tons of extracted honey put up in barrels, kegs and 

 tins. There was no prize offered for honey that year, but the 

 Industrial Board awarded Mr. Jones a massive gold medal 

 on his exhibit. During the progress of the Fair aforemen- 

 tioned, Mr. Jones called a meeting of bee-keepers at the City 

 Hall. Mr. R. McKnight was chairman of the meeting, which 

 in point of attendance and general enthusiasm was an unquali- 

 fied success. At the close of this meeting, which lasted three 

 days, the Ontario Bee-Keepers' Association was organized, 

 with Mr. D. A. Jones as President, and R. McKnight as Sec- 

 retary-Treasurer. The constitution and by-laws of the asso- 

 ciation were drafted by Mr. McKnight, and revised at a later 

 date by the same gentleman to suit the change brought about 

 by incorporation. They have been revised once since that 

 date by a committee composed of Mr. Darling, Mr. Couse, and 

 myself, this revision being necessitated by some slight changes 

 in the Agricultural and Arts Act of the country. 



There was no bee-periodical in Canada at that time, but 

 arrangements were made with the publishers of the Canadian 

 Parmer for the use of one of the pages of that weekly paper 

 to be devoted exclusively to bee-literature. Mr. McKnight 

 was duly installed as editor of this department of the Farmer, 

 and had to supply a page of " copy " each week. This state 

 of things continued about three years, when Mr. Jones started 

 the Beeton World, which became the " organ " until he started 

 the Canadian Bee Journal. 



The Ontario Bee-Keepers' Association was incorporated 

 in March, 1886, by Act of Parliament, and a Government 

 grant of $500 was given to strengthen the movements of the 

 Association. A Government grant of $1,000 was also given 

 In the same year to send an exhibit of honey to the 

 Colonial and Indian Exhibition, in London England. This 

 was probably the largest exhibit of honey ever made 

 either before or since that date. It freighted 20 tons, and 

 consisted of over 15 tons of honey, exclusive of packages and 

 cases in which it was put up, and was contributed by 26 Cana- 

 dian bee-keepers. 



Messrs. R. McKnight, D. A. Jones, S. T. Pettit, and S. 

 Cornell were commissioned to go with this monster shipment 

 to London, where, under the direct supervision of these gen- 

 tlemen, the honey was placed on exhibition from the middle 

 of September till the 10th of December, the commissioners all 

 remaining in London until the close of the exhibition except 

 Mr. Pettit, who returned to Canada in about six weeks from 

 the opening of the exhibition. 



The management of the business in connection with that 

 exhibit was no child's play. There were four persons em- 

 ployed liquefying, bottling and labelling, and nine saleswomen 

 were employed continuously. All visitors lo the building 

 were invited to taste Canadian honey, and in this way about 

 four tons of extracted honey was given away, besides contri- 

 butions to the Queen, Prince of Wales, Lord Lome, and other 

 dignitaries. 



The entire lot was disposed of at the close of the exhibi- 

 tion, and the contributors were paid 10 to 18 cents per pound 

 for their comb honey, and 10 cents per pound for extracted 



honey, and pay for all cans or packages holding 10 pounds 

 and under. 



I have already told you that a grant of $1,000 was given 

 to help defray the expenses of this exhibit. The Canadian 

 Government also furnisht the building. 



A prominent member of the British Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion was heard to remark that he did not believe the same 

 number of bee-keepers could be found in all England who 

 could have done as well as the Canadian Commissioners in 

 charge of the honey exhibit ; and it goes without saying that 

 they won the admiration of all Canadians while In discharge 

 of duty In that capacity. 



A few years later the attention of the Government having 

 been drawn to the fact that a contagious disease known as 

 foul brood was playing havoc In the apiaries In some districts 

 of Canada, a Bill was introduced in Parliament to the end 

 that the disease might .be stampt out. This Bill provided for 

 an inspector and sub-inspector of apiaries, those officials to 

 be the appointees of, and amenable to, the Ontario Bee-Keep- 

 ers" Association, subject, of course, to the approval of the 

 Minister of Agriculture. Complying with the provisions of 

 the Act in that regard, we have Mr. Wm. McEvoy, as Inspec- 

 tor, and Mr. P. A. Gemmill as assistant. These gentlemen 

 are too well known to need introduction here. In passing, 

 however, it is most pleasing to note that the disease is fast 

 disappearing under their skillful management. So apparent 

 has this become that the bee-keeping world are becoming in- 

 terested in the "McEvoy Foul Brood Treatment." The "Act 

 for the Suppression of Foul Brood Among Bees" became law 

 in Canada in the year in 1890. 



In 1891 a Bill was introduced in Parliament prohibiting 

 the spraying of fruit-trees with poison during the time such 

 trees were in bloom. This Bill was assented to in April, 

 1892, and came into force the first day of January, 1893. 



I might go on lengthening out the list, but enough has 

 been said along this line to convince you that not only are the 

 bee-keepers of Canada alive to their own best interests, but 

 that the Government of Canada fully realizes the importance 

 of the industry, and are willing to foster and protect it when- 

 ever and wherever it is necessary. The last census reported 

 about 170,000 colonies of bees kept in Ontario, and it is esti- 

 mated that a large proportion (perhaps four-fifths) of the bees 

 kept in Canada are in Ontario. 



A passing notice of Canada at the World's Columbian Ex- 

 position would very properly come in here, and you will kindly 

 allow me to make a few brief extracts from the report of the 

 late lamented Allen Pringle, Canadian Commissioner at the 

 World's Fair. 



"Twenty foreign countries and 17 States and Territories 

 of the American Union made apiarian exhibits in Jackson 

 Park. Ontario took 17 apiarian awards. This number of 

 awards Is more than twice as many as that taken by any State 

 in the Union, or any other foreign country. In fact, it Is 

 more than all foreign awards combined. Our apiarian exhibit 

 at the World's Fair cannot fail to enhance the standing and 

 promote the future interests of apiculture in Canada." 



My remarks in reference to the enterprise of D. A. Jones 

 may have conveyed the idea that he was the first to introduce 

 the bees from the Far East Into Canada. To remove this im- 

 pression, I might say that as far back as in the '60's, a firm 

 known as the Thomas Bros., of Ontario, sold Italian queens 

 quite extensively, and there may have been others selling 

 them at that time ; but interest seems to have died out to a 

 considerable extent until the date of Mr. Jones' venture. 



The honey harvest just closed would seem to be a fair, 

 average crop. To the south and west a good yield is reported, 

 while the north and east report very light yields. 



And now, ladies and gentlemen, may I dare to entertain 

 the hope that your anticipations have been In some small 

 measure realized in my effort to picture to you the " Progress 

 of Bee-Keeping In Canada," and wishing each of you an over- 

 flowing measure of success and happiness in life, I beg leave 

 to conclude. M. B. Holmes. 



The balance of the report will be of a miscellaneous char- 

 acter, composed of various matters that came up and were 

 acted upon at different times during the three days' meeting. 



Report of tlie Coniinitlce on Prcsidciil's Adclrc8§. 



1st. We recommend the distribution of honey leaflets 

 among consumers, educating them as to its uses and benefits. 

 We also recommend the distribution of leaflets showing the 

 benefits of bees to the farmer and horticulturist, not over- 

 looking the spraying of fruit-trees while In bloom, and the In- 

 jury done to the blossoms by this untimely spraying. We 

 hope this Union will endorse the passage of the New York 

 Mark's Bill Introduced by Mr. Raines and killed by Gov. 



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