178 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



June 8, 



esting, as well as practical and instruc- 

 tive hints on marketing honey. He re- 

 commended small packages for extrac- 

 ted honey, in glass or tin cans, neatly 

 labeled. They must be showy, and as 

 Judge Andrews remarked, we must 

 " tickle the fancy." He gave some 

 statictics on sales of extracted honey in 

 2 lb. tin cans attractively labled, com- 

 pared with those of the same kind of 

 honey in the sarnelsized cans not labeled, 

 which illustrated the fact that fancy 

 labels sold the honey ; he was in favor 

 of the 1 lb sections for comb honey. 



Judge Andrews brought out some 

 extracted honey in a 3 lb. Mason jar, 3 

 years old, which was only partially can- 

 died ; it looked neat, and attractive. 



Adjourned till 9 a. m. to-morrow. 



SECOND DAY— MORNING SESSION. 



The meeting was called to order by 

 Dr. N. P. Allen, and the committee on 

 resolutions made the following report : 



Resolved, That the Texas Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Association recognize, in the intel- 

 ligent management of the honey bee, 

 an economical source of wealth to the 

 country, and an easy means of obtain- 

 ing one of the richest luxuries of life, 

 within the reach of almost every fam- 

 ily. Adopted. 



Resolved. That we take steps at once 

 to secure to the members of our Asso- 

 ciation the benefits of co-operative ef- 

 fort, in securing bee-keepers' supplies, 

 by electing a State agent to make terms 

 with manufacturers and transportation 

 companies, both as to purchases and 

 freights. Adopted. 



Resolved, That we recommend to the 

 bee-keepers of the State to organize lo- 

 cal Bee-Keepers' Associations, and to 

 order the apiarian supplies through the 

 agent of the State Association. Adop- 

 ted. 



Resolved, That we recommend to be- 

 ginners to adopt the simplicity hive. 



After some discussion in regard to 

 narrow top-bars and wide top-bars, 

 Judge Andrews said that he did not 

 think that open-top frames possessed 

 any advantage over the closed-top, but 

 from the fact that the simplicity hive 

 was made and kept in stock by dealers, 

 and all the fixtures were made to fit 

 that style of hive, he was in favor of 

 the resolution. Adopted. 



Resolved, That bee-keeping is a more 

 lucrative and less laborious industry 

 than stock-raising or farming. 



After discussion, by several parties 

 whose experience favored the resolu- 

 tion. Judge Andrews was called upon 

 to give his experience. He said, that 

 after estimating his bees at their cash 

 value, his profits last year were 45 per 

 cent., fust of labor 5 percent.; while 

 his income on his Jersey cattle was 23 

 per cent., and the cost of labor 18 to 20 

 per cent., showing a great balance in 

 favor of bis bees, both as to labor and 

 profits. The resolution was adopted. 



Resolved, That we tender the thanks 

 of this Association to Messrs. Scovell 

 & Anderson, of Columbus, Kan., for 

 the exhibition and donation of hives 

 and fixtures from their factory. Adop- 

 ted. 



Itrsnlvul. That we tender the thanks 

 of this body to Dr. N. P. Allen, of 

 Smith's Grove, Ky., Piesident of the 

 North American Bee-Keepers' Society, 

 for the interest he has manifested in 

 honoring our Association with his pres- 

 ence, in presiding over our delibera- 

 tions, for his intelligent advice, and for 

 the enthusiasm his words of encourage- 

 ment have awakened among us. Adop- 

 ted. 



Resolved, That the Texas Bee-Keep- 

 ers'Association tender thanks to Judge 

 "VV. H. Andrews for his pioneer efforts 

 in the bee-keeping enterprise, and for 

 the pains he has taken to exhibit the 

 practical advantages of bee-keeping, 

 and to make this Association a success. 

 Adopted. 



Hi-solved, That invitation is extended 

 to lady bee-keepers to attend the ses- 

 sions of this Association and become 

 members of the same. Adopted. 



<;. M. Cooper, J. P. Nenny, .1. It. 

 Wilmeth, Committee. 



