624 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



sort; the object being to determine if 

 one was more desirable than another. 



Father Langstroth Remembered. 



A letter was then read from Eev. L. 

 L. Langstroth, by Thomas G. Newman. 

 In this letter Father Langstroth stated 

 that financial difficulties were pressing 

 upon him, freedom from which would 

 probably greatly relieve his physical 

 trouble. He hoped we would have a 

 pleasant convention. 



Mr. Newman, in an eloquent and sym- 

 pathetic address, said that Father Lang- 

 stroth's name stood pre-eminently above 

 any other name in the world of bee- 

 keepers. He thought when bee-keepers 

 considered what they owed Father 

 Lanestroth, many would come forward 

 and contribute to a fund to assist him in 

 his need. 



A collection was then taken, and a 

 nice purse of $50 made up. 



It was suggested that any one not 

 prepared to contribute then, or any not 

 present, could send their contributions 

 to George W. York, editor of the Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal, who would acknowl- 

 edge it in the " Langstroth Fund," that 

 was being raised by the Bee Journal. 



The Syrian Bees. 



The question-box was then taken up, 

 and the following question asked : 



"Have the Syrian bees any points of 

 superiority over other races ?" 



R. L. Taylor — The hinder point. They 

 are intensely nervous, and must be 

 handled carefully. 



Prof. A. J. Cook — I think they have 

 been misunderstood. One must know 

 how to manage them. 



R. L. Taylor — I have the same bees 

 that came from the College, and I find 

 them more irritable than my hybrids. 



E. T. Abbott — They work well when 

 let alone, but in order to handle them I 

 need all the smokers on the place, rub- 

 ber gloves and rubber overcoat, and 

 they will even chase me down cellar, 

 and then sit on the outside and wait for 

 me to come out. 



J. C. Stewart — I have seen honey pro- 

 duced by these bees, and it has a watery 

 look — something as honey would look if 

 kerosene oil had been poured over it. 



Frank Benton — I had the bees in their 

 purity in Beyrout. They have some 

 superior qualities, but are not as good as 

 Cyprians ; compared with them they 

 have no supcsrior qualities. They sting 

 badly, and their method of capping 

 honey is not superior. They should be 

 smoked sparingly. Their temperament 



varies. On an average, they are worse 

 than Italians. With careful selection, 

 they might be bred in the direction of a 

 gentler disposition. They are very pro- 

 lific; this trait can be regulated. I do 

 not think that a pure Syrian queen-bee 

 could be found on the continent of 

 America to-day. 



Distinguishing Carniolan Bees. 



"How can Carniolans be distinguished 

 from the ordinary black bees ?" 



Mr. Benton said that the Carniolans 

 are slightly larger ; silvery grey light 

 bands give them a ringed appearance. 

 As to action, they do not run off and 

 drop from the combs. If a veil had to 

 be used in handling them, except in ex- 

 ceptional instances, he would not be- 

 lieve them pure. They are generally 

 gentler than Italians, produce beautiful 

 white cappings, and are very quiet in 

 winter. 



Mating Bees in Confinement. 



" Has the mating of queens with 

 selected drones in confinement been suc- 

 cessfully practiced?" was asked. 



Dr. Miller thought not. 



Dr. C. V. Riley — I have been deeply 

 interested in this question. I have not 

 yet given up hope that we may be able 

 to solve this problem to our satisfaction, 

 and I think that before long the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture will take this ques- 

 tion in hand. 



Dr. Miller — I am sure I voice the feel- 

 ings of the convention when I say we 

 are pleased that in spite of hope against 

 hope, Dr. Riley feels that something 

 may yet be done in this matter of mat- 

 ing queens in confinement. 



Prevention of Swelling from Stings. 



" Is there any prevention of severe 

 swelling from bee-stings ?" was asked. 



Dr. Miller — The best cure is to go on 

 getting stung. 



Mrs. Benton — I think that Cuticura is 

 a good remedy. 



J. E. Armstrong — I strongly heat the 

 part stung. Put the hand in water as 

 hot as can be borne for ten minutes, or 

 bathe the face with hot water. No 

 swelling occurs. I have tried it often. 



Apiary Work and Kind of Frames. 



"Who knows anything about injury 

 to back by constant work in the apiary?" 

 Many replied, '' I do." 



"How many prefer loose hanging 

 frames?" was asked, and 49 responded. 



" How many have used other than 



