210 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Mabch, 1917 



two Misses Fowls, who, with their father, 

 are largely engaged in keeping bees at 

 Oberlin, Ohio. Both Mr. Holtermann and 

 the Fowls girls were kept on the plat- 

 form answering questions; and the replies 

 received were exceedingly interesting and 

 valuable. 



The report of the Ohio inspection work 

 by Inspector Ames showed that excellent 

 work had been done in the control and 

 elimination of bee diseases. 



The convention was held during farm- 

 ers' week; and it was apparent that many 

 beekeepers who were also farmers were 

 attending some of the other conventions 

 — probably having a large interest in actual 

 farm work itself. 



OHIO STATISTICS. 



Mr. John Eckert, a student in the api- 

 cultural department of the Ohio State 

 University, Columbus, is gathering beekeep- 

 ing statistics of Ohio bees and beekeeping. 

 He is sending out blanks, and earnestly re- 

 quests that Ohio beekeepers co-operate in 

 giving him the necessary data. As soon as 

 he can collect such data he will give the re- 

 sult lo tlie general public. 



THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. 



Despite severe weather and interruiDted 

 railroad facilities, the National Beekeepers' 

 Association held its 47th annual convention 

 at Madison, Wis., on February 6, 7, and 8, 

 with about threescore earnest beekeepers in 

 attendance. On the day before the meeting 

 a number of prominent beekeepers over the 

 country received a telegTam from President 

 Francis Jager saying that no trains were 

 moving between Chicago and Madison, on 

 account of storms. This telegram led those 

 who received it to conclude that the meeting 

 would have to be called off, and so they did 

 not attempt to reach Madison. This, un- 

 doubtedly, accounted for the absence of 

 such prominent beekeepers as Morley Pettit. 

 E. D. Townsend, Frank Pellett, B. Copen- 

 haver, and others. We know for a certainty 

 that it accounted for the absence of E. R. 

 Root, who was already on his way when the 

 telegram (forwarded) overtook him and he 

 returned home. 



The reports of this meeting that have 

 reached us are all of an enthusiastic nature. 

 Wesley Foster (of Gleanings' staff) from 

 Boulder, Colorado, attended, and this is the 

 way lie characterized the meeting: "What 

 a meeting it was! The most animated of 

 diseu.ssions, and not a minute wasted ! All 

 was harmonious, and there was no attempt 



to dictate; and the unity of purpose pre- 

 sages a useful and truly national association. 

 The wandering in the wilderness has appar- 

 ently ceased, and we have hit the trail. 

 Every one of us is wiser; and those of us 

 who are not wiser will not be able to hinder 

 further progress. The meetings were all 

 devoted to business and business only. This 

 does not mean that the National Beekeepers' 

 Association is going into business and incur 

 debt — not at all. But it is going to enter 

 business sufficiently to benefit its members." 



Officers were elected as follows: Presi- 

 dent, Francis Jager; vice-president, D. C. 

 Polhemus ; secretary - treasurer, John C. 

 Bull; executive committee, Francis Jager, 

 D. C. Polhemus, Jobn C. Bull, F. E. Millen, 

 and W. M. Copenhaver. Mr. Millen and 

 Mr. Copenhaver hold over one year. 



The work of the National is now divided 

 into three principal activities as follows: 

 Industrial; educational and scientific; and 

 legislative. President Jager appointed 

 chairmen of these divisions as follows : In- 

 dustrial, D. C. Polliemus; educational and 

 scientific, Dr. E. F. Phillips; legislative, 

 Frank C. Pellett. These chairmen are to 

 select their own assistants. 



The National is to print its own annual 

 repoi't, which will be sent to its members, 

 and may print quarterly bulletins or circu- 

 lars as need arises. 



Among other notable beekeepers present 

 were Prof. Francis Jager, C. P. Dadant, 

 Dr. Leonard, Dr. E. F. Phillips, Herman 

 Rauchfuss, E. G. Brown, Miss Fowls, John 

 C. Bull, D. C. Polhemus, and Hamlin Miller. 

 There were threescore other equally earnest 

 beemen there. Prof. Jager in his address 

 dwelt on the necessity for a new life and 

 larger field for the National. Dr. Phillips 

 told of the Government's work, especially in 

 extension activity. " Ham " Miller tolcl of 

 how his " bee pep " was building the Iowa 

 association. Dr. S. A. Jones, of the Bureau 

 of Crop Statistics, told of his plans for se- 

 curing honey-crop reports and circulating 

 these reports among the beekeepers to their 

 very great advantage. The banquet held at 

 Park Hotel, Wednesday noon, was a decided 

 success, 62 being i^resent. It was full of 

 good cheei', and helped to pi'omote the most 

 cordial spirit of fellowship among all pres- 

 ent. 



One drawback to the convention was the 

 crowded condition of the hotels, due to the 

 usual activities of a state capital during a 

 legislative session. 



The whole meeting was marked by great 

 enthusiasm and the expressed determination 

 of all to make a better future for American 

 beekeepers. 



