288 



AMERICAN BEE JOURMAI.. 



say judges, for I do not 

 idea of having a single 



very good, and, 

 funds can be 

 complete, tiiey 



such prizes. I 

 believe in the 

 judge. 



Honey statistics are 

 where the necessary 

 secured to make them 

 should be taken ; but they are not a com 

 plete guide to what the demand for, and 

 price of honey should be. And while 

 speaking on this subject, let me say that 

 it is doubtful if an apicultural associa- 

 tion will ever be the proper medium 

 through which to sell honey. 



Each individual, as a rule, should be 

 able to work to the best advantage in 

 his own interest, and the energy of many 

 individuals, scattered through the coun- 

 try, will be more useful than that ex- 

 erted by one or two. Bee-keepers, as a 

 rule, have, during the season in which 

 honey sells best, ample time at their dis- 

 posal, to devote to this matter. 



Apicultural conventions are not solely 

 for those who are posted on everything 

 new ; those who know that honey is par- 

 tially digested nectar, and those who,, 

 just as positively, know that it is not; 

 for those who are disgusted at the idea, 

 and those who, very sensibly, are pleased 

 to know that it is, and that their own 

 digestive organs will have so much less 

 to perform. Neither is it for those who 

 know that bees hibernate, and those 

 who do not ; nor is it alone for those who 

 want information upon the simplest 

 questions in apiculture. No ; it is for 

 all classes, and time should be given for 

 each class, but, as a rule, the simple 

 questions are referred to a committee 

 who may not report at all, or simply 

 answer "yes " or " no." 



What wonder, then, that we cannot 

 draw beginners into our midst, and that 

 we should have cause to rail at that class 

 of bee-keepers which' wo cannot reach 

 through apicultural associations. — Read 

 at the Detroit Convention. 



Wisconsin Bee-Keeiers' Convenlion, 



DR. J. W. VAXCE. 



The Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion met in the Capitol building at Madi- 

 son, on Wednesday morning, Feb. 4, 

 1891. 



The meeting was called to order by 

 President Hatch. The minutes of the 

 last Convention were read and approved. 



A recess was taken for the purpose of 

 allowing members to pay dues. 



The following resolution was offei-ed 

 by Mr, Bull, of Seymour : 



''Resolved, That hereafter the mem- 

 bership fee shall be one dollar, and that 

 a fee of five dollars may constitute a life- 

 membership." 



An amendment making the fee ton 

 dollars was laid on the table until the 

 next meeting. 



After the reading of the President's 

 address, remarks were made regarding 

 afifiliation with the International So- 

 ciety. Mr. Winter moved that a com- 

 mittee be appointed to report upon the 

 subject, and Messrs. Wilcox, Jones and 

 Turner were appointed. 



The subject of an exhibit at the 

 World's Columbian Exposition was also 

 brought up and discussed. Dr. Mason's 

 communication upon the subject in the 

 American Bee Journal, was read. A 

 committee of three was appointed to re- 

 port — Messrs. Standish, Wilcox and 

 Turner. 



The subject of foul-brood was fully 

 discussed. Mr. Daniher had no fear of 

 foul-brood being carried by queens. In 

 his opinion the disease is carried in th^ 

 honey that robber bees carry home to 

 their hives. The odor is not always 

 recognizable. But if the odor is very 

 perceptible, there is no hope of cure, 

 and the colony ought to be destroyed. 



Mr. Standish moved that a committee 

 be appointed to take into consideration 

 the appointment of a State inspector of 

 foul-brood, or any other Legislation 

 needed respecting the interest of bee- 

 keeping and the production of honey. 



Mr. B. F. Rice, of Boscobel, sent in a 

 paper, which was read, the subject being 

 Cellar Wintering, or The Construction of 

 a Bee-Cellar. 



Mr. Wilcox had observed that damp- 

 ness is not hurtful to bees. His cellar 

 was very damp, but his 135 colonies are 

 quiet, and apparently happy. Yet he 

 admits that many good authorities re- 

 gard dampness as very detrimental to 

 the health of bees, which do not winter 

 as well as in a dry cellar. 



Mr. Smith built a cellar something 

 like Mr. Doolittle's, 3 feet in the ground, 

 covered with earth. It is a damp place, 

 but sandy ground; keeps the tempera- 

 ture at from 39- to 45^. 



Mr. Snyder built his under his shop, 

 and winters his bees successfully. 



The President announced that it was 

 the hour of adjournment, and declared 

 the meeting adjourned until 2 p.m. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The two societies, the Horticultural 

 and the Bee-Keepers' met jointly at 2 

 o'clock. The President of the Horticul 



