156 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Mar. 7, 



inches higher than the front. The assertion was made that 

 the coid air entered at the lowest opening (the front entrance) 

 and the wa'rm air left the hive at the higliest opening (the 

 back), thns creating a better system of ventilation than is 

 secured when a hive is in a level position. The hive covers 

 are not carried into the cellar, the hives being covered with 

 quilts and cushions to retain the heat. He would have the 

 temperature somewhat lower than the orthodox 45^, thereby 

 securing more perfect ventilation inside the hives. Just what 

 the temperature should be depends upon the behavior of the 

 bees. When the bees are perfectly still they are wintering 

 perfectly. If they are obliged to fan to get rid of foul air, or 

 to keep themselves warm, they are wearing themselves out, 

 and are really old bees when taken from the cellar in the 

 spring. Anything that disturbs the bees sets them to feeding 

 the queen, and breeding results, and that means diarrhea 

 and death. 



One very enjoyable, and I think useful, feature of this 

 meeting was the holding of a " Honev-Bee Concert" one 

 evening in a large hall. To this the general public was 

 invited. There was music, the singing of songs, speaking, 

 and Bro. Holtermann gave a lecture on bee-keeping, illus- 

 trating his remarks by pictures thrown on a screen by means 

 of a magic lantern. Very catchy, illustrated programmes 

 were distributed among the audience, opportunity being taken 

 to weave into the programmes as much instruction as possible 

 showing the value of honey as a food. The lecture and 

 speeches were also intended to give to the public those ideas 

 in regard to honev and bees that would be most advantageous 

 to bee-keepers tliat the public should know. That genial, 

 thorough-going bee-keeper, J. B. Ilall, was made President, 

 and 1 hope to be at Brantford next year and see him preside. 



W. Z. Hutchinson. 



Mr. Hutchinson is quite right in saying that there is 

 greater freedom of speech at Canadian bee-conventions than 

 at those held in the United States. John Bull has a tougher 

 hide than Brother Jonathan, and rather enjoys a lively discus- 

 sion. As Mr. Hutchinson says, this prevents the meetings 

 from becoming dull, and puts a degree of spice into them. It 

 must be admitted that a trifling matter is sometimes made an 

 occasion for long, sharp, and personal debate, but a good 

 chairman will not let that go very far. 



Mr. Hutchinson is quite right in referring to the proper 

 use of the government grant, as one of the causes for conflict 

 of opinion. The feeling was strongly expressed at Stratford 

 that too much of the public money had been spent on trips to 

 Ottawa to secure legislation which some thought needless and 

 useless. But Canadians have a fashion of yielding to the will 

 of the majority, after a matter has been thoroughly ventilated 

 by free discussion. 



Mr. C. A. Ouelette, publisher of the Practical Bee-Keeper, 

 who also carries on an apiarian supply business midway 

 between St. Thomas and Detroit, has this to say about 



THE STRATFORD MEETING : 



This being the first meeting of the Ontario Bee-Keepers' 

 Association which it has been my pleasure to atteud, I am not 

 in a position to compare it with its predecessors in this very 

 important association, but from all reports it seems to have 

 been one of the largest and most representative in the history 

 of the Association. Either the location was more favorable, 

 or the interest in the assemblies is on the increase. I trust 

 the latter is the true reason. 



Tlie " brotherly " element was out in force. This may or 

 may not be all right, but it certainly looks queer from a busi- 

 ness stand-point. It seems to me that business should be con- 

 ducted along business lines. It is not my business to call 

 Brown a brother simply because he is growing a field of wheat 

 across the fence from my own. He is my neighbor ; he may 

 be an acquaintance or even a friend, but he certainly is not 

 my "brother." Of course these remarks of mine must be 

 taken cioH ymjio sails — lam not a brother bee-keeper; lam 

 a business man. 



I regretted to see signs of discord among the directorate 

 and to find that the best and most prominent men were in the 

 minority. What is the cause of this ? Drive away the best 

 men from a community or organization and what is the result '? 

 True, I iidmit you must give the young and now aspirants a 

 chance to advance, but this should be done cautiously and not 

 so as to be a detriment to said community or organization. 



In corporations, organizations, societies and associations 

 we find plenty willing to assist who have not the ability, and 

 others who have the ability will not act, but when wo find 

 men of acknowledged ability who are willing to act, then the 

 best interests of such community or association are preserved 



by causing such men, if possible, to retain their positions. 

 Personal feelings should give way to the good of the asso- 

 ciation. 



Among the essays read was one on "Education," by 

 Allen Pringle. It is quite likely that this essay will be 

 ignored by the bee-papers — the Review is just to hand and 

 never mentions it. It will be ignored, not because it was 

 not both entertaining and instructive, but on account of 

 Mr. Pringle's ideas on the supernatural. As I understand the 

 matter, Mr. Pringle was asked some two years ago to prepare 

 an essay on " Education," to be read at the Association meet- 

 ing, but that he never consented to do so till this year and then 

 with the understanding that it was to have been read at one 

 of the evening sessions or entertainments. Mr. Pringle's 

 views on religious matters are well known, and although I, 

 myself, with the great majority, do not think as he does, still 

 he has the courage of his convictions, and apart from his 

 religious opinions liis wide range of knowledge, his integrity 

 and his honesty have earned for him a wide respect and repu- 

 tation. Mr. Pringle on rising to read his essay said : 



" Had I known that I was to read this essay in regular 

 session of this association, I would never have consented ; 

 and if it hurts the feelings of any of you, you must bear 

 with me." 



While not agreeing with Mr. Pringle's position on the 

 supernatural, I must acknowledge that his essay otherwise 

 was a masterly one and contained subject-matter for a great 

 deal of thought, and as Mr. Pringle said, if the feelings of 

 any were hurt they should, under the circumstan.-^es, have 

 borne it. " C. A. Ouelette. 



Mr. Ouelette has referred in very proper terms to the one 

 great drawback of the Stratford meeting, which was the 

 exclusion of some of the very best members of the Associa- 

 tion from positions of prominence in the management. The 

 case of Mr. McKnight is especially to be regretted and cen- 

 sured. No man has done so much to make the Ontario Bee- 

 Keepers' Association the power for good that it is, as Mr. 

 McKnight. He has worked untiringly for the interests of 

 bee-keeping in Canada, and has the respect and confidence of 

 bee-keepers on both sides of the lines to an extent not 

 exceeded, if equalled, by any other man within the limits of 

 Canadian beedom. On his retirement from the olfice of 

 Treasurer of the Ontario Bee-Keepers' Society a couple of 

 years ago, he was presented, by his fellow-directors, with a 

 handsome gold watch, in appreciation of his pre-eminent serv- 

 ices to the association — a proud distinction not attained by any 

 other bee-keeper on the American continent. Mr. Ouelette 

 well says that to drive away the best men from an organization 

 — men who are able and wiling to work for the genera! good — 

 is most detrimental to the welfare of such organization, and 

 that personal feeling should never be carried to such a length. 

 It is to be hoped that the mistake which has been committed, 

 and the injustice which has been perpetrated, will be cor- 

 rected at the next annual meeting. Meantime, Mr. McKnight 

 may rest assured that the rank and file of Canadian bee- 

 keepers regard him as a good and faithful servant, who has 

 been punished for doing his duty. 



Re»d and Study out subjects of interest; and be ready to 

 begin the ensuing season's work promptly, with an adequate com- 

 prehension of the extent of the business to he conducted, and a 

 just appreciation of the detail therein involved. — Qitinby. 



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