The Secretary announced that the 

 "doors" of the. Association were open 

 for the reception of members ; that the 

 only requirements for the gentlemen 

 were to sign the constitution and pay 

 the sum of 25 cents : ladies free. Sev- 



eral persons availed themselves of the 

 opportunity to become members. 



The election of officers was next in 

 order. The following was the result of 

 the election : W. II. Andrews, Presi- 

 dent, McKinney, Collin Co.; M. II. 

 Davis, Vice-President, Howe, Grayson 

 Co.; Win. II. Howard, Sec, Kingston, 

 Hunt Co.; S. S. Lyday, Treasurer, 

 Honey Grove, Fannin Co. 



Adjourned till 2 o'clock p. m. 



SECOND DAY— AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The meeting was called to order by 

 Dr. K. P. Allen. 



Mr. F. F. Collins, of Austin, had just 

 arrived, and many were the words of 

 encouragement he spoke. He regretted 

 not being with us sooner, but sickness 

 in his family prevented ; however, he 

 was proud to meet with so many bee- 

 keepers ; it was an indication of suc- 

 cess to the Association. 



The President announced that while 

 waiting on the committee on supplies to 

 report, that a few subjects for discus- 

 sion would be in order. 



"Dysentery; its cause and cure," 

 was suggested. Several had never seen 

 a case of it. 



S. S. Lyday asked, what is dysentery 

 or bee-cholera V 



Dr. Howard believed it to be a dis- 

 ease of the digestive organs, causing 

 restlessness, thin, watery discharges of 

 the feces, to be voided ever and anon 

 in the hive or out of it, as the case 

 might be. There was, doubtless, high 

 febrile excitement which the bee suf- 

 fered, constantly growing weaker and 

 more sluggish, and. finally, death en- 

 sues. It does not affect every colony in 

 the same yard at the same time, nor 

 every member of an infected colony. 

 There is a diversity of opinion as to the 

 cause of the disease. Some say bacteria, 

 some starvation, some one thing and 

 some say other causes. He was of 

 the opinion that it could be caused at 

 any season of the year, and from what 

 experience he had had, he believed that 

 excessive gorging with honey, and over 

 confinement in a damp, cool atmosphere, 

 such as we have during our long spells 

 of wet weather in the winter and spring, 

 were conducive to the disease. He had 

 lost several colonies in the last 3 years. 



Judge Andrews asked, why did they 

 not all die, all being subject to the same 

 conditions. 



Dr. Howard said that extreme heat 

 or extreme cold would excite the bees 

 and they would consume more honey 

 than was necessary for their health in 

 a moderate temperature. Colonies dis- 

 turbed during confinement are more 

 apt to become diseased, if they have 

 plenty of stores accessible. As an even 

 temperature is conducive to the health 

 of bees in confinement, so will extremes 

 be conducive to disease. The cure 

 was simple but not always available— a 

 good cleansing flight, in a warm, dry 

 atmosphere.. A clean hive would be 

 advisable, in order to relieve the bees 

 of the task of cleaning out the dead, 

 and removing the unwholesome stench. 



M. S. Klum lost a few colonies that 

 were weak,a few years ago, by that dis- 

 ease. 



Judge Andrews offered a suggestion 

 to beginners. He would recommend 

 them never to go among the bees with- 

 out being provided with a good bellows 

 smoker. 



M. II. Davis asked, if a bee-veil or a 

 bee-hat did not have a tendency to make 

 bees cross. 



Some thought that it did. Judge An- 

 drews said that a veil was only neces- 

 sary when bees were swarming, as then 

 he could not intimidate them with a 

 smoker. 



" Which is preferable, natural or arti- 

 ficial swarming ?_" was next discussed. 



Dr. Howard said that it depended en- 

 tirely upon what the bee-keeper wished 

 to accomplish. If he wished numbers, 

 regardless of honey, artificial swarming 

 was to be preferred; but if he wished 

 to prevent excessive increase and run 

 for honey alone, the manner described 

 by Judge Andrews, yesterday, was pref- 

 erable. All agreed on these points. 



" The chaff hive" was next discussed. 



Some one asked : Would it pay in 

 Texas? 



