1898 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



21 



tional strain which, I was sure, its duties would im- 

 pose. 



The time since the complete organization of the 

 Union has been so short, and the funds at my disposal 

 so limited, it has not been possible to exhibit any tan- 

 gible results. 



Acting under the advice of the Board of Directors I 

 have given counsel in several cases where bee-keepers 

 had gotten into, or were threatened with, litigation, 

 but no money has been appropriated toward defend- 

 ing them. Just how much good I have accomplished 

 in helping to settle the.se vexatious affairs I shall not 

 pretend to .say. 



I have also interested my.self in the subject of pure- 

 food legislation. There is no doubt in the mind of 

 your General Manager that there is need of national 

 as well as state laws for the protection of food con- 

 sumers ; and I think that an organization represent- 

 ing a thou.sand of the be.st and most intelligent people 

 in this country, extending its influence into almost 

 every congressional district, could have, if it chose to 

 do s ', power in shaping national legislation. We owe 

 it, not only to our own industry, but to the heaith of 

 all our people, to compel those who deal in food prod- 

 ucts to be honest. 1 have been in correspondence 

 with the special chemist of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture in relation to the adulteration of 

 honey From a recent letter I quote the following ; 

 " I have received numerous letters from different 

 States on this subject, and am led to believe that hon- 

 ey is frequently and opetily adulterated. I should be 

 pleased to have your views as to the advisability of 

 calling a convention of the friends of pure-food legis- 

 lation to meet here in January or February to consider 

 the question, and to reconcile differences of opinion, 

 and unite upon a bill and push it before Congress." 



The Board of Directors as now constituted feel the 

 importance of this line of work. Honey can not be 

 produced and sold in competition with glucose syrup ; 

 and if the latter is permitted to be sold under the dis- 

 gui.se of pure ho>ie\\ bee-keepers may better brimstone 

 their bees than to try to sell e.\:tracteJ honey. 



No pure-food law ever was or ever will be enacted 

 unless in answer to the demand of the people ; neith- 

 er will it enforce it.■^elf when on the statute-books. 

 Somebody must look after it. It is the aim and pur- 

 pose of this as.sociation to aid in the enactnxent and 

 enforcement of laws in States and nation, protecting 

 apiarian interests. 



Another field of usefulness which this association 

 has outlined, is the bringing to justice of dishonest 

 honey commission men. I believe the simple fact of 

 our organization and declaration of intentions has al- 

 ready had a wholesome effect on this class of swin- 

 dlers. We purpose, if evidence is produced, showing 

 fraudulent dealing with our menrbers, to employ the 

 best legal talent obtainable, and to make it so hot for 

 all such fellows that they will want to emigrate to 

 the Klondike or some other cool region, where the 

 stings of con.science and a Bee-keepers' Union are 

 supposed to be unknown. 



We have been solicited more than once to help bee- 

 keepers out of trouble who are not members of the 

 Union. It ought not to be necessary to say that this 

 organization was effected " to protect the interests of its 

 menihers ; to defend them in their lawful rights.''' 

 While we intend to protect th.^ iridjistry oi bee-keep- 

 ing and promote its interests in every way possible, 

 no one can reasonably expect personal aid who does 

 not affiliate himself with the Union. Let us learn a 

 lesson from .similar indu.strial organizations — the 

 dairy associations, for in.stance. L,et us put aside 

 jealousies and bickerings, and unite in one powerful 

 organization, and march to victory. 



The Executive Committee have directed that the po.s- 

 tal-card ballots for Directors and General Manager be 

 sent to Dr. F. I,. Peiro and F. Grabbe. Please denote 

 your choice for these officers on inclosed card, and 

 mail same before Jan. 1, 1S98. 



FINANCIAL STATKMENT. 



Required by Section 5, Article IV. of the Constitution: 

 Amount received from Secretary, Dr. A. B. Ma- 

 son S180 0!) 



Amount received from members direct and oth- 

 er sources 2^ 00 



Total rec'ts to Dec. 10, 1897 203 09 



Paid for letter-heads, postage, postal 

 cards, envelopes, and printing an- 

 nual report and other blanks I 21 00 



Balance 182 09 



1203 09 



It may be thought by .some that the net balance from 

 about 'ZfH paying members is quite small. It should 

 be borne in mind, however, that the necessary expens- 

 es growing out of two annual meetings had to be met 

 by the Secretary. These expenses, such as printing 

 programs, publishing proceedings, badges, po.stage, 

 etc., and S2.5 as a very inadequate compensation to the 

 Secretary, all amount to 857.16. The other expenses 

 shown above are unavoidable. If our membership 

 were 1000 the expenses would be but little more. 



Trusting that information I have given you will be 

 satisfactory, and that, during the year to come, you 

 will all be blest with health, prosperity, and happi- 

 ne.ss, I am 



Sincerely and fraternally yours, 



EuGKNE Secor, Treas. and Gen. Man. 



We have piles of matter awaiting publica- 

 tion. Beginning with the next issue we shall 

 have to run extra pages until it is all used. 



OUR 1898 SUPERS, FENCES, AND SECTIONS. 



The following is some matter that I have 

 prepared for our forthcoming catalog. As it 

 details just exactly the position we will take 

 in regard to the improvements in sitpers for 

 the coming season, we give it to our readers 

 before sending it out to otir larger circle of 

 friends and customers. I think we are now 

 in a position to furnish every one just what 

 he wants in the way of a fence and plain sec- 

 tions. As we have machinery and appliances 

 we are in a position to turn out a product in 

 the way of fences that will be accurate and 

 cheap. Having personally visited and corres- 

 ponded with many of those who have used 

 fences, I think we are able to give our readers 

 what will prove to be satisfactory and practi- 

 cal. A fence that is not properly made will 

 give no end of trouble. 



DOVETAILED SUPER WITH PLAIN SECTION AND FENCE. 



FIG. 8^. — Designated as P. 



This is the same super we have sold for yeais, only 

 it is adapted to receive the new fences and plain sec- 

 tions. These latter are A% inches square and l'/4 

 wide, and this width will hold just as much honey ex- 

 actly as the old two-bee-way section 1% inch. 



The fence is made up of four horizontal slats % inch 

 wide, T^5 of an inch thick, and long enough to reach 

 into grooves in the end cleats. Six cleats ^^ of an inch 



