84 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



helpful In extracting, and think they well 

 merit a place in every apiary. 



We find the horizontal escapes, are 

 quite as effective as those first described 

 by Mr. Reese. The only requisite for 

 the first named, is that the opening be 

 large, that the bees readily enter the 

 cones or chambers that conduct below. 



In a little more than two years the 

 great Columbian Exposition is to open. 

 The location of this colossal fair, just 

 outside (so to speak) of our own com- 

 monwealth, gives to Michigan a superb 

 opportunity to show her capabilities, to 

 exhibit the magnitude of her resources, 

 and the enterprise and intelligence of 

 her citizens. No doubt all other indus- 

 tries will come to the front, and estab- 

 lish, in the view of the Nations, Michi- 

 gan's proud position at the head, or as 

 one of the leaders in the industrial en- 

 terprises of the world. Nor must our 

 bee-keepers take a second place in this 

 important work. But this enterprise 

 will cost much energy, labor and money. 

 It should be done, and well done. This 

 requires Legislative action, and the 

 coming Winter is none too soon to set 

 the Legislative wheels in motion. Should 

 we not, then, have a competent commit- 

 tee, to work with kindred committees, 

 in rightly presenting the subject to the 

 attention of our law makers. Happy 

 are we in having one of our best men in 

 the Legislature, who we may be sure 

 will see our interests are not neglected. 



Again we all desire that our interests 

 be well cared for at Chicago. We must 

 have a competent superintendent. The 

 right man for the place is already sug- 

 gested. Should we not use our influence 

 towards his appointment ? In case he 

 needs an assistant, or in case Michigan 

 sends a special person to see that our 

 exhibition is properly arranged, should 

 we not suggest the proper person ? If 

 so, can we do better than to urge that 

 our energetic and capable Secretary be 

 considered as eminently the person for 

 such service ? I suggest that this whole 

 matter be carefully considered ? 



The present Assistant Secretary of 

 Agriculture, Hon. Edwin Willets, has 

 ever been the firm friend to the bee- 

 keepers. His valuable services in pro- 

 curing the repeal of the interdict against 

 mailing queens, will ever be held in 

 grateful memory by us. He is still 

 thoughtful of our interests, and as I am 

 assured, is determined that the Govern- 

 ment in its w^atchful care should not 

 forget the bee-keeper. He has already 

 formulated plans for extended experi- 

 mentation in the line of apicultural 

 advancement. I feel sure that he will 



co-operate in any work that we as bee- 

 keepers may suggest. 



I call your attention to the matter of 

 urging upon the attention of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture the desirability of 

 seeking out the races and species of bees 

 in various parts of the world, and of 

 importing them to America. It seems 

 to me that this should be done, and by 

 the Government. I suggest that we 

 memoralize the Department of Agricul- 

 ture to that effect. 



It is a fact that spraying fruit-trees 

 with the arsenites, to defend against the 

 codling-moth, leaf-rollers, canker-worms, 

 tent-caterpillars, etc., is becoming, and 

 will continue to become more and more 

 common. It is equally patent that such 

 spraying, even for the object in hand, 

 should not occur at the time of blossom- 

 ing. It is also beyond question that 

 such spraying at the time of bloom is 

 likely to be disastrous to bees in the 

 vicinity, and that injury to the bees is 

 very hurtful to bee-keeper and fruit- 

 grower alike. Every intelligent man 

 recognizes the benefits of bees to plants, 

 and will regard with displeasure any 

 circumstance that tends to injury or 

 destroy these valuable agents of fertili- 

 zation. 



It is not probable that any person 

 would spray his orchard while in bloom 

 were he aware of the danger, so it is 

 very important that information on this 

 point be speedily, generally and widely 

 scattered. What would do this more 

 quickly and effectively than a law mak- 

 ing it a serious offense to spray fruit- 

 trees with poisons while in bloom ? 1 

 believe that Michigan, whose bee-keep 

 ers have already suffered, should act in 

 this matter ; should be the first indeed to 

 inact a law that would be almost sure to 

 prevent this 'needless and inexcusable 

 practice. I hope that Mr. Taylor will 

 be appointed a committee of one, to take 

 this matter in hand, and secure such 

 Legislation as in his good judgment will 

 best secure the end desired. 



At this meeting we first try a new 

 scheme — the holding of our session when 

 we are sure to procure reduced fares on 

 the railroads. This, and the holding of 

 our meetings where some person of the 

 locality will be interested, and will look 

 after the local arrangements, is, as I 

 suggested a year a^o, of great impor- 

 tance. We have now seen the practical 

 workings of the scheme, and can act 

 very intelligently as to the time and 

 place for holding the next meeting. 

 Such action is so important that* I sug- 

 gest it be taken with thoughtful care. 

 A. J. Cook. 