Reply : They had not been tried for 

 summer and were considered unneces- 

 sary for winter. 



Judge Andrews said that he would 

 not have one in his yard unless he had 

 some one else to work with it. It was ob- 

 jectionable, first — because it was expen- 

 sive: 2d. it was too heavy to handle; 

 and 3d, it was wholly unnecessary, lie 

 wintered 2 nuclei on one frame of 

 honey each, on the summer stand, with- 

 out any protection, the past winter. 



The committee on apiarian supplies 

 made the following report ; 



We find on exhibition the simplicity 

 bee hive, with and without chaff pack- 

 ing; arrangements with surplus honey; 

 arrangements in the shape of all-in-one- 

 piece simplicity sections ; cases and tin 

 separators ; simplicity bee-feeder; comb 

 foundation made on a Dunham machine, 

 also one piece of comb drawn out from 

 foundation of the same make, from 

 Scovell & Anderson, Columbus, Kan., 

 all made in good style, which we recom- 

 mend as first-class goods. 



We also find the Quinby smoker, with 

 cold-blast attachment, and Quinby bee- 

 veil, which we recommend as indispen- 

 sable to bee-keepers, and which on trial 

 give entire satisfaction. 



We also find honey knives, extract- 

 ors, queen cages, etc.. from various 

 parties, which we consider as valuable 

 utility to bee-keepers. 



We also find Cook's " Manual of the 

 Apiary," "Quinby's New Bee-keeping," 

 the Weekly Bee Journal, Gleanings 

 in Bee-Culture, Bee-Keepers' Magazine, 

 Bee-Keepers'' Instructor, and Kansas Bee- 

 Keeper, all of which are up with the 

 times and ably edited by practical bee- 

 keepers, and are respectfully recom- 

 mended to the bee-keeping fraternity. 



Respectfully submitted, Win. R.Gra- 

 ham, M. II. Davis, C. E. Chappell, 

 Committee. 



The report was received and the com- 

 mittee discharged. 



F. F. Collins introduced the subject 

 of electing a State agent, through 

 which to purchase apiarian supplies, 

 and a delegate to send to the National 

 Convention, and nominated Dr. Win. 

 R. Howard, of Kingston, Hunt Co., for 

 State agent, which was carried. 



Judge Andrews was nominated for 

 delegate to the National Convention. 

 Carried. 



F. F. Collins was then elected to rep- 

 resent the Association at the National 

 Convention, in case, from any cause, 

 Judge Andrews could not go. 



A vote of thanks was tendered Judge 

 Andrews and family for their kind hos- 

 pitality in entertaining members from 

 abroad. 



The Secretary was instructed to send 

 a copy of the proceedings to the Amer- 

 ican Bee Journal for publication, 

 and also respectfully invite other bee- 

 papers to copy; also to send a copy to 

 the leading Texas papers, requesting 

 all county and local papers to copy. 



The Convention then adjourned to 

 meet in McKinney, Collin Co., on the 

 last Tuesday in April, 1882. 



Wm. R. Howdkd, Sec. 



Texas papers, please copy. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Have Our Bees Degenerated? 



G. M. DOOLITTLE. 



On pages 145 and 147 of the Weekly 

 Bee Journal are articles by E. A. 

 Thomas and S. S. Butler, both saying 

 that all the losses of bees in winter 

 prove that the losers have a, weak race 

 of bees, or those which have degene- 

 rated from their once hardy and pros- 

 perous condition. Will facts bear these 

 theories out ? Let us see. 



Prior to 1870 there were hundreds of 

 colonies of bees within a circuit of 20 

 miles from me, kept by farmers and 

 others, in box hives, who brimstoned 

 their bees, as S. S. Butler says they did 

 in Eastern Pennsylvania, killing the 

 poorest and keeping the best, scarcely 

 ever losing any, and yet, when the dis- 

 astrous winters of from 1871 to 1875 

 came, nearly all were swept away, and 

 to-day, so far as I know, not one colony 



remains ; those only have living bees 

 who make a specialty of bee-keeping, 

 to more or less an extent. 



