AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



853 



Report of the Missouri State 

 Bee-Keepers' Convention. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY P. BALDWIN. 



The seventh semi-annual convention 

 of the Missouri State Bee-Keepers' As- 

 sociation met in Independence, Mo., on 

 Nov. 17, 1892, during a severe snow- 

 storm, that made it look somewhat dis- 

 couraging that anything would be ac- 

 complished on the first day of its session, 

 but notwithstanding the severity of the 

 weather, some of the members had 

 weathered the storm and made their 

 appearance at the Hall, looking more as 

 if they had come down from the North- 

 land, than as representatives of the 

 golden bee of Italy. 



Owing to the small attendance there 

 was no formal session before dinner. 

 The association was called to order by 

 President G. P. Morton, at 1:30 p.m. 

 The storm having ceased, other members 

 and bee-keepers added their presence 

 and strength to the little nucleus which 

 presently became, although not over- 

 flowing, a buzzing, busy colony, ready 

 to gather and store away all the surplus 

 knowledge and experience that bee- 

 keepers are always willing to add to the 

 general stores. 



THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL, ADDRESS. 



President Morton's address was verbal, 

 and more on the line of work done than 

 mapping out plans for the future. He 

 stated that he had inquired of quite a 

 number of bee-keepers throughout the 

 State with reference to furnishing an 

 exhibit at the World's Fair, but had not 

 found any one who had any honey of 

 any kind and quality suitable for exhibi- 

 tion. This, he thought, was owing to 

 the failure of the honey crop this season. 



He also spoke of his trip to Columbia, 

 Mo., in the interests of the association, 

 with reference to establishing an experi- 

 mental station at the State University ; 

 visiting several persons connected with 

 the institution, who expressed a desire 



and willingness to do all they could to 

 help the matter, and would endeavor to 

 be represented at the coming meeting of 

 the association. 



Several persons at this time paid the 

 admittance fee, and became members. 



GRADES OF HONET BY LAW. 



The subjects for discussion on the 

 programme were then taken up, the 

 first being, " Should we have grades of 

 honey established by law ?" The general 

 expression was that it would not be 

 practicable, on account of so many dif- 

 ferent persons grading it, and if there 

 was a law to that effect its execution 

 would be difficult. 



The meeting now took the form of 

 questions and answers. 



FOUNDATION IN THE SECTIONS. 



Mrs. J. M. Null asked, "How many 

 use full sheets of foundation in section 

 boxes ?" *• 



L. W. Baldwin — I use a piece 2x3 

 inches. 



Secretary Baldwin— I use sheets 3x3 

 inches. 



A. A. Baldwin — Where you use only 

 starters in the brood-frames, you should 

 use full sheets above. 



J. R. Colville — I use nearly full sheets. 



Mrs. Null also asked, " What is your 

 experience in using sections that have 

 been on the hive — in using them again, 

 do the bees go to work as readily as 

 with fresh ones ?" 



A. A. Baldwin — No. I think the fresh 

 sections preferable. 



USE OF BEE-HOUSES. 



The next on the programme was : 

 " Bee-houses — are they profitable ?" 



A. A. Baldwin — I suppose the question 

 has reference to house apiaries. 



Pres. Morton — I have not had any ex- 

 perience with them. 



L. W. Baldwin — It appears that the 

 opinion of bee-keepers is against their 

 use, and had generally been given up, 

 but are being spoken of more, of late. 



EDUCATING PEOPLE TO BE APIARISTS. 



L. W. Baldwin — Is it a good plan to 

 educate people in the bee-business ? My 

 experience is that after I had educated 

 them they would come and put down 

 100 colonies close up to my apiary. 



Mrs. J. M. Null — I have not tried very 

 much. There is a class of people in 

 every community that will get every- 

 thing they can, and we are not obliged 

 to give it, but will try and be neighborly 

 and answer questions. 



