666 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Xlie Union. — Mr. E. France, of 

 Platteville, Wis., writes us as follows, 

 and propounds several questions : 



Mr. Newman : — On page 567 of the 

 American Bee Journal you say : "On 

 one thing Mr. France is in error. The 

 officers of the Union have been made 

 the members of the Defense Committee 

 of the North American Bee-Keepers' 

 Association, and in that way the two 

 organizations are ' united,' and act in 

 harmony, but yet they have independent 

 management, and different Constitutions 

 and By-Lays. This is the only kind of 

 ' union ' which we think could be con- 

 sidered, and which would be mutually 

 advantageous and agreeable." 



I would like a little explanation. Does 

 the North American Bee-Keepers' Asso- 

 ciation have a defense fund of its own to 

 defend its members, or do they draw 

 from the Union Treasury to defend its 

 members ? In what way do they harmo- 

 nize together ? I do not see the point. 

 Please explain. E. France. 



No one is entitled to be defended by 

 the Union but its members, 4ind no one 

 can draw upon its Treasury but its reg- 

 ular officers, and they only for the 

 defense of its members and the legiti- 

 mate expenses attending the same. The 

 By-Lays of the North American Bee- 

 Keepers' Association reads thus : 



Article X. — A Defense Committee of 

 seven shall be appointed for the purpose 

 of considering the applications of mem- 

 bers for defense from unjust lawsuits by 

 those who are prejudiced against the 

 pursuit. This committee shall be the 

 officers annually elected by the National 

 Bee-Keepers' Union, which is hereby 

 declared to be affiliated to the Interna- 

 tional American Bee-Association. Its 

 President is hereby made a A^'ice-Presi- 

 dent of this Association, and its General 

 Manager also a delegate to the Interna- 

 tional Convention. 



The " union " of these organizations 

 is solely for moral effect and influence, 

 and not for financial reasons. The North 

 American Bee-Keepers' Association rec- 

 ognizing the good work of the Union, 

 says to it, " Well Done," seats its Presi- 

 dent and General Manager as officers of 

 the Association, and forms the seven 

 officers of the Union into a Defense 

 Committee. In other words, it takes 



the Union under its protective care, and 

 confers upon it all the respect, influence 

 and dignity at its command. No greater 

 honor could it bestow ! 



An Association of the bee-keepers 

 in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., has been 

 formed, and two meetings were held in 

 Staunton, Va., to perfect the organiza- 

 tion. Mr. David O'Rork, of Staunton, 

 was elected President, and Mr. J. M. 

 Steffey, Secretary. Those present rep- 

 resented 800 colonies of bees. 



The Shenandoah Valley is one of the 

 best locations in the world for bees, and 

 should have a strong association. 



At the last meeting there was an in- 

 teresting discussion and comparison of 

 experience in bee-keeping, after which 

 the association adjourned until the 

 fourth Saturday in INtay. 



Concerning this organization, Mr. 

 Joseph E. Shaver, of Friedens, Va.^ 

 writes us as follows : 



The bee-keepers of Virginia are be- 

 ginning to see to their interest in the 

 pursuit of apiculture. It will not be 

 long until the keeping of bees in logs 

 and nail kegs will be a thing of the 

 past. If bees are worth keeping, they 

 are worthy of careful attention. Bees 

 have done well this Spring on fruit 

 bloom, but for the last few days the 

 weather has been quite cool, and bees 

 could do nothing. In a few days, if the 

 weather turns warmer, the locusts will 

 bloom, and swarming will be the order 

 of the day. We hope to have a good 

 honey season, as we have had several 

 failures. White clover stands well on 

 the ground, and if the season is favor- 

 able, it wili yield a large crop of honey. 

 Joseph E. Shaver. 



Organized work will accomplish con- 

 siderable in the line of educating the 

 unprogressive bee-keepers of any locality. 

 We wish the organization above men- 

 tioned much success. 



Favoratole Outlook.— Mr. H. B. 



Tickemyre, Shackelford, Mo., writes: 



My bees are in good condition, and 

 everything looks favorable for a good 

 honey season in this locality. 



