116 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



April 13, 



THOMAS C. NEWMAN. 



El>lTOH AXU PKUPIUETOR, 



CHICAGO, ILL., APRIL 13, 1881. 



©"In Bohemia, Austria, the Society 

 has changed its muni.' to" The Austrian 

 Society of Bee Friends," and has elec- 

 ted Heir It. Mayerlioeffer its Presi- 

 dent, who in a recent letter says : " 1 

 am surprised that you can publish the 

 Bee Journal as a Weekly— such a 

 thing is only possible in America. I 

 wish you the best of success." 



i£g° The Indiana Farmer says that the 

 annual report of the Bureau of Statis- 

 tics, just out, places the number of col- 

 onies of bees in the State at 146,327, and 

 the number of lbs. of honey token, 

 1,197,627, or 8.18 lbs. per colony. This 

 report is for the honey crop of 1879, 

 which was a very poor season, the esti- 

 mated yield being only half a crop. 

 Lawrence county reports the largest 

 number of colonies, 7,168. Allen county 

 next, with 4,114. Crawford county the 

 least, only 142 being reported. In pro- 

 duction Lake county stands at the head 

 with 59,984 lbs. 



f^A disgusting discovery was re- 

 cently made near Birmingham, Eng- 

 gland. The Mark Lane Express of 

 March 7, says : 



" The Inspector found in the ' manu- 

 factory ' the steam machinery in opera- 

 tion, and about 1.300 lbs. of diseased 

 horseflesh, mutton, etc., in various 

 stages, from the ' raw material ' to the 

 ' finished ' potted meat, sausages, save- 

 loys, ' savory ducks.' German polonies. 

 etc. There were nearly 200 lbs. of sau- 

 sages recently made, and colored with 

 red ochre to give them a fresh appear- 

 ance; 2 diseased sheep, 200 lbs. diseased 

 horseflesh, and cans of potted meat, be- 

 ing mostly diseased horseflesh." 



Uniting Colonies in Early Spring. 



Will you please to tell me, through 

 the Bee Journal, how to put 2 colo- 

 nies of bees together and manage them 

 so they will not light ? 



ubs. II. Thompson. 



Vermontville, Mich. 



Cook'sManual,page 258, recommends 

 spraying and smoking for successfully 

 uniting in summer and fall ; but in 

 quite early spring there is some danger 

 of chilling brood, if the operation is per- 

 formed by unskilled hands. We think 

 the following will be the best plan for 

 early weather: Remove the queen from 

 one colony and put the frames with 

 bees and brood at one side, putting in 

 a divider made by tacking wire-cloth on 

 one side of a brood frame, with the ends 

 extending to reach full length of the 

 hive; now bring the brood, queen and 

 bees from the other hive and place in 

 this one, close the entrance on the bees 

 and queen, put in for 24 hours, slant a 

 board in front, remove the hive vacated, 

 and the work is done. In 24 hours, or 

 the next night, remove the obstruction 

 from the entrance, leaving the slanting 

 board in front, which will cause the bees 

 to mark their home anew. On the 

 third day remove the dividing-frame 

 and the board from the front. No hive 

 should occupy the old stand, from which 

 the queen and bees were removed, for 

 several days. 



Conventions, and their Mission. 



I have been thinking of the real solid 

 visits and enthusiastic discussions we 

 have at our Conventions. In these dis- 

 cussions we get not only the last and 

 best thoughts of the participants, but 

 inspired thoughts— truths told with 

 masks off. Prof. Cook says enthusiasm 

 is the main source of successful honey- 

 producing, and much more is it the suc- 

 cess of a bee-keepers' Convention. But 

 our Conventions are universally marred 

 by long and tedious essays. Just as the 

 meeting has reached a degree of warmth 

 that is inspiring, the Secretary hauls 

 out a long essay (may be a " prize es- 

 say"), and reads, and reads, till the glow 

 of the members is charred to coal. At 

 its close every attendant feels tired and 

 like a man in a wet blanket. I), sighs, 

 M. draws a long breath. B. yawns, and 

 then all hitch in their seats, and a sickly 

 silence comes over the scene. But soon 

 the next topic is taken up, and a new 

 enthusiasm kindled, which is destined 

 to the same fate. It seems to me that 

 the offering of " prizes" for these essays 

 to promote and encourage Conventions, 

 is like paying a premium on murder to 

 promote morality. Is there any argu- 

 ment in their favor that is not answered 

 by saying, " Send them to the Journal 

 as correspondence ?" 



