674 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



tion reported a resolution to the effect 

 that it was due to the interests of the 

 State at large, and the industry of api- 

 culture, that the St. Louis Fair Associa- 

 tion should encourage apiarian exhibits 

 by providing a more suitable and exten- 

 sive place therefor, and offering pre- 

 miums in proportion to the magnitude 

 and importance of the business. They 

 also suggested the following list of pre- 

 miums for the consideration of the 

 officers of the Fair Association, and that 

 the awarding committee be composed of 

 practical bee-keepers, of at least five 

 years' experience : 



PREMIUMS. 



1st. 2d. 



Best sample of Italian bees with queen, 

 two frame nuclei |40 $25 



Best sample of Carniolan bees with queen, 

 two frame nuclei 40 25 



Best collection of Italian queens, alive 20 10 



Best collection of Carniolan queens, alive. . 20 10 



Best bee-hive for all purposes, made by ex- 

 hibitor •.. 50 30 



Best specimens of comb-foundation made 

 by exhibitor 20 1<> 



Best crate of honey in comb, not less than 

 12 lbs., produced by exhibitor 3i) l.> 



Best specimen of extracted-honey in Klass, 

 not less than 12 lbs., produced by exhib- 

 itor • 30 15 



Largest and best display of samples of 

 comb-honev, ot different kinds 50 30 



Largest and best display of aamplesof ex- 

 tracted-honey, different kinds 50 30 



Best specimen of beeswax 5 2 



Largest, best, and most attractive display 

 of honev, all kinds 50 30 



Largest, best, and most attractive display 

 of apiarian supplies, made by exhibitor. . . 50 30 



DIPLOMAS. 



Best comb-foundation machine. 



Best machine for piercing frames. 



Best wax extractor. 



Best bee-smoker. 



Best honey knife. 



Best shipping crate. 



Best queen-cage. 



Best bee-veil, or face protector. 



The question-box was then emptied, 

 and each question answered. 



Diseases among bees were discussed, 

 after which the convention adjourned to 

 meet in Sedalia, in October. 



Higginsville, Mo. 



Getting Usecl to a Tliiiig. 



E. R. ROOT. 



While Mr. John H. Larraljee, of Ver- 

 mont, was visiting us a few days ago, 

 we talked over a good many things, old 

 and new ; and more than once we fell to 

 wondering why it is that bee-keepers 

 disagree so much as to the implements 

 they would use. 



Brown could not be induced to make 

 even a trial of closed-end frames ; and 

 Jones has no sympathy with a man who 

 will use loose swinging frames. Neither 

 one can understand how the other can 



tolerate such awkward things. While 

 these thoughts were passing between us 

 mutually, " genial John " made this per- 

 tinent remark: "I tell you, Ernest, 

 there is a good deal in getting used to a 

 thing." 



"That is just it exactly," I replied. 

 " How many times I have thought that 

 these differences of experience, and dif- 

 ferences of opinion in our fraternity are 

 explainable by just this fact: 'There 

 is a good deal in getting used to a 

 thing.- " 



I further told him that I thought a 

 good many would not use fixed distances 

 simply because they would not have 

 patience to learn how to use them. 

 Smith will try a few, and exclaim : 



" There, that- is just what I thought 

 about them ! I am not very often de- 

 ceived in my impressions. I haive had 

 long experience in the apiary, and I 

 know exactly what the bees like, and 

 what they do not like." 



There are a good many such bee-keep- 

 ers, and good ones, too, who, if they had 

 a little more patience in trying some of 

 these new-fangled notions, might save 

 themselves a groat deal of extra work. 

 I have no doubt there are some who will 

 give a little trial to the Hoffman frames, 

 and then make a remark similar to the 

 one just given. Why, the fact is, Mr. 

 Hoffman manages 600 colonies on his 

 frames, practically alone ; and he says 

 himself that he could not handle half 

 that number were they on ordinary 

 hanging frames. What I saw in his 

 apiary, I think, abundantly bears out 

 his statements. If what Mr. Hoffman 

 says is true, can these bee-keepers afford 

 not to give fixed distances a fair trial ? 



The other day I was talking with a 

 bee-keeper who said, " Now, there are 

 those bee-escapes you fellows are making 

 such a big fuss about. I tested them a 

 little bit last Summer, and it is just as 

 I expected. I could not make them 

 work." 



"Why," said I, "you do not know 

 how to use them. It is all in getting 

 used to a thing, you know. Why I 

 Manum takes off a whole crop of comb- 

 honey with them, in a couple of hours' 

 time, and that, too, from a whole apiary 

 of 100 colonies ; Boardman, over here 

 at East Townsend, O., has used them 

 for years, and he is one of those bee- 

 keepers who will not use a thing unless 

 it is of real, substantial service in the 

 apiary. Reese and Dibbern are both 

 honest men, and I think they are honest 

 and fair in their statements. Do you set 

 up your opinion against them when you 

 have given the escapes only just a little 



