1911 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



87 



Weekly, saying that the statement in ques- 

 tion was not only misleading but absolutely 

 untrue. Well, it appears that the letters 

 that poured into Collier's office and to the 

 writer of the article came in such numbers 

 that Miss Eberle finally wrote (as if she 

 wished us to call the dogs off) , saying she 

 was conv inced that there was no such thing 

 as an imitation comb honey. As it would 

 be simply impossible for her to write to all 

 who wrote her, she asked us to make this 

 statement for her, which we gladly do. In 

 the mean time. Collier's Weekly published 

 a very satisfactory retraction. It is very 

 evident that it is convinced that there is a 

 bee-keeper or two in the United States who 

 will fight for their rights. 



We may say that we have taken Collier's 

 Weekly for a number of years. Its fearless 

 stand for the right, its fight against the 

 liquor-traffic and adulterated foods and 

 drugs, have led us to believe that the paper 

 ought to be supported; when, therefore, 

 there appeared a statement in the columns 

 of such a magazine to the effect that comb 

 honey was manufactured, we knew it would 

 do a great damage to the honey business 

 unless a correction were made. We did not 

 ourselves write to the paper, believing that 

 the statement of our readers would have 

 more effect by the mere force of numbers. 

 We did, however, send two of our represent- 

 atives to Collier's office, and, after a satisfac- 

 tory interview, they came away, convinced 

 that the paper would do wlxat is right 

 about it. 



So it goes. We have now, with the help 

 of our readers, secured retraction from all 

 of the standard books and papers that have 

 nnwittingly published that old comb-honey 

 canard. We are wondering where the fake 

 story will bob up again. 



THE INDIANA STATE BEE-KBEPERS' CON- 

 VENTION AT INDIANAPOLIS, FEB. 2. 



The Indianapolis convention was a very 

 enthusiastic gathering of bee-keepers; and, 

 considering the very short notice, the atten- 

 dance was unusually large, or at least above 

 the average of the State bee-keepers' con- 

 ventions. 



The bee-keepers of Indiana are certainly 

 to be congratulated on having such efficient 

 leaders. State Entomologist Benjamin W. 

 Douglas, also a bee-keeper, is leaving no 

 stone unturned to advance the cause of api- 

 culture within the borders of Indiana. Geo. 

 F. Demuth, an appointee under Mr. Doug- 

 las, is one of the most capable and efficient 

 foul- brood inspectors we have ever met. 

 Probably no State in the Union is giving 

 the question of bee-keeping, especially the 

 matter of handling bee diseases, more care- 

 ful and thorough attention. 



Geo. W. Williams, the newly elected sec- 

 retary, Mason Niblack, and Mr. W. S. Pou- 

 der, were most active in securing the pas 

 sage of the Indiana foul-brood law, especial- 

 ly Mr. Niblack, who understands all the ins 

 and outs of legislative machinery. 



There were present at this meeting two 

 men in particular who have come to be 

 known all over the United States. One of 

 them is F. B, Cavanagh, one of the most 

 progressive beekeepers in the United States, 

 and Jay Smith, who has the faculty of see- 

 ing the funny or bright side of bee-keeping. 

 He was generally called the "Jay" in the 

 Indianapolis convention. 



It would be impossible for us, owing to 

 the limited space at our command, to give 

 a full report of this convention. Nor will it 

 be necessary, for a full stenographic report 

 will be issued later. We may say, however, 

 that the work of foul brood inspection un- 

 der Entomologist Douglas and Inspector 

 Demuth was most strongly indorsed by the 

 convention. 



Mr. Douglas gave a very interesting talk 

 on the anatomy of the bee, illustrated by 

 means of stereopticon slides. He is a tre- 

 mendous worker and a pusher. We do not 

 believe there is a man anywhere in the 

 country who has done more or better work 

 in combating noxious insects and giving 

 valuable information to the farmers than 

 Mr. Douglas. His last annual report, con- 

 sisting of 2G5 pages, and many fine illustra- 

 tions of actual field work is a credit to any 

 State. 



Mr. Demuth gave an extended address on 

 some lessons he had learned in inspection 

 work in Indiana. In regard to the treat- 

 ment of disease, while he recognized that 

 there were several good treatments he 

 thought it much safer for the average bee- 

 keeper, at least, to use only the shaking 

 plan. By "shaking " he meant either shak- 

 ing or brushing to get the bees on frames of 

 foundation. While it was possible to treat 

 European foul brood without destroying 

 the combs, he thought it much belter and 

 safer for the average person, at least, to clean 

 out all possible sources of infection. 



In this connection it is proper to state 

 that Mr. Demuth has done much to advance 

 the cause of bee culture in his State. In 

 the report of the Entomologist, Mr. Demuth 

 occupies 30 pages in giving plain directions 

 for making money out of bees. 



The success of this meeting was such that 

 the convention unanimously passed a reso- 

 lution inviting the National Bee-keepers' 

 Association to hold its next annual conven- 

 tion at Indianapolis. Indianapolis is a 

 great railroad center, and also the c-'nter of 

 a large number of enthusiastic bee-keepers. 

 We do not know of any other place in the 

 Union that would draw a larger local atten- 

 dance; and as the city is so accessible from 

 all points of the country, there would doubt- 

 less be a large number of bee-keepers from 

 out of the State. It is only 183 miles from 

 Chicago; 276 from Detroit; 281 from Cleve- 

 land, and 111 from Cincinnati. It is in the 

 heart of some of the very best white-clover 

 bee-country in the whole United States; 

 and we feel sure that the officers of the Na- 

 tional Association will make no mistake 

 if they give Indianapolis favorable consid- 

 eration. 



