464 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



criticism, and then by united front and 

 organized effort it will receive the recog- 

 nition it deserves. 



There are enough bee-keepers in Iowa 

 to accomplish everything we desire, if 

 united. 



FOUL BROOD AND HONEY ADULTERATION. 



Happily for us there is not much legis- 

 lation needed in our interest. So far 

 we have been comparatively free from 

 the scourge of foul brood, but if that 

 disease should get a foot-hold we might 

 feel the need of the proper legislative 

 authority for stamping it out. 



We have no statute in this State to 

 prevent or punish the adulterators of 

 honey. I have no evidence that this 

 fraud is practiced here, but if mixed in 

 any of the cities outside of our borders, 

 I have no doubt the producers of pure 

 honey, as well as every consumer of the 

 adulterated article, are injured and 

 cheated. We ought to have a pure food 

 law that would include honey. 



MOST DESIRABLE POUND PACKAGE. 



One of the things I should like to hear 

 discussed is the most desirable pound 

 package for comb honey. I believe the 

 conviction is growing among the largest 

 honey-producers and commission men 

 that the one most in use is not the best 

 for our purpose. This matter was dis- 

 cussed at our last National Convention. 

 A package was exhibited which was per- 

 haps 43^x6x13^ inches, which was very 

 attractive. The additional surface adds 

 to its appearance. I have a notion, too, 

 that the thin combs are finished and 

 capped sooner than one two inches in 

 thickness. I should like to hear from 

 some of our large honey-producers on 

 this subject. 



APIARIAN EXHIBIT AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. 



The Columbian Exhibition will claim 

 our attention in 1893. It is probable 

 that there will be no State Fair next 

 year. It is hoped that the bee-keepers 

 of Iowa will do their part towards show- 

 ing the honey resources of the State, 

 and the progress being made in the art. 

 The amount of honey expected from any 

 individual producer will not tax his 

 patriotism or his purse to any great ex- 

 tent. In all probability arrangements 

 will be made to transport all exhibits of 

 this character without cost to the exhib- 

 itor. It is to be hoped that exhibitors 

 of honey and implements from Iowa will 

 prepare two lots — one to be shown in 

 the Government building, where all the 

 States can exhibit together, and the 



other in the Iowa building, where only 

 Iowa products are shown. 



ADVANTAGE OF COMPARING NOTES. 



If the past two or three seasons have 

 not been as profitable as we could wish, 

 it is all the more important that we 

 should compare notes with those who 

 have learned to reap success where we 

 have found only failure. If our bee- 

 keeping experience has been too much 

 along the line of the old methods in 

 vogue when it was thought to be all 

 luck, we should learn of our more pro- 

 gressive neighbors that in bee-keeping, 

 as in every other business, it pays to 

 think, and then to act. 



That this convention will prove a 

 stimulous to our activities, and the 

 means of unifying the bee-keepers of 

 Iowa, is the wish and prayer of your 

 presiding officer. 



Eugene Secor. 



Following the President's address, 

 was an essay by Mr. Frank Coverdale, 

 of Welton, entitled, 



Benefit of Bees to Agriculture. 



In treating this subject I will attempt 

 only to point out a few good traits of the 

 honey-bee beneficial to the agriculturist. 



On fine days the bees are continually 

 on the hunt for honey, pollen and wax. 

 This is not necessary only that they 

 might exist and have their being, but 

 that the bees might do the work that 

 was intended for them upon the stage 

 of nature. 



Let him who wishes to observe the 

 grand workings of the honey-bee go out 

 into the fruit orchards on a fine summer 

 day with all in full bloom, and what a 

 pleasant sight it is to behold. Pollen 

 and honey laden bees — ah, yes, they are 

 there for a purpose. Their carrying 

 pollen-grains from one blossom to 

 anotner causes a more perfect fertiliza- 

 tion, which means more perfect fruit on 

 each tree. 



All the fruit-trees in the orchards, 

 vines in the gardens, clovers in the 

 meadows — yes, even the ragged bloom 

 by the roadside, the heart's-ease in the 

 grain-field, asters by the brooklet — all 

 open with all their grandest beauty and 

 invite the bees to come to the feast ; 

 and while they are yet at the feast, pol- 

 len — the fertilizing dust — is showered 

 all over them, changing not at all from 

 one kind of blossom to another; and 

 while gathering nectar, they do not 

 avoid carrying pollen to every blossom 

 that they visit. 