At our meetings we are never at a loss 

 for interesting topics, but for the time to 

 discuss all that we can feel are of im- 

 portance to us. Those who are in at- 

 tendance have borne the expenses, and 

 have a right to the time over the essay- 

 ist. A short letter of greeting, and 

 now-and-then a topic suggested by an 

 absent member, would not be so bad. 

 Do you not know that what I have sta- 

 ted above is true, from your experience 

 at Conventions ? 



Topics should be suggested and pub- 

 lished some days before the meeting, 

 and each member or proposed attendant 

 should prepare himself to speak on the 

 subject, by revolving it over in his mind. 

 Of course, we are not orators ; but 

 neither are we essayists. While some 

 of us are not gifted at theorizing and 

 drawing deductions, all can tell their 

 experience in some shape, and what is 

 of more value V Experience is the 

 foundation of the whole fabric. 



District Conventions are what we 

 need. Good reporters are next in order. 

 We want a report that is condensed in 

 words, but not in thought. A man to 

 fill that office must possess a knowledge 

 of the topic under discussion, and a su- 

 perior power of handling words. 



The bee-keepers of our Congressional 

 District, embracing this southwest cor- 

 ner of Michigan, are now taking steps 

 for an organization, and although I am 

 so busy that I cannot help it along as 

 much as I would like to, yet I will do 

 all I can, and hope we may soon be 

 organized permanently. I believe I 

 prophesied such local Conventions some 

 years ago. James Heddon. 



Dowagiac, Mich., March 23, 1881. 



We must take occasion to thank Mr. 

 Heddon for broaching this subject in 

 his terse, happy manner. It must have 

 occurred to every reader of the Bee 

 Journal, as it has frequently appeared 

 to those in attendance at the Conven- 

 tions, that some of the essays were long 

 and prosy, and frequently two or more 

 upon the same subject ; while the essay- 

 ists themselves must have felt the ne- 

 cessity for prolixity, in order to meet 

 supposed arguments which might be 

 opposed against theories advanced. It 

 frequently happens that much valuable 

 time is occupied in this way, that would 

 have been saved had the writer been 

 present, and many records perpetuated 

 which had been better forgotten. 



We should not forget, however, that 

 many discoveries are being made, many 

 exceptions to acknowledged rules fre- 

 quently occurring, and apparent contra- 

 dictions of theories arising. These 

 should be brought before the Conven- 

 tion for discussion. Some one present 

 can probably explain a seeming mystery 



in a few words ; others may profit by 

 their experience. 



Mr. Heddon is correct in his estimate 

 of the value of yood district Conven- 

 tions. They harmonize what would 

 otherwise be competing interests; they 

 foster a fraternal feeling ; they encour- 

 age an emulative spirit of superiority, 

 and elevate the nobler instincts of hu- 

 manity. 



The Secretary might be chosen with 

 especial reference to his apicultural 

 knowledge and reportorial qualifica- 

 tions. Promptness in making out his 

 report, if intended for publication, is 

 quite as essential as promptness in at- 

 tending to any other business entrusted 

 to him. The reports of a conventional 

 body lose much of their interest to the 

 members in attendance if not published 

 promptly, and an editor feels much re- 

 luctance in giving his readers a stale 

 report, when, perhaps, his correspon- 

 dence files are crowded with communi- 

 cations of recent date. 



By all means, organize district socie- 

 ties and call Conventions, then let every 

 bee-keeper within their circuit make an 

 effort to attend. If one bee-keeper is 

 more successful than another, he is un- 

 der a moral obligation to attend his Con- 

 vention and instruct his co-workers; 

 if he is less successful than they, he is 

 under a pecuniary obligation to himself 

 to attend and be educated. Leave all 

 personal differences to be settled out- 

 side the Convention, and all work with 

 a zeal to make it a pleasant, successful 

 and profitable gathering. 



Wisconsin Law against Adulteration. 



Mr. F. Wilcox has sent us the follow- 

 ing questions : 



I append hereto a copy of our law in 

 relation to the adulteration of food. 

 What do you think of it ; can it be en- 

 forced ? 



Bees that are being wintered on the 

 Bummer stands are in very bad condi- 

 tion (mostly dead), unless well protected. 

 Those in cellars are in good condition, 

 but need a flight soon. The weather is 

 very cold yet, and little or no bare 



e round. We must wait another month 

 efore we. can accurately tell how bees 

 have wintered. 

 Mauston, Wis., April 2, 1881. 



CHAPTER 40. 



An Act in relation to the adulteration 



of food. 

