310 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Mav 18, 1899. 



etc. If such conventions be beneficial, it is a fact that to 

 succeed in apiculture we must convene regularly. 



I will speak of a chapter by G. M. Doolittle in his book 

 on " Scientific Queen-Rearing." He did not wish credit 

 for that which was valuable in his book ; he stated that he 

 had pickt up a little here and there, and the credit belonged 

 to some one besides Doolittle. Some of the suggestions re- 

 ceived came thru the bee-periodicals, but quite largely from 

 the reports given and thoughts dropt at many bee-conven- 

 tions. 



The events of each year truly mark an epoch in the 

 progress of our association ; it has emerged from its crysalis 

 state to enjoy its higher and better fully-fledged legal exis- 

 tence. Thru the generous assistance given by the members 

 of this association we have succeeded in presenting a Bill 

 to the legislative body of our State, and by that body was 

 recognized. The Bill was in regard to the extermination 

 of foul brood. We now have as a recompense for our labors 

 Mr. N. E. France as our inspector for the eradication of the 

 worst enemy we have from our midst, and whose labors we 

 greatly appreciate. It is not only a privilege but a duty to 

 call attention to any evil of this kind. 



I wish it were possible to induce more bee-keepers to 

 become members of our association, with the hope of estab- 

 lishing a fixt price for our product, the quality governing 

 the price. Our home markets are many times ruined by 

 those who have only a small quantity, and perhaps inferior 

 quality at a nominal figure. 



So much knowledge is being graspt from our coming 

 together each year and imparting to each other practical 

 ideas and uses, that it would be like reaching out into a sea 

 of knowledge to mention all points given worthy of note. 

 I can only hastily mention a few. The different ways of 

 successful wintering ; the methods of strengthening weak 

 colonies ; preparation for the collection of supplies ; neces- 

 sary ventilation ; the condition of the temperature as gov- 

 erning the amount of moisture held by the atmosphere ; 

 the kind of hives most practical ; the most successful way 

 of handling bees ; the best honey markets ; the best way to 

 market honey and make it the most inviting ; a uniform 

 style of comb and package. 



As I have already remarkt, there are many points 

 which would be impossible for me to mention. When we 

 try to help others we always help ourselves. We are getting 

 at facts which would evidently help not only the producer, 

 but dealer and consumer ; as we undertake to educate others 

 we become educated ourselves. 



Since attending our annual meetings I have acquainted 

 myself with many useful articles which lessen labor and 

 prove a great help in apiculture. Thru the knowledge 

 gained I have purchast articles which tho inexpensive yet 

 they have proved valuable to me. I find I can get my wax 

 made into foundation by those that make it a specialty, so 

 reasonable that it does not pa3' me to bother with it', my 

 machine being- one of the first ones out. I have been able 

 to purchase a machine for putting sections tog-ether and 

 fastening the foundation at the same time, for which I am 

 also grateful. These useful articles are labor-saving, and 

 curtail expenses, as you do not require the hired help. 



We also come in contact with " bee-ology " in all its 

 various branches. The elements of success, however, at 

 times baffle the best of us, and yet seem apparently easy 

 of solution when as a body we exchange thoughts and give 

 our various experiments. Practical apiculture rests upon 

 more than the mere knowledge of what can be, and should 

 be, done. It rests upon the -unwritten part of our trade. 

 How to obtain this knowledge is a matter for your careful 

 consideration. Undoubtedly, if you were so situated as to 

 attend every convention in your reach, and receive the ad- 

 vice and precepts of our most skillful apiarists, I know of 

 no more reliable information. I can with pride say to you 

 that the works of our own countrymen are pre-eminentlv 

 the most practical and scientific. I have found them able 

 to explain the anatomy and physiology of the bee, and its 

 bearing upon practical agriculture. With all your knowl- 

 edge, never allow yourself to be absent from our annual 

 meetings, neither neglect the little things that impress you 

 at the time as new, and you will soon become able to lav 

 the foundation for success broad and strong, and when the 

 superstructure is built it will long endure. 



Green County. Jacob Huffman. 



The Hive I Prefer, and Why I Prefer It. 



In the first place it might be well to say that I run for 

 extracted honey, and my crop is gathered from raspberry, 

 ■white clover, bergamot, buckwheat, etc., thus making a 

 light, continuous flow for a long period. 



