AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



477 



The Committee on Resolutions re- 

 ported, returning tlianks to the railroads 

 that the Central Traffic Association rep- 

 resents, for reduced rates, and to the 

 proprietor of the INIerchant's Hotel, for 

 courtesies extended on this occasion. 



At this juncture, J. Y. Detwiler, lately 

 from New Smyrna, Fla., appeared in the 

 open door, with smiling face, and bearing 

 in his hand a stick, which he said was 

 of black mangrove wood, from his old 

 home in Florida. 



The remarkable thing about this wood 

 was that it was so heavy that it would 

 not float upon the water, and, owing to 

 its weight, would make a very service- 

 able cane. He presented it to the asso- 

 ciation, requesting that they, in turn, 

 cause it to be presented as a memento of 

 this occasion to his warm friend. Dr. 

 Mason, who was about to retire from the 

 Presidential chair. 



E. E. Hasty being called upon to make 

 the presentation speech, did so in his 

 own happy, inimitable style, which was 

 so easy, and so full of hearty good will. 

 Although he had not a moment's time 

 for preparation, he said just the right 

 thing in a very few words. He said, in 

 substance, looking first at the stick and 

 then at the President : 



"Doctor, I hold in my hand a piece of 

 wood ; I see that it is rough now, but I 

 know that it may be made ornamental as 

 well as useful ; which is a suggestion 

 that you, too, are a "diamond in the 

 rough," and the more we get acquainted 

 with you, the more we learn your good 

 qualities, and love and appreciate you. 

 I see, also, some dark spots or blemishes 

 in it, showing that we are not without 

 some faults, and that we all have 

 blemishes. I observe that it is very 

 heavy, indicative of merit — a quality not 

 altogether lacking in our President." 



He then handed the cane to Dr. Mason, 

 assuring him of the good wishes of the 

 association, which went with it, with 

 the hope that in future years, when he 

 should need support, that this part of a 

 honey-producing tree should perform its 

 duty faithfully, and be the comfort and 

 support of his old age. 



Dr. Mason responded in a feeling man- 

 ner, saying that he appreciated the 

 points that Mr. Hasty had made. He 

 had been President of a great number of 

 organizations, but he had never had any- 

 thing occur that touched him as much 

 as this token of appreciation and good 

 will from this convention, and which he 

 would receive and always hold in kind 

 remembrance, adding : " I thank you 

 most heartily, for I believe that it comes 

 from you hearts." 



A' recess was taken for the purpose of 

 making a collection todefray the expense 

 of having the cane mounted. Messrs. 

 Hains and Eaton, passing through the 

 room, secured .^5 for that purpose. 



F. A. Eaton made a motion that a vote 

 of thanks be tendered Mr. Detwiler for 

 his happy tlioughtfulness, and that he 

 be made an honorary member of this 

 association. 



The motion was seconded by J. T. 

 Calvert, and carried. 



The President then made some sug- 

 gestions to the members as to some 

 points in the convention that might be 

 improved upon: "Confine yourself to 

 the subject." "Speak louder." "Do 

 not hitch along, when speaking, as go- 

 ah, get a good-ah, etc." "Do not sit 

 back by the door, and talk among your- 

 selves, but let the rest have the benefit 

 of your conference." I thank you for 

 the kindly consideration that has been 

 manifested here, and hope that the 

 meeting has been of profit to all of us. 



The Secretary's report was then read. 



At the request of Mr. Morris, the Dox- 

 ology was sung, E. E. Hasty leading the 

 singing. 



The convention then adjourned to 

 meet in Cincinnati, at the call of the 

 Executive Committee. 



Bedford, Ohio. 



RemoTing Bees from Cellars, Etc. 



MRS. L. HAREISON. 



March changed places with a Winter 

 month this year, and has been as cold, 

 with more snow, than any other Winter 

 month, completely ignoring the idea of 

 Spring. Blue-birds and robins were 

 reported in February in some localities, 

 but failed to put in an appearance in our 

 apiary, at least. 



REMOVING BEES FROM THE CELLAR. 



I hope that bee-keepers who put their 

 colonies into cellars to pass the Winter, 

 did not remove them early in March, 

 thinking that Spring had come. A Ger- 

 man bee-keeper called lately and in- 

 quired if I had taken .the bees out of the 

 cellar, saying that he thought that they 

 must be removed every warm spell, in 

 order to have a purifying flight. This 

 was thought to be necessary in the early 

 days of wintering in the cellar, but ex- 

 perience has proven that it is unneces- 

 sary, and highly injurious. If they have 

 plenty to eat, are dry, warm and com- 

 fortable, all they ask is "to be let 



