90 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



a uniform system in grading and mar- 

 keting. A world-wide reputation can 

 be establislied for our grades of lioney 

 protected by any appropriate trade 

 mark we tliink advisable to adopt. 



With co-operative effort, we can 

 place apiculture on a tooting second to 

 none of the many national industries; 

 and ctmimand a power that will force 

 a recognition of our products as a 

 staple commodity, and command 

 respect from all foreign countries. In 

 fact oo-opei-ation and a combination 

 of interests, are the powerful main- 

 springs that have revolutionized the 

 business portion of the world ; and 

 judging from the .ulvaiicement made 

 in the past '20 years, who can venture 

 to predict the position we shall occupy 

 20 years hence ? 



I would submit for your earnest con- 

 sideration the feasibility of incorpora- 

 ting a Mutual Benetit Association for 

 Life Assurance, consisting entirely of 

 bee-keepers. Common prudence ought 

 to prompt every man to seek reliable 

 insurance. Where families would 

 now be left in del>tfor their liomes(or 

 perhaps without a home), willi a cer- 

 titicate in a properly managed .assur- 

 ance society, many bee-keepers would 

 be comforted in 'knowing that tlieir 

 loved ones would be left in a condition 

 where they could help themselves. 

 With littleeffort on the part of each 

 of us, sucli a society can be organized 

 and sustained with but little expense 

 to the lieuefieiaries. 



Our deliberations should be in truth 

 and earnestness, remembering that in 

 the past our "Northeastern Associa- 

 tion " has been the first to rebuke in- 

 justice ; the lirst to correct evils and 

 protect the interests of our fraternity; 

 the tirst and always on the alert to 

 sustain a good cause when the inter- 

 ests of the fraternity were at stake 



It is acknowleged that our Associa- 

 tion stands at the head of any of its 

 kind in America. 



It is conceded that our deliberations 

 and conclusions are the highest known 

 authority. Thousands are to-day 

 anxiously awaiting the publication of 

 our proceeilings. Then let us bold 

 fast to that which we have gaineil in 

 the jtast; strike while the iron is hot, 

 and place our far-famed Association 

 on a higher and a grander footing, un- 

 til we can proclaim to the world, S<tns 

 Pareil. 



Fayetteville, JSI. Y. 



This essay elicited the warmest dis- 

 cussion of the C<uiveuliou, especially 

 the question of the feasibility of 

 adopting a uniform i)aekage. 



Mr. Betsinger thoiight the position 

 of the essayist was well taken, and 

 his suggestions should be considered 

 carefully. We can sell to each other 

 as well as a jobber c(\n sell to a 

 dealer. 



Mr. Eoot was particularly interested 

 in that portion of the essay tliat called 

 for a uniform box for honey. The 

 important thing for us to consider is, 

 what is the greatest amount that we 

 can get for our goods. If honey is put 

 up in small, uniform boxes by us, we 

 can dispose of our honey to a better 

 advantage. That at least is the 

 opinion of the dealers. 



Mr. Dickinson was interested in the 



matter, but he thought that it was a on resolutions in regard to bee smok- 

 game of every man for himseU'- As a ers, reported the following which was 

 matter of convenience in packing car unanimously adopted: 



lots, Mr. Root's idea was a good one, 

 but if I can put my lioney through any 

 ingenuity in better shape than my 

 neighbor, and therefore get a better 

 price, [do not care to have my neighbor 

 adopt my plan. 



Mr. Root said that it was for the in- 

 terest of all that a certain standard in 

 market honey should be adojited. We 

 can educate the people to this 

 standard. 



Mr. Clark said : I do not believe in 

 the doctrine of every man for himself. 

 I think that if one puts up honey in 

 1-lb. boxes and he gets a good price, 

 others will follow, and the lu'ice will 

 return to its old level. But if we have 

 uniform, one and three-quarter pound 

 boxes, the expense will not be so 

 great, and the price will always be 

 good. 



Mr. Locke agreed with Messrs. Root 

 and Clark, that the time has come 

 when we stiould adopt a unifcu-m box. 



Mr. King said this ought to have 

 been agitated some time ago. This 

 diversity of boxes has gone so far that 

 it is almost impossible to crush out 

 now. We can jiut a stop to the agita- 

 tion of one-half pound boxes, which 

 is now making, by prompt, decided 

 action. 