The hives are 13-frame Langstroth in size, and I run 

 them three stories hig^h, from the time it is warm enough in 

 the spring until the harvest is about or quite over. The ad- 

 vantages are these : 



1st. Less feeding and less swarming. 



2nd. I get more honey from the best colonies. 



3rd. They winter better than colonies in 10-frame hives 

 in the same cellar. 



To sum up, it means more honey and less labor with a 

 large hive than with a small one. Of course I speak for 

 my own locality. E. M. Haves. 



Columbia County. 



Apiarian Exhibits at Fairs Their Advantages. 



The first question to settle is. Shall I exhibit at the 

 State fair or other fairs ? If you decide to make an exhibit 

 you should begin early, that is, as soon as the honey season 

 is on. 



In the first place, you must determine just what you in- 

 tend to place on exhibition. If you decide on bees, honey 

 and beeswax, the first to be attended to are the different 

 races of bees, and be sure to see that yours are the standard 

 in every way. The Italian bee as a standard has but three 

 bands of yellow, no more and no less. The golden are bred 

 only for beauty, and some points in working and swarming, 

 but mostly for the former. 



The next thing to prepare is the honey. You must 

 have perfectly-filled cases of the different g-rades of honey, 

 namely white clover, basswood, buckwheat, golden-rod, 

 other fall flowers, etc. The sections should be of different 

 sizes, as 4'4's4,'4s2, 4'4s4'4xl%, and also include no-bee- 

 space sections, so as to show the public in g-eneral the dif- 

 ferent styles of packages. Only the one-tier cases should 

 be used. All sections must be free from propolis, and no 

 leaky sections allowed. 



With regard to the extracted honey, you should have 

 samples of the different grades, as above mentioned for 

 comb honey. This must be put up neatly in fancy gflass 

 jars, and most marketable packages, from the barrel down 

 to the Muth one-pound jars, and be sure to show the styles 

 of cans and tin pails used. Take both honey that is granu- 

 lated and that which has not yet started to g-ranulate, so as. 

 to show those that are ignorant of the granulation of honey 

 how it comes about, and be always on hand to explain, for 

 you will profit by so doing. 



The night before you start for the fair have j'our one- 

 frame observatory nucleus hives all ready to receive the 

 bees you intend to take. Do not overcrowd them, for a few 

 are just as good, and will stand the journey much better. I 

 sometimes lose my best bees in making an exhibit, so you 

 must not think it is all gain if you are lucky enough to get 

 a few premiums. 



The bees can be shipt, but I prefer to carry my bees 

 with me in the coach, and then I know that they are safe. 

 Last fall they tried to prevent my taking- them into the 

 coach with me, but I took them in spite of protest. Of 

 course your other goods must go by freight a few days 

 ahead of you. And here I wish to say that the only right 

 way to ship a lot of honey is by freight, as it is by far the 

 safest and cheapest way. and you do not need to protect the 

 glass unless you wish. By nailing two cases together you 

 will have a nice package that is easy to handle. 



Upon arriving at the fair grounds prepare to arrange 

 your exhibit with as much taste as possible, -for your sales 

 will depend largely upon the way this is done. 



Now as to the advantages of honey exhibits. My aim 

 has been, not only to take as many premiums as I could, 

 but to sell as much honey as possible in small packages 

 with nice labels attacht, showing my guarantee and full 

 address. In this way you will be surprised when you re- 

 turn the next year to see your customers and their friends 

 about you to see if that " honey-man is there again." In 

 this way your sales will increase, and if your honey is No. 1 

 in every respect, you can sell it bj' the hundred weight right 

 on the grounds, and take orders for more. 



I have never had any trouble in disposing of my bees- 

 wax for 30 and 35 cents a pound. I have sold to certain peo- 

 ple regularly foryears, and do not intend to let any one ex- 

 cel me in beeswax. 



I have often given away extracted honey as samples, 

 and find that it pays. I now sell large quantities of ex- 

 tracted honey to private families in Milwaukee, when four 

 years ago I could hardly get them to take a pound. One 

 gentleman boug-ht ISO pounds of basswood comb honey of 

 me in 1897 for his own use, and he said that he had just 

 used the last of it in August, 1898, and that it was as good 

 as when he bought it. E. D. Ochsner. 



