68 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



It is well to bear in mind that this is not 

 liiven as a tested cure for Eiu'opean foul 

 brood, but only a plausible theory which 

 may or may not be of value. 



New Egypt, N. J. 



Hive fitted with tray for feeding loaf sugar in cold 

 weather. 



two frames contained brood, the total being' 

 almost equal to 1 1-3 f ramefuls. There was 

 less than half a pound of stores in the 

 combs, a few cells being sealed. A very 

 nice supply of new pollen had been gather- 

 ed, the bees working on maples and elms at 

 inten'als since Feb. 21. 



On March 31 the sugar was again weigh- 

 ed, showing 51/4 lbs. still on top of the 

 frames, and not over half a pound of stores 

 in the combs. There was no noticeable gain 

 in brood after March 20, and very few days 

 when bees could do much work, owing to 

 high cool winds and rain. 



About the 10th of May one frame of 

 honey was given this colony, although there 

 was a small amount of loaf sugar left. This 

 colony was worked for comb honey, and 

 about 40 sections from clover taken. It was 

 quite a small cluster of bees when originally 

 transferred. 



The experiment shows that bees in this 

 climate can be wintered on loaf sugar alone. 



It has been suggested that this knowledge 

 can be made of use, not only in supplying 

 a deficiency of winter stores, but also in 

 treating for European foul brood after the 

 breeding season when there is not on hand 

 a supply of tield combs on which to shake 

 the bees. The idea was to exti-act the honey 

 from the infected combs, return them to the 

 hive, and place loaf sugar above the frames. 

 The theory is that the bees will thoroughlv 

 clean the cells of honey, preferring it to the 

 loaf sugar, and there will be no infected 

 honey left to start the disease when breed- 

 ing commences. 



THE 24TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE 

 CALIFORNIA STATE BEEKEEPERS' CON- 

 VENTION 



BY P. C. CHADWICK 



The convention was held at the Y. M. C. 

 A. building in Los Angeles, December 9-11, 

 as per schedule. Nearly the entire time was 

 taken up with business, the usual papers 

 and lectures being dispensed with that all 

 matters of business might have careful at- 

 tention. Harmony prevailed through the 

 session, though at one time danger ahead 

 was signaled when the failure of our foul- 

 brood law was being discussed. Trouble 

 was averted, however, by a prominent mem- 

 ber pointing out that there was to be noth- 

 ing gained by wrangling over the question. 



The meeting was, indeed, a representative 

 assembly of active beekeepers of the State. 

 Familiar faces from the north and the south 

 were to be seen among the workers. There 

 were also beemen present from Idaho, Utah, 

 Nevada, Colorado, and Ohio. Most prom- 

 inent of these were Mr. G. C. Matthews, of 

 Idaho ; Harry Crawford, of Colorado, and 

 A. L. Boyden, of Ohio. Some new members 

 whose faces have not before been seen in 

 the convention were welcomed, for they 

 must in time take the place of the older 

 ones, just as, in the last twenty-four years, 

 new ones have come and old ones have gone, 

 there being always an enthusiastic bunch, 

 nevertheless, to carry on the work. One is 

 reminded more of a fraternal or religious 

 gathering than that of beekeepers. Hope 

 abounded in spite of two seasons of failure, 

 and there were smiles and jollying words 

 for every one. Indeed, the phrase might 

 w^ell be coined, ''As hopeful as a beekeeper." 



There was no regular session on the 9th, 

 the afternoon being devoted to pre-conven- 

 tion committee work. 



At 10 :30 A. M. of the 10th, Pres. Farree 

 called the regular session to order. This 

 session was occupied by the reading of the 

 minutes of the previous meeting, the treas- 

 urer's report, and the appointment of new 

 committees. The afternoon session was short 

 as a body, nearly the entire time being de-" 

 voted to committee work, all members will- 

 ing to work being placed on a committee. 

 The banquet announced for 6 :30 r. :^r. was 

 deferred until noon of the lltli. 



On Dec. 11 the convention was called (o 



