34 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



January, 1922 



a FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



In fact, I should say that the temperature 

 has been above the average for the time of 

 year. But while we have had little cold 

 weather, yet here in our immediate section 

 we have not had a day since late October in 

 which bees could fly freely. And this uncer- 

 tain weather is responsible for the fact that 

 our 65 colonies, which are to go into the cel- 

 lar, are still outdoors. We have waited in 

 vain for that fine day for a flight, but if all 

 goes well they go inside tomorrow morning 

 (Dec. 10). I expect they would have been 

 better off inside two weeks ago; but, of 

 course, we naturally hoped for another 

 flight before placing them inside. No mat- 

 ter what can be said against outdoor win- 

 tering, one thing is sure, there is less care 

 in fall and spring with outdoors bees, as when 

 once they are packed in October we pay lit- 

 tle attention to weather after that. 



The Ontario Beekeepers' Association met 

 in Toronto on Nov. 22, 23 and 24. There was 

 a large attendance — about 300 I think — just 

 as there is always a large attendance at the 

 meetings of this association. In addition to 

 the representative gathering of members of 

 the craft from here in Ontario, we were fa- 

 vored with the presence of a number from 

 across "the line," and some from sister 

 provinces of the Dominion. New York had 

 a splendid representation, among whom 

 I might mention Mr. and Mrs. House, Mr. 

 and Mrs. Stone, Messrs. Myers, Lesser and 

 Kinyon. E. R. Root came unexpectedly, but 

 he is always welcome; and when he missed 

 the evening train on which he intended to 

 leave for home, thus having another session 

 with us, it was the old story of one's loss 

 being some one else's gain. Indiana was 

 ably represented by the inimitable Jay 

 Smith, who had two addresses assigned to 

 him, both on the subject of breeding and 

 rearing queens. Mr. Smith understands his 

 business all right, and this knowledge, cou- 

 pled with a keen sense of humor, always as- 

 sures him of a good hearing in any gather- 

 ing of beekeepers. 



C. E. Fetch gave a splendid talk on bee- 

 keeping in Quebec province, while Mr. L. 

 T. Floyd, Frovincial Apiarist of Manitoba, 

 gave us a delightful and much useful infor- 

 mation on the subject, "Beekeeping in the 

 Northwest." So, all told, the gathering 

 was more than local, and the information 

 given by these men from the United States 

 and provinces of our Dominion was of such 

 a nature as to interest all, many lasting im- 

 pressions being given. Many of our largest 

 producers were present, and the discussions 

 carried on by old timers like Messrs. Sib- 

 bald Krouse,' Holtermann, Chrysler, McKm- 

 non and others, who number their colonies 

 by the hundred, always bring out something 

 of value. Then we have a fine lot of young- 

 er meo coming ou in the business, and many 



are not slow to express their opinions when 

 any debatable question is on; so it is an as- 

 sured fact that the conventions of the fu- 

 ture will not lack material for profitable 

 meetings. 



It would take up too much space to enter 

 into details of the various addresses given, 

 and I shall not attempt to make even a 

 brief reference to the sundry good things 

 of the eight sessions. Aside from the regu- 

 lar issues of beekeeping commonly discussed, 

 possibly the address given by the Minister 

 of Agriculture for Ontario, Hon. Manning 

 Doherty, stirred up more interest than all 

 other matters. He spoke on the subject of 

 "Marketing," and to the surprise of many 

 present, in the course of a vigorous address 

 he strongly advised the association to get 

 together at once and form a co-operative 

 union for the purpose of handling the honey 

 crop in future years. Mr. Doherty is a 

 forceful speaker and his earnest manner car- 

 ries an audience with him, so there is no 

 question but that he convinced the great 

 mass of the beekeepers present (for the time 

 being at least) that his ideas were the 

 proper ones to act upon. I feel skeptical at 

 this stage as to the scheme 's working out 

 at the present in a successful way, for as 

 yet we can sell honey too easily. This may 

 seem like a foolish statement, but facts seem 

 to point to the conclusion that all the co- 

 operative associations that are making a 

 success were driven to take action because 

 of dire necessity. That is, conditions had 

 reached such a stage that there was no 

 profit in their business any more, and they 

 had- to get together to save themselves from 

 bankruptcy. Human nature is about the 

 same among beekeepers as in any other 

 class, and until we can get enough cohesion 

 among the great mass of producers, so that 

 nearly all will join any association formed 

 to further the progress of its members, I can 

 see little prospect of success. So far as any 

 little influence I may possess is concerned, I 

 certainly feel like helping any legitimate 

 movement along that is for the good of all 

 and injury of none, and by this I would in- 

 clude consumers of our product as well as 

 producers. A strong and representative com- 

 mittee was named to look into the matter 

 and take any action they may see fit. Said 

 committee includes the following men, all 

 well known to Ontario beekeepers: Sibbald, 

 Holtermann, Chrysler, Krouse, Weir, and 

 Secretary Millcn of Guelph, who is handling 

 all correspondence in connection with the 

 committee 's work at present. 



E. T. Bainard of Lambeth, Ont., is presi- 

 dent of the Ontario Beekeepers' Associa- 

 tion for the ensuing year, and Prof. Millen 

 of Guelph, O. A. C, is secretary as usual. 



Markham, Ont. J. L. Byer. 



