672 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Is Bee-Keeping a Suitable Occupation 

 for Ladies, was tlie subject of an essay 

 by Mrs. J. M. Null, of Miami, Mo. 



Mr. Eedmon, of the RepuhUcan, in 

 behalf of the Mayor and citizens of 

 Boonville, welcomed the association in 

 an earnest address, which was responded 

 to on behalf of the association by W. S. 

 Dorn Blaser. 



What position does the supply dealer 

 occupy in apiculture ; is he a benefit 

 and a necessity ? was the subject of an 

 essay by W. S. Dorn Blaser. 



After a brief discussion, a recess was 

 taken for 15 minutes, after which the 

 President appointed the following Com- 

 mittee on Resolutions : Mrs. J. M. Null, 

 W. S. Dorn Blaser, G. P. Morton. 



Question No. 3 was taken from the 

 box : — How many can recommend the 

 progeny of the golden Italian queens as 

 workers ? 



The committee was divided as between 

 leather-colored and golden, and the 

 question was left to the convention ; 

 four voting for leatlu^r-colored, aiid one 

 for golden ; balance not voting. 



Question — Has any one had experience 

 with closed-end or fixed frames ? If so, 

 what is it ? 



Two say "no;" one*says they ai-e 

 recommended for out-apiaries in moving. 

 The question was discussed at some 

 length, and discussion condensed by W. 

 S. Dorn Blaser as follows: They are 

 desirable for out-apiaries, moving and 

 comb-honey, but undesirable for ex- 

 tracted-honey. 



A communication from the Turkey 

 Hill Bee-Keepers' Association was read, 

 asking this association to memori- 

 alize the St. Louis Fair Association on 

 the question of premiums and exhibit 

 space. 



On motion, the communication was 

 referred to a committee of three, for 

 examination, correction if necessary, 

 and report, with a memorial. 



The President appointed C. F. Bar- 

 ham, John Conser, and W. S. Dorn 

 Blaser, as such committee. 



Question — How can we make the ex- 

 ercises of this convention interestijig ? 



By being interested, and by each one 

 taking an individual part and interest 

 "in the discussion of the questions pre- 

 sented. 



Question — What is the best kind and 

 size of sections ; also the best size and 

 shape of foundation to put in the same 

 to insure well-filled sections and straight 

 combs. 



One-piece sections, 4:}i\4,^ixl%, well 

 filled with foundation. 



Question — What effect will a caged 

 queen have on the storage of honey ? 



To cage a queen will reduce the energy 

 of the colony, unless released five or six 

 days after taking away the cell. 



Adjourned until 7:30 p.m. 



EVENING SESSION. 



The convention was called to order at 

 7:30 p.m. 



The Hive I Use and Recommend, was 

 the subject of an essay by G. P. Morton. 



The question was briefly discussed, 

 and was followed by an essay by R. B. 

 Williams, of Winchester, Tenn., on 



Natural or Artificial Swarms. 



Haying had from 25 to 140 colonies 

 for the past twelve years, and having 

 had considerable experience in artificial 

 swarming, I have long since abandoned 

 it. I consider it unprofitable, compared 

 with natural swarms. 



Nature has so nicely arranged her 

 laws that they are very hard for man to 

 equal ; and especially is this true with 

 the bee-swarm. When a swarm issues, 

 it seems to be a perfect May day picnic 

 to all hands, and puts new life in the 

 whole colony immediately after, they 

 have been hived, and all go to work with 

 a vim. I have never seen the work of a 

 prime swarm equaled by an artificial 

 one, no matter at what time it was made, 

 nor how strong in bees. 



Have you not noticed the inactivity of 

 an artificial swarm for several days after 

 it was made — they are slow to begin 

 work. I have made artificial swarms at 

 the same time that I had natural 

 swarms, and in every instance the nat- 

 ural swarm out-stripped them in gath- 

 ering honey, as well as in brood-rearing 

 and comb-building. With me the nat- 

 ural swarm has proved the most profit- 

 able. I have tried making artificial 

 swarms from colonies that had made all 

 preparations for swarming. Have taken 

 as much as two-thirds of the bees, and 

 given them the old queen, and in no in- 

 stance did they give the result that they 

 would have given if left alone. 



I would perfer a weak natural swarm 

 to a strong artificial one. Perhaps some 

 have been more successful than I have 

 been. In breeding queens for the mar- 

 ket, of course, we are compelled to make 

 small artificial swarms. We are then 

 working for queens, and not for honey 

 or increase. This is the only way I 

 could be induced to divide a colony until 

 after it had swarmed. I thru remove 

 the old hive and put the swarm on the 

 old stand, remove sections from the 



