905- 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



eep clearly in mind the distinction 

 etween sex odor ana colony odor, 

 ssuming that the latter may differ in 

 ifferent colonies. 



In connection with this subject it 

 hould be noticed that drones pay not 

 he slightest attention to a queen 

 ither virgin or fertile or in au}^ way 

 idicate that they are aware of their 

 resence. Also that a queen who has 

 ad her wings slightly trimmed rarely 

 lates even though able to fly fairly 

 rel\. This tends to cast doubt on Mr. 

 !heshire's deductions as to the func- 

 ons of certain organs on the 

 ntennae of drones to which he attri- 

 uted the sense of smell, but which are 

 lore probably auditory organs. 



WAX ADULTERATION. 

 In this issue of The Bee-Keeper 

 [r. J. E. Johnson presents a rather 

 rious accusation against the manu- 

 cturers of comb foundation, which 

 lough materially modified in the in- 

 oductory paragraph, warms up to an 

 >ctent that leaves no necessity for 

 uessing as to his premises in the 

 latter; nor does he attempt to dis- 



e the intent to convnice users 

 f foundation that manufacturers, 

 rompted by the most vicious motives, 

 re defrauding their patrons, and 

 links it is time that an investigation 



instituted. In his manuscript, 

 owever, Mr. Johnson takes occasion 

 ) speak in the most flattering terms 

 f the foundation turned out by one 

 articular manufacturer. This refer- 

 nce has been omitted, as The Bee- 

 leeper devotes no space in its read- 

 ig columns to advertising any manu- 

 icturer's line of goods, and because 

 f its reflecting upon the integrity of 

 [I other manufacturers, without an 

 torn of conclusive proof as a oasis lor 

 le insinuation, whether just or un- 

 ist. 



It is quite within the scope of the 

 ational Bee-Keepers' Association to 

 roceed formally to investigate the 

 large of adulteration, and The Bee- 

 eeper has no doubt that any and all 

 ■ the large manufacturers will glad- 

 assist the movement in any way 

 lat the Association may be pleased 

 ) indicate. 



To publicly charge gross avarice, 

 and and robbery against the manu- 

 .cturers of supplies, the editor of The 



Bee-Keeper believes to be quite un- 

 founded and exceedingly unjust; and, 

 with his present knowledge of the 

 affairs of some of the largest manu- 

 facturers and their moral standing 

 among men, he does not hesitate to 

 assert that the whole offense is, in his 

 opinion, confined to the suspicious 

 mind of the accuser. 



It should be borne in mind that 

 manufacturers of comb foundation 

 have to depend for their supply of 

 wax, upon bee-keepers, and that the 

 source of supply is as scattered and 

 diversified as are the bee-keepers 

 themselves, and that, while exertfng 

 everjr possible effort to exclude every 

 piece of wax which shows traces 

 of adulteration, in handling Iiundreds 

 of tons of wax, coming to them in all 

 manner of shapes and in tens of thous- 

 ands of separate pieces, it is beyond 

 the pale of human ability to know that 

 absolutely pure wax only has entered 

 into their product; but that they en- 

 deavor to have it so, the editor of The 

 Bee-Keeper has good reason to be- 

 lieve. 



Every writer, and every public 

 speaker, in common with humanity in 

 general, has his failings and shortcom- 

 ings. Mr. Johnson's dominant weak- 

 ness, judging from his writings, is the 

 implicit faith with which he appears 

 to regard every statement emanating 

 from a "professor." The citation of 

 Chief Chemist Wiley in such matters 

 is eminently calculated to excite 

 ridicule, for this same gentleman, who 

 stands upon the very apex of 

 authority, and constitutes its founda- 

 tion as well, is the very same "profes- 

 sor" whose loose manner of talking 

 and utter disregard for facts has led 

 him to tell the world, in substance, 

 that the beautiful honey which Mr. 

 Johnson offers to his patrons each 

 year is an artificial product, and that 

 the combs were made by machinery. ' 

 filled with glucose and sealed with a 

 hot iron. Does Mr. Johnson now ask 

 bee-keepers to accept this "professor" 

 as infallable authority, and because 

 this noted "professor" says that adul- 

 teration of foumdation is practiced by 

 our manufacturers, to have their pa- 

 trons turn upon them with accusations 

 of criminal fraud, actuated by a desire 

 to deceive and rob? Does Mr. John- 

 son think bee-keepers will now take 