 The people of the State of Wisconsin, 



represented in Senate and Assembly, 



do enact as follows : 



Section 1. Every person, company or 

 corporation who shall manufacture, sell 

 or offer for sale any article in imitation 

 of butter which has been manufactured 

 wholly or in part from tallow, shall mark 

 each firkin, tub, package or parcel, on 

 top of same, in letters of not less than 

 one-half inch in length, and breadth in 

 proportion, and in such manner that it 

 may be plainly seen, the word "oleomar- 

 garine. If made wholly or partially 

 from lard, each firkin, tub, parcel or 

 package shall be marked " butterine" in 

 large letters, as above required. 



Sec. 2. Every person, company orcor- 

 poration who shall sell, or offer for sale, 

 honey, or any imitation of honey which 

 is adulterated with glucose, or any other 

 substance, shall mark the package or 

 parcel with the words " adulterated 

 honey," as required by section one of 

 this act. 



Sec. 3. Any person, company or cor- 

 poration that manufactures or offers for 

 sale cheese that has been made in part 

 of oleomargarine, or where anti-huff or 

 any other substance has been used to 

 adulterate the same, shall mark each 

 cheese as required by section one of this 

 act. with the name of the article or ar- 

 ticles used in adulterating the same. 



Sec. 4. Any person found guilty of any 

 violation of this act shall for each of- 



fense be punished by imprisonment in 

 the county jail, not less than ten days 

 nor more than six months, or by a line 

 of not less than ten dollars nor more 

 than one hundred dollars, or both, in 

 the discretion of the court. 



Sec. 6. One-half of all tines imposed 

 by the enforcement of this act shall be 

 paid to the person who informs against 

 and prosecutes such offender to convic- 

 tion. 



Sec. 6. All acts or parts of acts con- 

 flicting with the provisions of this act 

 are hereby repealed. 



Sec. 7. This act shall take effect and 

 be in force from and after its passage 

 and publication. 



Approved March 3, 1881. 



Another dead-letter, we fear. It is 

 not made the especial duty of any officer 

 to prosecute offenders, nor is the tribu- 

 nal designated which shall have cogni- 

 zance in such cases. Again, there is a 

 fatal omission of the nature of testi- 

 mony which shall be required to secure 

 conviction, and statutory as well as com- 

 mon law pre-supposes every offender to 

 be innocent until proven guilty. As in 

 Kentucky, the real difficulty will be to 

 prove the existence of the fraud to the 

 satisfaction of the jury. 



But we are glad to see that the law- 

 has passed, even though it should prove 

 inoperative. It is a strong evidence that 

 the people are awakening from their 

 lethargy and demanding reform. The 

 abuses are so great that it seems difficult 

 to check them, but the next legislature 

 can amend the law to make it effective, 

 if the honest producers and consumers 

 combine in requiring it. 



The National Convention. 



We have received for publication the 

 following letter from the President of 

 the North American Bee-Keepers" So- 

 ciety, in reply to Prof. Cook's open let- 

 ter published in the Weekly Bee Jour- 

 nal of March 23d, page 92: 



Smith's Grove, Ky.. April 1. 1881. 



Prok. A. J. Cook : Dear Sir: I have 

 read with much interest your sugges- 

 tions to the Executive Committee, 

 through me, to fix the time of holding 

 the North American Bee- Keepers' Con- 

 vention, at Lexington, Ky.. on Wednes- 

 day and Thursday, Aug. 24 and 25 — the 

 week after the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science meets 

 at Cincinnati, O. 



It seems to me that would be a favor- 

 able time for holding the Convention, 

 but our Association is so extensive, em- 

 bracing, as it does, the whole of North 

 America, it is difficult to decide the best 

 time for holding the Convention. I 

 thank you. sir, for the interest vou man- 

 ifest in" the Convention, and will be clad 

 to receive suggestions from other Vice 

 Presidents and bee-keepers generally 

 who feel an interest in the matter. The 

 reduction of railroad rates will have 

 much to do with the number attending 

 the meeting. In October the Louisville 

 and Cincinnati Expositions arrange for 

 reduced rates, and members passing 

 through could get the benefit ot the re- 

 duction. But, as you state, we might 

 \<v able to get the commutation of rail- 

 road fares to extend to the meeting at 

 Lexington. We hope to have a very 

 large attendance, and the most interest- 

 ing meeting that has ever been held by 

 the bee-keepers of North America. 



As soon as the Executive Committee 

 can determine on the time, it will be 

 made known through the bee papers. 

 Meantime, I hope to hear by letters or 

 postal cards from the interested bee- 

 keepers, expressing their preferences, 

 with reasons, for the time of holding 

 the next Convention. 



Very truly yours, N. P. Allen. 



®" The Semi- Annual meeting of the 

 Champlain Valley Bee-Keepers' Asso- 

 ciation will be held at Bristol, Addison 

 Co., Vt., May 19, 1881. 



T. BRooxras, Sec. 



