AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



433 



genius and energy has accomplished in 

 the field of apiculture. Great has been 

 our improvement in many fields, in none 

 has there been greater progress than in 

 the industry which we here represent. 



Go back 100 years, and note the con- 

 dition of apiculture. The science w^s 

 unknown. It had scarcely any litera- 

 ture outside of the poetry of Virgil, 

 which, though written before the birth 

 of our Savior, was barren of any benefits 

 to bee-keeping. The bee-hive was an 

 unsolved riddle. Its mysterious inmates, 

 from which the people endeavored to 

 filch a portion of God's bountiful gifts 

 by "killing the goose that laid the 

 golden egg," were objects of supersti- 

 t ous reverence. Poetic attributes and 

 superhuman wisdom were ascribed to 

 them. The profoundest ignorance as to 

 their habits and capabilities was common 

 among the people. It is safe to say that 

 more positive and practical knowledge 

 regarding bees has been brought to light 

 in the last 100 years than was ever 

 known before, unless bee-keeping, like 

 some other industries, had become a lost 

 art during some of the revolutionary 

 struggles of former times. 



Since Huber published his observations 

 on the habits of the honey-bee in 1792, 

 and since Langstroth, by his invention 

 of the movable-comb, made the hive an 

 open book, practical and scientific api- 

 culture has made giant strides forward. 



A hundred years ago the honey of 

 commerce was insignificant in amount 

 compared with that of to-day. Our 

 apiarian appliances are as far ahead of 

 those used by bee-keepers then as the 

 self-binder is better than the old sickle, 

 or the electric car is ahead of going 

 afoot, while in the matter of breeding, 

 and the introduction of foreign races 

 through the daily mails, we are familiar 

 with what would have been a marvel in 

 Huber's time. 



I American invention in apiarian imple-' 

 ments is leading the world. This pro- 

 gress is what the bee-keepers of the 

 United States must show at the Colum- 

 bian Exhibition. Iowa should do her 

 part toward making it a success. 



Perhaps some of you know that the 

 North American Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion have prepared silver medals to 

 present to every society which becomes 

 affiliated therewith, by the annual pay- 

 ment of $5. Two of these medals will 

 be given to each society. They are 

 expected to be used as premiums for the 

 finest displays of comb and exti-acted- 

 honey. I recommend that this society 

 take the necessary steps to continue its 

 affiliation. The stimulus to competi- 



tion which these medals will give to next 

 year's exhibit at the State Fair, ought 

 to bring out a fine display. They can be 

 offered by this society in addition to the 

 premiums offered by the agricultural 

 society, under such rules and restrictions 

 as you may think best. Some action 

 will be necessary before another meeting. 



Before closing, allow me to congratu- 

 late you on the improved appearance of 

 our exhibit this year. 



Enlarged space and better accommo- 

 dations have been provided for the Iowa 

 bee-keepers. This only corroborates 

 what I said before, regarding the power 

 of organized and persistent effort. The 

 added facilities were granted at the 

 request of your committee. I have 

 found everybody connected with our 

 department anxious to grant all reason- 

 able requests. 



Whoever would take a place in the 

 front rank of bee-keepers of to-day must 

 understand that the road to success lies 

 not through the sunny plains of indo- 

 lence, but rather over the rugged hill 

 country of constant endeavor. Mental 

 and physical activity are as necessary 

 as in any other occupation. The one 

 who thinks that bees work for nothing 

 and board themselves, had better buy 

 his honey. The bee-hive is not like the 

 sugar maple — to be tapped once a year. 



One who has not the ability to plan, 

 the energy to execute, and the patience 

 to carry out details, will never succeed 

 in this business. But to one who loves 

 study and work, and who has a genius 

 for doing the right thing at the right 

 time, whether tempted by the alluring 

 sweets or not, there is pleasure and 

 reasonable profit to be extracted from 

 this branch of rural economy. 



EUGEISTE SeCOR. 



Forest City, Iowa. 



The convention then adjourned to 

 meet at 1:30 p.m. 



AFTEKNOON SESSION. 



The meeting was called to order a,t 

 1:30 p.m., by the President. 



" Some Problems in Apiculture," was 

 the subject of a short but very interest- 

 ing speech by Prof. Herbert Osborn, 

 giving his views on bee-forage, and also 

 how we could much improve our bees, if 

 so located as to produce a cross ou such 

 bees as we desire, and stating that it 

 would be a very good idea to have some 

 young men instructed to make experi- 

 ments. 



The question was then presented: 

 "Could an enterprising man make a 

 livelihood by keeping bees alone ?" 



