AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



797 



swarms which have settled " for the 

 queen to rest her wings," and before the 

 one intending to hive them had all in 

 readiness, they " went off" — not to their 

 home which they had selected, but from 

 half a mile to two miles, where they 

 clustered again ; not to allow the queen 

 to rest her wings, but for the swarm to 

 send out scouts in this new locality to 

 see if a home could not be found— and in 

 one instance the proof is pretty conclu- 

 sive that this moving was kept up for a 

 week. 



Another thing, which I consider still 

 better proof, is the fact, as I believe it 

 to be, that when bees have a home 

 selected before they swarm, all of the 

 bees go to that home after the swarm 

 starts from the limb — when the queen 

 has become rested, according to the 

 Professor — so that no bees are left 

 hanging about the limb afterward, as is 

 the ca,se where no home is selected, and 

 scouts are sent out to find one. 



Who has not noticed from six to 

 fifty bees around a limb on which a 

 swarm has clustered for an hour or 

 more, and then been hived, flying about 

 and alighting on the same for from one 

 to three days afterward, apparently 

 homeless wanderers ? These, I claim, 

 are the scouts which have returned to 

 find the swarm gone, I wish to thank 

 the Professor for giving me credit for 

 general correctness along the bee line, 

 the same being more than I deserve; 

 but on this point I am not willing to 

 take a back seat yet, as he will see by 

 the above. 



Borodino, N. Y. 



Hof to Mate Coiiyentlons SiccessM, 



p. BALDWIN. 



There are many things which have to 

 be put together in making up an asso- 

 ciation like ours, in order to have it a 

 living and growing ' body, that, if 

 nurtured properly, must develop into a 

 full-grown organization that could be 

 beneficial to a large number of the bee- 

 keepers of our State. 



I shall not take time, nor space, to 

 speak of all the things that are necessary 

 for such development, but will mention 

 a few points which seem to me to be the 

 most important. God's word says, 

 "How can two walk together except 

 they be agreed," and therefore I think 

 that one of the most important elements 

 in building up and perpetuating an 



organization like this is harmony ana 

 good feeling, one toward another. Let 

 each try to please and benefit others, 

 putting self and self-interest out of the 

 way. 



Another way of sustaining and keep- 

 ing alive our association, is by the 

 discussion of live, interesting and 

 practical questions in bee-culture ; not 

 so much for the benefit of the "old 

 heads," as for those who are learning in 

 the pursuit, always remembering that 

 "It is more blessed to give than to 

 receive." What I mean by practical 

 questions are those which relate to every- 

 day experience in the apiary, which the 

 novice can go home and apply for his 

 own profit, thereby helping him in his 

 chosen pursuit, and not those points 

 that are only gained by long study and 

 experiments. 



In keeping up our association, I think 

 it advisable and practical to advertise it 

 as extensively as possible through the 

 papers, periodicals, and with cards and 

 letters, thereby gaining a good attend- 

 ance, which is always a means of 

 enthusiasm and encouragement ; and in 

 order to do this it is necessary to have a 

 fair fund in the treasury and live, 

 energetic officers. 



I would like to speak of one or two 

 things which are practiced in our asso- 

 ciation, which has a tendency to destroy 

 its usefulness, and to keep many from 

 attending its gatherings, and that is, 

 that members belonging to it make the 

 meetings a time and place to vend their 

 wares and fixtures, thus occupying the 

 time which might be more profitably 

 employed in the discussion of some vital 

 question that would be elevating to all 

 concerned. 



Do not understand me to claim that 

 these things ought not to be exhibited at 

 such places, but when the minds of those 

 who ought to be the instructors and 

 leaders of the association, are so much 

 employed in disposing of their wares, 

 and working for personal aims, instead 

 of for the good of all, it is my opinion 

 that the association with such an ugly 

 sore on its body, has only to have a little 

 time given it when its life will be utterly 

 eaten away, and it will die an untimely 

 death. 



There is also another trouble, connected 

 with the perpetuation of our association, 

 and that is the "rule or ruin" policy 

 that we sometimes meet with in our 

 fellowship with mankind, especially in 

 organized bodies. It brings to the 

 surface in human nature that element of 

 character that is narrow and selfish, 

 instead of that broad and ennobling trait 