The discussion took a wide latitude, 

 every one relating his particular ex- 

 perience in selling his goods. Many 

 told what jobbers had advised, and 

 all agreed to disagree upon certain 

 points. In the midst of the talk, 

 which was exciting, yet good natured, 



Mr. Betsinger stampeded the Con- 

 vention by offering a resolution to the 

 effect that a uniform box be adopted. 

 He also threatened in the event of 

 the resolution passing, to press another 

 one that stiould compel the members 

 to use the box adopted. 



Mr. King offered an amendment to 

 Mr. Betsinger's motion that more than 

 one size box should be used. This 

 again carried the members on " tlie 

 seaof troubles," until Secretary House 

 mercilessly cut all short by a motion 

 to adjourn. This last motion vpas 

 carried. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



In the afternoon session the resolu- 

 tion in regard to the size of boxes was 

 discussed at length. 



Mr. Dickinson moved to lay on the 

 table ; lost, ayes 10, noes 10. A reso- 

 lution making the weight of the box 

 not less than a pound and three- 

 quarters when lilled with honey was 

 then adopted. 



Mr. Betsinger moved that the Asso- 

 ciation adopt some kind of a seal to be 

 used on everything passing from the 

 Association." Carried. 



Mr. Betsinger moved that a com- 

 mittee of three be appointed to select 

 a seal. Carried. 



The Convention selected Mr. Bet- 

 singer, George W. House and Mr. 

 Peet. 



The Secretary read an interesting 

 paper on " What per cent, of increase 

 is most profitable,"' written by W. L. 

 Teunant, of Schoharie. 



J. Van Densen, from the committee 



Whereas, At the late National Con- 

 vention held at Lexington, Ky.. a res- 

 olution was passed which partially ig- 

 nored the instructions and inventions 

 as affecting modern bee-keeping of 

 our friend, the late lamented Mr. 

 Quinby, and particularly the bellows 

 smoker, denouncing them as belong- 

 ing to an era now piissed away, etc., 

 and in his place exalting others far 

 above him, and <lenominatingthem as 

 belonging to the modern era of prac- 

 tical and advanced bee-culture. 



Besolved, That the action above 

 stated is entirely inconsistent with 

 the facts, and that we denounce the 

 same as nothing less than a slander on 

 the fair name of Mr. Quinby, and a 

 seeking to impose on the intelligence 

 of American bee-keepers. 



Mr. Root, from the committee ap- 

 pointed last year to secure the passage 

 of a law to prevent the adulteration of 

 honey and other sweets, with glucose, 

 said the bill against adulteration of 

 sweets in general, was too broad and 

 too sweeping in its provisions to re- 

 ceive the sanction of the Governor. 

 The adulterators of honey buy i>iire 

 honey in one place and glucose in an- 

 other, and do the mixing themselves. 

 He thought the law against adultera- 

 tion now in force was strong enough 

 to cover the adulteration of honey. 

 He did not know how to effect a 

 remedy. 



Mr. King said the members of the 

 Association should put up its honey 

 in packages ready for market. The 

 package should then be stamped with 

 the seal. There was a strong law 

 against obliterating or counterfeiting 

 a seal. There is a brand of beeswax, 

 each piece of which is stamped. This 

 w-ax, though no better than other wax 

 in the market, brought 6 cts. per lb. 

 more, because the purchasers knew it 

 to be genuine. 



Mr. Locke said comb honey shipped 

 from the country was shipped to New 

 York, and there cut up and adultera- 

 ted with glucose. 



Mr. Dickinson said the action of the 

 Convention was silly and foolish. 



Mr. Barber said he was of the same 

 opinion. The Convention had passed 

 a resolution to use no boxes weighing 

 less than 1?^ lbs., while many of the 

 members had a large number of boxes 

 ranging from 1 to Li lbs. These boxes 

 would be used at least for 2 years to 

 come. The market demanded boxes 

 of various sizes, and so long producers 

 would be compelled to furnish it. 



There was some discussion as to 

 whether it should be placed on the 

 documents of the Association, or on 

 the lumey produced by its members. 

 The President decided that the seal 

 would only be on the documents of the 

 Association. 



Mr. Betsinger moved that the Asso- 

 ciation furnish its members rubber 

 stamps with which to stamp its goods. 

 Mr. Root thought each producer 

 should stamp his goods individually. 



Mr. Bacon favored the stamp or 

 seal. All the members \vo\M be in- 

 terested in keeping the product pure, 

 like the patrons of a cheese factory. 