That the drones from 1 or 2 apiaries 

 where bees had been divided could have 

 degenerated these bees in so short a 

 time, seems hardly possible. Again, if 

 such were possible, Mr. Betsinger's 

 case does away witli that, for up to 1870 

 he scarcely lost a bee, and he had been 

 dividing and rearing queens for years, 

 and as long as he kept his former shel- 

 tered position, all went well; but when 

 he moved to his present bleak place, 

 his loss exceeded that of any one around 

 him. Well do I remember going there 

 after my loss of 1872-3 and seeing his 

 strong colonies, and then coming home 

 as blue as I could well be, to look at my 

 little handful of bees in each hive in 

 the latter part of May. 



How will Mr. S. S. Butler's degenera- 

 tion theory account for the great loss of 

 such men as D. D. Palmer, O. J. Ileth- 

 rington, and hosts of others who scarcely 

 ever lost bees before ? What is to be 

 said of that 23 colonies which A. P. 

 Cowan sold, that all died while his all 

 lived, if degeneration is the cause of 

 our losses ? 



I have also had colonies that went 

 down so low that they had only a little 

 brood in one frame, on the first of'.May, 

 after a winter of heavy loss ; but I 

 built them up to good colonies by fall, 

 had them do splendidly the next sea- 

 son, and come through the next winter 

 stronger than any others— when I sus- 

 tained a loss of }' 2 , with the same queen 

 presiding all the time and producing 

 bees that nearly succoinbed one severe 

 winter, and 2 years later pass through 

 an equally severe winter and come out 

 the best. Not only once has this come 

 under my notice, but several times. 

 How will Messrs. Butler and Thomas 

 account for this, by their theory V 



Mr. Thomas says, after reading the 

 reports of those losing 1 .> to % of their 

 bees, " When I read such reports I al- 

 ways think that the rest of them might 

 as well be dead, for all the good they 

 will do their owner the coming season." 

 Mr. Thomas is a little rough to talk 

 so discourageingly to us who are down. 



I wish to give a few facts which will 

 encourage those who have lost bees, and 

 which will also show Mr. T. that his 

 thoughts are a little premature. 



When the spring of 1875 opened, I 

 found I had but 4(i colonies left out of 

 over 100 the fall previous, and from 

 those 46 colonies I sold over 4,800 lbs. of 

 box honey. In the spring of 1877 my 

 loss was quite heavy, amounting to 

 about 1 3 , and that season our average 

 yield per colony was 166 lbs., which was 

 by far the largest yield I ever had. As 

 a rule, we find a good yield of honey fol- 

 lows a heavy loss of bees. 



Mr. Thomas says : " Why is it that 

 some have good success in wintering in 

 cellar and out, in all ways and all con- 

 ditions, while others lose their bees, no 

 matter how careful they are, or in what 

 manner they winter them ? Take the 

 case of Mr. D. D. Palmer, as one of the 

 many which may be cited ; was it be- 

 cause his bees were weak and puny that 

 they were all swept away during the 

 past winter, while they have withstood 

 all the cold blasts before ? If I am 

 rightly informed. Captain Hethrington 

 and Mr. L. C. Root bought bees for sev- 

 eral years to replace their bees, (buying 

 them of parties in Vermont, and else- 

 where, who wintered successfully) only 

 to lose them the next winter. Will the 

 condemning of all these as weak and 

 puny, solve our wintering troubles? I 

 leave the reader to answer. 



Xow, while I would gladly point the 

 way out of this darkness of disastrous 

 wintering, and tell yon what was the 

 only true cause of our failures. I shall 

 have to confess candidly, that I do not 

 know how to winter bees, and say, as I 

 did in Gleanings, " I cannot see through 

 it all." All the different theories ad- 

 vanced only seem to leave us more in 

 the dark. One thing seems to impress 

 itself, more and more, upon the intelli- 

 gent mind, and that is, that a long cold 

 winter with no chance for the bees to 

 fly from 4 to months, tends toward 

 disaster, while a warm open winter 

 tends toward success. Also, so far, cel- 

 lar wintering at the North has proven 

 most successful. 



Mr. N. N. Betsinger was here a few 



