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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Illinois State Society. 



Since our last issue, we have received 

 the following letters on this subject, to 

 which we invite the attention of the bee- 

 keepers of this State : 



In the Prairie Farmer, on page 27, I 

 have something to say with reference to 

 a State Bee-Keepers' Society for Illinois. 

 If I had known that Mr. Dadant had 

 started " the movement," I would have 

 said so, but I was not aware of it. 



If this meeting is called while the Leg- 

 islature is in session, it appears to me 

 that Springfield is the best place to hold 

 it, although for selfish reasons I would 

 prefer Peoria. 



When I complained to the State Board 

 of Agriculture, on account of the low 

 premiums offered for the products of the 

 bee, I was told that it was our own fault; 

 that we should bring the subject before 

 them, at their session at Springfield. 

 Mrs. L. Harrison. 



Peoria, Ills., Jan. 21, 1891. 



The article to which Mrs. Harrison re- 

 fers is as follows : 



Bee-keepers of this continent, and the 

 rest of the world, are awakening to the 

 importance of having a creditable exhibit 

 of the products of the honey-bee, at the 

 Columbian Exposition, and are now 

 busy making the preliminary arrange- 

 ments. National, State and local bee- 

 keepers' associations have taken action 

 in the matter, and it is to be hoped that 

 it will ultimately lead to success. In 

 order to do this, money^.is necessary, and 

 every State should be asked for a contri- 

 bution. The executive committee of the 

 International Society, appointed Dr. A. 

 B. Mason, of Auburndale, O., to present 

 the subject before the convention, which 

 he did in an able and efficient manner. 

 He said : "I expect to ask the State of 

 Ohio to grant $1,500 for the Ohio bee- 

 exhibit, and each State ought to have a 

 grant, in order to make an exhibit 

 worthy of the interest represented." 



STATE bee-keepers' SOCIETIES. 



I like the way Indiana manages her 

 State associations ; they are held at the 

 Capital, which is central, and one con- 

 vention follows another. Horticulturists 

 and apiarists are twins, belonging to the 

 same family. One cannot well do with- 

 out the other ; apiarists might thrive 

 without horticulturists, but where would 

 the other be, if bees did not act as "mar- 

 riage-priests " in fertilizing the bloom of 

 their orchards ? There are no other in- 



sects so early in the season to perform 

 this work, and if fruit sets at all, this 

 work must be performed by bees, or left 

 undone. 



In order to produce a perfect apple, 

 five distinct fertilizations must take 

 place. Who has not seen apples shrunken 

 on one side, caused by lack of fertiliza- 

 tion ? State societies of horticulturists 

 and bee-keepers, might be held at the 

 same place, one over-lapping the other, 

 and a union session held, in which the 

 fertilization of plants could be discussed 

 by these societies. Another advantage 

 might be gained by this union of time 

 and place, and that would be in the re- 

 duction of railroad rates — a small society 

 is refused excursion rates, while a large 

 one is not. 



STATE SOCIETY FOR ILLINOIS. 



Illinois has her vState Horticultural 

 Society and Poultry Association, but 

 none of bee-keepers. And why ? She 

 has plenty of material for one, and Illi- 

 nois is coming to the front in the produc- 

 tion of honey. This State Society should 

 meet at the Capitol, in Springfield, and 

 be composed of delegates from every sec- 

 tion. Bee-keepers would then be in 

 a condition to ask assistance for the 

 support of its yearly meetings, and for 

 the Columbian Exposition. Who will 

 make a move in this direction ? 



On my table is a call for the Nebraska 

 State Bee-Keepers' Association, to meet 

 at Lincoln Jan. 13, 14 and 15, 1891. 

 The State Horticultural Association 

 meets at the same time, and arrange- 

 ments will be made to hold joint ses- 

 sions. Is Illinois to be distanced in the 

 race by her sister States ? I hope not ; 

 but she must be up and doing, or she 

 will be out in the cold. 



Perhaps it will be better to incorpor- 

 ate the State Society and have it meet at 

 the Capital of the State. 



We like the plan of acting in concert 

 with the horticulturists, as suggested. It 

 is time for the officers of the "Capital 

 Society " to have something to say. How 

 is it Brothers P. J. England, President ? 

 and C. E. Yocom, Secretary ? 



Here is a letter from the Vice-Presi- 

 dent, A. N. Draper, on the matter which 

 will be read with interest : 



Dr. A. B. Mason's suggestions, on 

 page 85, of Qleanings for Jan. 15, seem 

 to me to be to the point, and, as the 

 Fair is to be held in our State, it seems 

 to me that it behooves the bee-keepers 



