AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



431 



of well filled sections, white with the very 

 bloom and fraf?rance of the clover fields, 

 and sweet with all the suns of the pass- 

 ing Summer. This is the sunny side. 



The shady side. Odd is it not, that 

 no real lover of bees is ever willing to 

 make any remarks under this head ? 

 And as I am a bee-lover, I believe I will 

 follow so worthy an example set by 

 others. I will not speak of the barren 

 honey seasons, the diseases that trouble 

 the bee-keeper, nor the disposition on 

 the part of irate bees to, at times, risk 

 their very lives simply for the gratifica- 

 tion of their tempers. Into this last we 

 can all of us enter with sympathetic fel- 

 lowship. How often do we take the same 

 risks with very similar results. 



I can so thoroughly understand the 

 bee's feeling at such times as not even 

 to blame her when she hits me. But I 

 would like to know of some efficacious 

 remedy to apply — after I have brushed 

 the sting off. However, this is verging 

 too near to a tender portion of our sub- 

 ject — that part of it, in fact, where 

 silence is golden. 



But taken all in all, there is much 

 sunshine and little shade. Much real 

 enjoyment and few stings ; many lessons 

 of thrift and promptness, for no laggard 

 ever made a success at bee-keeping, and 

 few disappointments, in this round of 

 the honey-bee's year. 



When from Winter's icy spell 

 Burst the brooklets in the dell, 



With a song ; 

 When the early robins call 

 From the sunny garden wall, 



All day long ; 

 When the maple buds awaken. 

 And the willow's fringe is shaken, 



To the daffodils ; 

 When the dandelions bright 

 Dot, with disks of golden light, 



All the hills ; 

 When the Spring has kissed the world again. 

 And the apple blossoms whiten. 

 And the grasses gleam and brighten. 

 Then we listen to the music 



Of the honey-bee's refrain. 



When the lilies, snowy white. 

 Gleam upon the lakelet bright, 



'Mid their leaves ; 

 When the twittering swallows fly, 

 Building nests so safe and high, 



'Neath the eaves ; 

 When the clover lifts its face. 

 And the linden's dainty grace. 



Passes by ; 

 And the heart' s-ease blushes red. 

 When her bold bee-lover fled. 



With a sigh ; 

 When Summer decks the mountain and the 



plain. 

 When she binds her golden sheaves, 

 When dust-laden droop her leaves, 

 Then we gather in the honey 



While the noisy bees complain. 



When the maple forests redden. 

 And the sweet ferns brown and deaden. 

 On the lea ; 



Straightly furrowed lie the acres, 

 And we hear the roar of breakers, 



Out at sea ; 

 When the birds their columns muster. 

 And the purple frost-grapes cluster 



On the vine ; 

 And the Autumn winds are sighing. 

 Springtime dead, and Summer lying 



Here supine ; 

 When the drearj' winds are filled with sounds 



of pain, 

 When the crickets shrill are calling. 

 When the golden leaves are falling- 

 Then our busy workers slumber 



Till the Springtime comes again. 



Maude Meeedith. 

 Dubuque, Iowa. 



The question-box was then opened. 



Question — Why is it that honey-dew is 

 sometimes called bug-juice? 



Mr. Smith says, because that is what 

 it is. 



One member was positive honey-dew 

 was sometimes present when no aphides 

 could be found by microscopic examina- 

 tion. 



Time being limited, the question-box 

 was closed, and the regular programme 

 taken up, next in order being the 



President's Address. 



Ladies and Gentlemen : 



This Society was organized in the Fall 

 of 1883, on the old Fair Grounds, west 

 of this city. 



The Rev. O. Clute, author of that 

 charming book, "Blessed Bees," and 

 now President of the Agricultural 

 College of Michigan, was its first Presi- 

 dent. He, and such honored names as 

 O. O. Poppleton and Dr. Oren gave it a 

 character which we hope may continue 

 with it during its corporate existence. 

 If it has not been a success since those 

 worthy men ceased to labor for it, it is 

 because the bee-keepers of Iowa have 

 not taken the interest in it which they 

 should have done. No society can do 

 the work expected of it, and for which 

 it was organized, without the active 

 co-operation of those who are interested 

 in the pursuit which it seeks to foster. 



We are often appealed to as a society 

 for assistance to advance some measure 

 thought to be of interest to us all as bee- 

 keepers. Few people seem to realize the 

 fact that an association, in order to 

 wield a large influence, must be united 

 in its aims, and the larger its member- 

 ship, and the larger the constituency 

 represented, the larger will be the 

 influence exerted. 



I make these remarks to convince you 

 of the importance of a larger member- 

 ship and united action. 



How many bee-keepers have we in 

 Iowa ? It is impossible to say ; but no 



