THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



205 



perience what it is to live miles from an ex- 

 press office ; yet we are not ready to approve 

 even of experiment in the way of sending 

 large packages of bees by mail. There is 

 one factor that sweeps away all other con- 

 siderations. Somebody will be sure to put 

 up bees in such a manner that the package 

 will be smashed ; the contents of the mail 

 pouch soiled a little ; and some official 

 scared almost to death. Then away will go 

 the precious privilege of sending queens by 

 mail. Just so sure as this practice is begun, 

 just so sure queens will be eventually thrown 

 out of the mails, never to be re-admitted. 



MIOH. STATE, BEE-KEEPEES' CONVENTION. 



The twenty-fourth annual meeting of the 

 Michigan State, Bee-Keepers' Association 

 will be held at Lansing, in the Capitol build- 

 ing, on Dec. 26 and 27, 1889. Reduced rates 

 at Hudson House. Half fare on nearly all 

 railroads. A few roads will charge one and 

 one-third fare for round trip. A number of 

 interesting papers are promised. It is hoped 

 and expected that all bee-keepers who can 

 attend, will do so. H. D. Cutting, Sec'y- 



The editor of the Review expects to "be 

 there," and will be glad to meet as many as 

 possible of his friends. 



SPECIAL NUMBERS. — EXTKA PAGES. 



It seems to be the fashion with magazines, 

 and a good one it is, to get out especially 

 fine issues at the close of the year — Christ- 

 mas numbers. Extra pages, illustrations 

 and interesting articles make glad the hearts 

 of many readers. The Review falls into 

 line this year with eight extra pages ; and we 

 hope our friends will find as much enjoy- 

 ment in their perusal as we do in the giving. 

 The time spent in making these extra pages 

 and in attending the International conven- 

 tion, makes this issue a few days late, but 

 we feel sure that, under the circumstances, 

 the delay will be excused. 



ILLNESS or MRS. NEWMAN. 



The first time we visited Chicago — that 

 great city that is almost a magical world of 

 itself — we were the guest of Bro. Newman. 

 Well do we remember the kindness with 

 which we were welcomed by Mrs. Newman. 

 We occupied the same bed-chamber with 



Father Langstroth. All in all, those were 

 happy hours. Now, , Mrs. Newman is ill. 

 For four years she has suffered from that 

 terrible disease, erysipelas. Much of the 

 time, she has been confined to her bed. We 

 know, from experience, what it is to perform 

 mental labor when the mind is at the bed- 

 side of a suffering loved one ; and our heart 

 goes out in sympathy to Bro. Newman and 

 his family as we think of him toiling on 

 with this great care upon his mind. Lighten 

 his burdens, brothers, all that you can. 



APIARIAN PREMIUM LISTS AT FAIRS. 



Since publishing our "model" premium 

 list it has received the following criticisms: 

 The exhibition of bees is objectionable, be- 

 cause bee-keepers dislike to take their choice 

 stocks to a fair, where the risk of injury 

 is almost a certainty. — The premiums offered 

 for the making of foundation on the grounds 

 are too high. Reasons: most exhibitors have 

 no mills, and thus no chance to compete. 

 Per Contra. No premium at all ought to 

 be offered under this head, as it is so much 

 work to bring all the paraphernalia from a 

 distance. — "No good" in offering a premium 

 on the most attractive display of wax, as 

 nothing is to be gained by making wax "or- 

 namental." — No premium ought to be offer- 

 ed upon black bees, as their propagation 

 ought not to be encouraged. — The list ought 

 to specify that honey and wax shall be the 

 product of the exhibitor, otherwise fine 

 honey may be purchased and exhibited, and 

 premiums and "honor" secured by some one 

 who does not merit them. — Don't send out 

 the list as endorsed by the Michigan State 

 Bee-Keepers' Association, if it is to endorsed, 

 to agricultural societies that are getting up 

 their premium lists, because such endorse- 

 ment might lead to its adoption, and it 

 might not suit the bee-keepers of that local- 

 ity. — Honey vinegar may not be pure honey 

 vinegar, hence this ought to be stricken off 

 the list, if honey cakes and candies are 

 dropped for the same reason. In reply we 

 will say that the bees form a very attractive 

 part of an exhibition, but a single-comb 

 nucleus will show more than a full colony, 

 and the cost is slight even if it is wholly lost. 

 — It is true that all do not own foundation 

 mills, but some do, and while the exhibition 

 of the manufacture of foundation is very 

 interesting, it is also considerable trouble, 

 and the premiums ought to be liberal. — 



