662 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Oct. 17, 



and might, be doubled within one year. This, with a substan- 

 tial increase of resources, can be had by courage and organ- 

 ized effort. Those who have the decision of these matters are 

 men like ourselves, and subject to the same infliienoes. As a 

 rule, they earnestly desire to do what is right. They are 

 quite willing to listen to our requests and to the reasons for 

 them. But bee-keepers must remember that organization 

 creates the force that doubles the power of influence and 

 makes it effective. 



Second, by the eneonragement of those in charge of the 

 experiments, by the manifestation of a more active interest in 

 the work on the part of bee-keepers. The experimenters are 

 human. To some extent they are feeling their way, for the 

 work is new. They would like to know that the importance 

 of the work itself, if not their particular part in it, is appre- 

 ciated. Such a knowledge would prove a powerful stimulus to 

 the production of more valuable results. 



Third, by the more active co-operati(jn of apiarian journals. 

 Many valuable hints might be given by the editors and their 



Hon. R. L. Taylor, Lapeer, Mich. 



able correspondents. I do not seek flattery, nor even just 

 praise. Courageous, incisive, honest criticism would be more 

 welcome. If the journals do not disclose interest in the work, 

 it is likely to die early. 



Fourth, from confirmatory experiments undertaken by 

 individual bee-keepers. Reports of such experiments would 

 prove a valuable aid in determining the value of results ob- 

 tained at the stations ; but, better than that, such experi- 

 ments would be an education to the individuals and at the 

 same time would make the fact manifest that bee-keepers are 

 interested. 



Fifth, experiment stations are not to be employed for the 

 benefit of existing apiarists only-— they should be used for the 

 advantage of the whole people. Most of the honey-resources 

 are made to yield nothing for want of bees to gather the ofl'er- 

 ings. It would evidently be for the advantage of the country 

 if all its surface which produces honey-secreting flora in any 

 abundance were dotted with apiaries no more than three miles 

 apart. To accomplish this, or even to make a beginning at it, 

 would require the popularizing of bee-keeping. Apiarian lec- 

 tures and discussions, under the auspices of the station in im- 

 itation of the course pursued in some other rural branches, 

 could not fail to be fruitful. But it will be objected that this 

 would not benefit bee-keepers. It is true it would not benefit 

 an existing apiarist as such, but it would as a citizen. My 

 respect for a man receives a severe check when I learn that 

 he is willing to prosper financially at the expense of the well- 

 being of his country. This work cannot be done unless the 

 favorable influence of bee-keeper is felt by those who control 

 the resources of the experiment stations. With proper sup- 

 port from the stations, this work would be successful. 



Bee-keepers conventions are not always well attended, be- 

 cause only bee-keepers are invited, and they, in order to 

 attend, must generally go long distances; but let competent 

 men go into the country school-houses, in districts where the 

 farming communities are starving for want of social and in- 



tellectual excitement, during the months when they enjoy 

 comparative leisure, to speak on this subject, with an invita- 

 tion to everybody, and the seats would be crowded with eager 

 listeners. 



Sixth, by the earliest possible publication of the results of 

 experiments made by those in charge of the station apiaries, 

 in the apicultural journals. The importance of this is mani- 

 fest. The journals cannot conveniently criticise in a proper 

 manner the work of the stations if the entire report of that 

 whole year comes in a body. For similar reasons it would be 

 much more profitable to the bee-keepers if he were allowed to 

 digest it in sections, than to be expected to perform that oper- 

 ation at a sitting, at the end of the year. At best, the reports 

 are dry reading, so that they must be served in moderate por- 

 tions if they are to bo generally digested at all. 



Seventh, by the co-operation of the several persons in 

 charge of the apicultural departments of the experiment sta- 

 tions, and all perhaps under the direction, in a sort of advis- 

 ory way, of the united North American Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion and the Bee-Keepers' Union, should the " marriage " of 

 these organizations bo happily accomplished. Such co-opera- 

 tion would be used in securing confirmatory experiments 

 under different supervision, where such were deemed advis- 

 able, and to prevent repetitions when they could be attended 

 by no valuable result. 



Last, but I may safely add, not least, by the advent of 

 better honey seasons. In my opinion, many of the more im- 

 portant lines of experimentation depend for their success upon 

 swarming, or on abundant honey-flows, or both. Neither has 

 occurred here for the last two years— an embarrassing state 

 of things when considerable preparation has been made for 

 work depending upon them. I5ut times change; what has 

 been will be again, old time honey-flows will surely return, 

 and "we will reap if we faint not." R. L. Taylor. 



Lapeer, Mich., Aug. 30, 1895. 



Dr. Jas. Mills — No director knows so well what ought to 

 be done as do the practical bee-keepers themselves. 



Dr. Mason — The Doctor is right. I have often thought 

 how much better work would be done by the experimenter if 

 we would only give them puzzling things to work out. I think 

 it would be well if several stations were to do the same line of 

 work, that we might compare results. 



R. F. Holtermann — I think more should be done to put 

 the results before the public in such a way that they will be 

 better understood. We may work part of the season on some 

 line of experiment, and then find that something that has 

 been overlooked has destroyed the value of our work. For this 

 reason there should be frequent criticisms and suggestions 

 from the rank and file of bee-keepers. 



Thos. G. Newman — Mr. Taylor is correct. Bee-keepers 

 ought to frequently write the experimenters, and the reports 

 should be published piece-meal. 



Allen Pringle — To get any value from these experiments, 

 they must be of the proper nature. In this country, winter- 

 ing is of the greatest importance. I wish to ask if anything 

 of this line is to be taken up in our college? 



Dr. Mills — That is the intention. 



L. A. Aspinwall — I would suggest that something might 

 be done in the way of controlling the fertilization of queens 

 by clipping their wings about ^4 of an inch. This lessens 

 their powers of fiight and keeps them in a lower plane and 

 near the apiary. Choice drones may be restrained in the 

 same manner, and thus these and the queens may be brought 

 together. I have clipped queens in this manner and had them 

 mated. 



G. W. York — If Mr. Taylor expects more help from the 

 journals, he ought to send out his reports in duplicate to all of 

 them. 



At this point the discussion drifted to 



Crimson Clover. 



Dr. Mills said it winter-killed at Guelph, Out. 



.1. T. Calvert — At Medina, Ohio, some of it came through 

 the winter all right, because, by mistake, something else was 

 sown with it that came up and protected it. 



George Spitler — The Crimson clover thrives with us. We 

 sow it in the spring and it lives through the winter, and does 

 well the next year — in eastern Pennsylvania. 



Allen Pringle — Are you sure that it is the same plant that 

 starts up in the spring from your sowing, that lives over the 

 winter ? 



Mr. Spitler — I am not sure. It may be that it goes to 

 seed, and that the seed grows and starts another crop that 

 lives over. I only know that we sow it in the spring and that 

 we have a fine crop the next year. The honey is fine. 



The convention then adjorned till Friday morning, at 9 

 o'clock. (Continued on page 677). 



