1486 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 1 



stration is a most effective way of dissemi- 

 natiug information. To know how to do a 

 thing theoretically can not be compared to 

 seeing the thing done practically. What 

 one sees he remembers, while what he i-eads 

 or is told he may forget. 



THE 37th annual CONVENTION OF THE NA- 

 TIONAL BEE-KEEl'EKS' ASSOCIATION. 



The convention of the National Bee-keep- 

 ers' Association at San Antonio, Nov. 8, 9, 

 and 10, was one of the largest and most en- 

 thusiastic ever held. The General Manag- 

 er's report showed an excellent financial 

 condition and a good healthy state of affairs 

 all around. It is dcjubtful whether the Na- 

 tional ever held a meeting where more actu- 

 al good was accomplished for the bee-keepers 

 of this land. 



It will be impossible, because of lack of 

 space, to give a full and detailed report of 

 this big meeting; but a few of the good 

 things accomplished can be mentioned. Few- 

 er papers were read this year than last, for 

 it was the intention of the program commit- 

 tee to have more of the (luestion-box so that 

 all could have a part. 



One of the first and most important ques- 

 tions submitted was that concerning freight 

 rates for honey. In the discussion which 

 followed, the fact was brought out that these 

 rates on comb honey are very unreasonable; 

 and that if proper steps were taken the class- 

 ification could be so cluiuged as to be of un- 

 told benefit to every shipper of honey. It 

 was decided that a couuuitLee should be ap- 

 pointed to confer with the railroad classifi- 

 cation committees for the purpose of bi'ing- 

 ing up this matter and getting some reduc- 

 tion so that comb honey woukl not have to 

 be shipped always at first-class rates. 



In order to get this in proper form the 

 whole question was put into the hands of a 

 resolution committee who submitted the fol- 

 lowing: 



We, the committee on resolutions, recommend that 

 the following- resolution be passed b.v the National 

 Bee-keepers' Association in convention assembled: 



liesolved. That a committee ot three be appointed by 

 the President, of which the General Manager shall be 

 one and be its chairman, tor the purpose ot securing' 

 more favorable freight rates on the products of the 

 apiary, namely, honey, bees, and beeswax; that the 

 Board of Directors be requested to pass a resolution 

 authorizing and directing the General Manager of our 

 Association to pay out of the funds of the Association 

 the necessary expenses of the committee, and such 

 expenses as may be Incurred in bringing before the 

 railroad officials such articles as may be necessary to 

 demonstrate the packages on whch resolutions are 

 desired. 



This resolution was unanimously adopted. 

 Since General Manager France is chairman 

 of this committee, all the members can be 

 very sure that there will be "something do- 

 ing," and that the work will not be delayed 

 or hindered. The other two members ap- 

 pointed were Robert A. Holecamp, of Saint 

 Louis, and Fred W. Muth. of Cincinnati — 

 both strong men who will do their best. 



There is another thing of great importance 

 that should be mentioned hei-e. General 

 Manager France said that for some time he 

 had been working on a scheme for a nation- 



al honey-label, and he had gone so far as to 

 have a quantity of the labels printed so that 

 any one might take one as a sample to see 

 what it is like. These would be furnished 

 at cost to the members; and each member, 

 furthermore, would be provided with a per- 

 manent number, so that, no matter how many 

 lal)els he purchased, he would still keep his 

 original numl)er, which would be printed 

 on the label. This, as can l)e readily seen, 

 will be a guarantee of purity. 



All through the convention the Texas jjeo- 

 ple showed their true hospitality. The Mex- 

 ican banquet was a never-to-be-forgotten fea- 

 ture. 



"We-all sure liked it, and would be right 

 glad to meet up with you-all again some 

 time." 



the inspectors' INIEETING AT SAN ANTONIO; 

 PKELIJIINAKY HEPOKT. 



The inspectors' meeting at San Antonio, 

 Texas, Nov. 12, was a grand success. There 

 was a good attendance, consi:sting of in- 

 spect(jrs and many others who had stayed 

 over after the National convention to learn 

 what they could. 



Dr. G. F. White, of the U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture, gave a very interesting ad- 

 tlress on the bacteria of bee-diseases, show- 

 ing the methods pursued in making cul- 

 tures of all the bacteria in the juices of lar- 

 vae, and studying those which were found to 

 be the cause of the disease. The point was 

 brought out that the microscope alone can 

 not be relied upon. 



Dr. E. F. Fhillips showed that there were 

 evidently two distinct brood diseases In Eu- 

 rope, as well as in America, resembling each 

 other very closely. These are commonly 

 known as foul brood and black brood, but 

 should more properly be called American 

 foul bro(Kl and European foul brood. 



A discussion of the practical methods for 

 curing these diseases fcjUowed, and the ques- 

 tion of the laws of the different States was 

 also taken up. 



We expect to publish a full official report 

 of this meeting later, and it will be well 

 worth the close attention of every reader. 



"bee-keeping FOU BEGINNERS," BY WALTER 



chitty, f. s. sc. 

 This little book has been prepared in ac- 

 cordance with the regulations of the English 

 board of education, being primarily intend- 

 ed for use in "board" or what we would 

 term public schools. From what we can see, 

 the book will fulfill its mission to the letter, 

 as the matter is excellent, clearly written, 

 well printed, well illustrated, and the book 

 itself well bound. It is, therefore, excellent- 

 ly adapted to use in schools; but we opine it 

 will also be found very useful to amateur be- 

 ginners who warit a very simple book to start 

 with. Mr. C'hitty has long l)een known as a 

 practical l)ee-keeper, and, what is pleasant 

 to record, eviilently apj^reciates old Father 

 Langstroth at his real vakte. This may be 

 mentioned l)ecause some English writers 

 seem desirous of robbing Langstroth of his 



