10 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



■Jan. 3, 



Caipadiat) Beedon;)* 



CouOuctc-tl hy •• BUn-AIASTER." 



Salutator}'. 



The title of this department, and the nom-de-plume of its 

 conductor, must be regarded as Editor York's introduction of 

 the writer to his readers. Neither the title nor the nom-de- 

 plume are of my choosing, and being a modest man, I rather 

 shrink from the title of " Bee-Master," lest it should imply 

 any assumption of authority. I was quite in favor of " Api- 

 ologlst," signifying a "student of bees," which I certainly 

 have been for many years, and e.xpect to be until I shuffle off 

 this mortal coil. However, Mr. York thought that name stiff, 

 scientific and pedantic, so I willingly dropped it. When "Bee- 

 Master" was proposed, I took kindly to it, because it is the 

 title which in England means the same as bee-keeper does in 

 this country — just as flock-master or sheep-master means one 

 who keeps sheep. As I am a " bloomin' Hiuglishman," per- 

 haps it is just as well that I should take the name common to 

 bee-men in my native land. 



It may be added that Bee-Master keeps bees and lives in 

 Canada. 



'■ No further seek his merits to disclose. 

 Or draw his frailties from their dark abode." 



Do not waste paper, ink and postage stamps in querying 

 who he is, because, like the celebrated Junius, he is deter- 

 mined to preserve his incoy. , and to elude detection. As that 

 greatest of anonymous writers said : " I am the sole deposi- 

 tory of my secret, and it shall perish with me." So it has. To 

 this day, no one knows who was the author of the celebrated 

 letters of Junius. 



Canadian beedom, geographically speaking, includes a 

 pretty big territory. We, in this country, are fond of chuck- 

 ling that it is bigger than the whole of the United States, with 

 Alaska thrown in. But, actually and practically, it is only a 

 small portion of this vast domain in which bees can be kept to 

 advantage. A comparatively narrow strip or belt stretching 

 from the Atlantic to the Pacific might be defined as that por- 

 tion of the Dominion which really constitutes Canadian Bee- 

 dom. But that strip or belt has no superior as a honey-field 

 anywhere in "the wide, wide world." The slopes of Mount 

 Hymettus, the heather hills of Scotland, the glades of the 

 "Sunny South," and the expanses of California, fail to pre- 

 sent a richer and better honey-field than that possessed by 

 Canadian bee-keepers. A few persons educated from child- 

 hood to its peculiar taste, prefer the heather honey of Scot- 

 land to the best Canadian product, just as a Dutchman, with 

 peculiarly educated palate, prefers sour-krout and Limberger 

 cheese to sweet cabbage and the best Stilton : but impartial 

 judges have time and again pronounced our A 1 lioney equal 

 to any, and surpassed by none. The claim has been set up 

 that our honey is the best on earth ; that our linden is better 

 than American basswood ; and that we can beat all creation 

 in this line. Bee-Master washes his hands of all this extrava- 

 gant boasting, and sets it down to that peculiarity of human 

 nature which makes a man think his wife is the best in the 

 world, or a mother suppose that her children surpass all 

 others. It Is glory enough for Canada to be the peer of the 

 United States in the matter of honey-production. If we can 

 run a neck and neck race with our American cousins, we shall 

 do pretty well. Bee-Master will strive to promote a friendly 

 rivalry, while maintaining, to the utmost, international amity 

 and good-will. 



It only remains to be said further at the present time, 

 that this department is to be considered as open to Canadian 

 correspondents, and they are specially invited to contribute to 



it their very best Ideas, In order to make Canadian Beedom all 

 that its name implies. 



Communications for this department must be addressed to 

 the ofiBce of the American Bee Journal, 56 Fifth Ave., 



Chicago, III. 



— ^ — ' — ^ 



Tbe IVext North American Convention. 



Mr. McKnight has a brief article in Gleanings for Dec. 1, 

 in regard to the next meeting of the North American Bee- 

 Keepers' Association, expressing his pleasure that the meet- 

 ing is to be held in Toronto, and setting forth inducements to 

 a large attendance. In thus writing, Mr. McKnight has . 

 voiced the sentiments of Canadian Beedom. Though some are 

 still rather sore over what they think our practical exclusion 

 from all membership, in consequence of the incorporation of 

 the Association, that will not abate the warmth or sincerity 

 of our welcome to our American cousins. We are well aware 

 that the legal change in the Constitution was the work of a 

 very few individuals, and that it was part of a centralization 

 scheme which did not materialize. We know also that the 

 great majority of American bee-keepers feel as warmly as 

 ever toward their northern neighbors. We propose, there- 

 fore, to give the Association a cordial welcome — to receive its 

 members, as it were, with open arms and open hearts. Come 

 one, come all, and try to make yourselves at home if it is a 

 "furrin' land," monarchy-curst, and under petticoat govern- 

 ment. 



Mr. McKnight suggests that the meeting be held during 

 the Industrial Fair, when extremely low rates are made by 

 the railroads. As an argument for this he mentions that one 

 of the Fair days is known as " American Day." The only 

 danger is that the attractions of the Fair might be too great 

 to admit of a regular attendance at the meetings of the con- 

 vention. This would be to some extent obviated if the Asso- 

 ciation were to meet on the Fair grounds, and were to hold a 

 bee-keepers' conversazione, such as is often held in England, 

 dispensing for once with the reading of formal essays. 



I am quite sure that if the Directors are applied to in 

 good time, they will cheerfully make arrangements for the 

 convention to meet on the Fair grounds, where now there is 

 ample accommodation. A large tent could be obtained for the 

 occasion such as the one owned by the Ontario Agricultural 

 College, which would be readily obtainable for such a purpose. 

 It might be used as a hall by day and a dormitory at night, by 

 providing a lot of stretchers. There will be plenty of pro- 

 visions at hand, and the affair might be made a very enjoyable 



picnic. 



m I ^ 



A Few Brier Slotes. 



The annual meeting of the Ontario Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion will be held in the city of Stratford, on Jan. 2 2, 23 and 

 24, 1895. All bee-keepers are cordially invited to attend. 

 Mr. W. Couse, of Streetsville, is the Secretary. 



The December number of the Canadian Bee Journal con- 

 tains a full-page engraving of The A. I. Root Company's es- 

 tablishment at Medina, Ohio ; also an interesting account of 

 a visit paid by Editor Holtermann to Messrs. C. F. Muth & 

 Son, at Cincinnati. 



Here in Canada, the free blooming of dandelions, and even 

 white clover late in the fall have been unusual features of the 

 season of 1894. Viper's-bugloss bloomed early and continued 

 long. The golden-rod was a failure, owing to the prolonged 

 drouth. 



Mr. McEvoy states his system of caring for bees in spring 

 in the December number of the Canadian Bee Journal. It is 

 to keep everything snug until the bees begin gathering in 



