mi<J Bt:b;-KKEFERS' REVIEW. 



79 



the object of ventilating ia to clmntre the 

 moisture-laden air for dry air. 



Taking the number of ventilators as an in- 

 dex of daily gain, his figures show that the 

 strongest colonies profited longest by the 

 flow, in each of its three periods. 



The highest number of ventilators ob- 

 served at any one time was 70, which was 

 exceptional. He considers 20 as the in- 

 dex of a good colony. 



Biknen-Vatek.— The " Central Union for 

 Bee-keeping in Austria" as its new title 

 runs, has adopted a new constitution. Be- 

 sides the functions which were mentioned 

 on page lOS of the Review last year, the 

 statutes provide for a library and museum, 

 establishment of apiaries owned by the 

 association, the exertion of influence on 

 legislation in bee-matters by submitting 

 advice and proposals to the goverment and 

 to legislative bodies, the directing of pe- 

 titions and propositions to the proper quar- 

 ters in behalf of the defence and protection 

 of the interests of bee-keeping, the procur- 

 ing of a market for the unadulterated pro- 

 duce of its members ( a rather infelicitous 

 wording ), and various other matters con- 

 nected with the spread of bee-keeping, the 

 getting of subsidies, etc. 



Besides the central association and its 

 brancfies, the union also includes those in- 

 dependent associations in the empire which 

 affiliate themselves to it by a yearly con- 

 tribution from each of their members, the 

 amount of which is fixed by the central 

 association, and send to it such statistics 

 as the interests of the association demand. 

 In return, these independent associations 

 recieve a copy of the organ of the associa- 

 tion free for each of their members, have 

 the right to insert in it their reports and 

 convention notices and to send advisory 

 delegates to the general meetings of the 

 central association, have a claim to the 

 services of traveling instructors in visiting 

 apiaries and giving lectures and courses of 

 instruction by paying their traveling ex- 

 penses, and to other means of instruction 

 such as special articles, etc. and receive a 

 rebate in the advertising rates of the organ 

 of the association. The possibility of 

 affiliation has not before existed, but is a 

 feature of the new constitution. 



The branch associations proper can be 

 represented by delegates, can lay proposals, 

 wishes, and complaints before the central 

 committee, receive the organ of the associa- 



tion free for each member and use it for 

 their convention reports and notices, are 

 entitled to the services of the traveling in- 

 structors and other means of instruction, to 

 a rebate in advertising rates, to the use of 

 the library, and to a free participation in 

 the pamphlets, books, and implements, in 

 proportion to the amount of the funds which 

 are at the disposal of the central union for 

 this purpose. In return they are expected 

 to hold consultations on important apicul- 

 tural issues and communicate the result of 

 their deliberations to the central union, 

 furnish statistics, and at the end of every 

 year send in their business report. They 

 have their own organizations. When a 

 branch union is dissolved the implements 

 etc. return to the possession of the central 

 union. At present there are 70 branch 

 unions. 



A convention of delegates, consisting of 

 the members of the central committee and 

 the delegates from the branch unions^ is 

 held regularly once a year just before the 

 general convention, though it may be called 

 oftener when necessary. Its purpose is to 

 accomplish a successful collaboration of the 

 central with the branch unions, and includes 

 the consideration of all issues which require 

 the branch unions in procuring means or in 

 the success of projects, of all issues within 

 the sphere of the branch unions which are 

 concerned with the spread of rational bee- 

 keeping, and of proposals of members of 

 this convention, which are to be sent to the 

 president fourteen days in advance. 



The officers of the central unions are a 

 president, two vice-presidents, secretary, 

 treasurer, custodian of requisites, librarian, 

 bee-master, two members of the editorial 

 committee and the administrator of the 

 association organ. The central committee 

 is composed of 21 members, and includes 

 the officers. It meets regularly once a 

 month and attends to general business, es- 

 pecially the management of funds and the 

 direction of instruction. 



A new substitute for wax is announced. 

 The circular of the manufacturer says that a 

 chemical analysis gives exactly the same 

 figures as that of beeswax, and that therefore 

 it must be the best substitute for the latter. 

 It will also, like beeswax, completely dis- 

 solve in turpentine. Luckily it is of a 

 white color, and easily distinguished besides 

 from beeswax by its lustre, feeling, and 

 scent. It is sold in three qualities, accord- 



