200 



TBE BEt:XEEPERS' REVIEW. 



that directions ate generally given to sow in 

 summer or early fall. The results from 

 spring seeding have in some cases been 

 more favorable than might have been expect- 

 ed, particularly when sown on rather low, 

 damp soils, and cut for hay or pastured be- 

 fore reaching maturity. In such cases some 

 pieces have made good summer and fall 

 pasture. The best results on the whole 

 however have come from mid-summer seed- 

 ing, giving the plants a good st^rt before 

 winter. Last summer being very dry, many 

 seedings failed to catch, or the young plants 

 died from the drouth before becoming well 

 established. 



We would again state that Crim«on Clover 

 is an animal and that its use as a general 

 farm crop in Michigan appears to be ex- 

 tremely limited. Only in rare situations can 

 it be depended upon for hay in this state, 

 the chances being especially small wlien 

 sown in the spring. As a catch crop for 

 fertilizing purposes, particularly in orchards, 

 it possesses j/reater promise and in certain 

 favorable soils, and situations it now seems 

 likely to prove of permanent value. " 



The Good that Might be Expected From 

 " Amalgamation. " 



P. H. Elwood shows most unmistakeably, 

 by an article in Gleanings, that he does not 

 misunderstand the matter of uniting the 

 North American and the Union. He says: — 



" It is a pity that the Bee-keepers' Union, 

 while \inder the efficient management of 

 Thos. G. Newman, could not have taken up 

 the matter of adulteration. Undoubtedly it 

 would have done so had tlie bee-keepers of 

 this country thrown all of their energies in- 

 to one organization instead of dividing them 

 between two. It will require a united front 

 and some money to stop this business. At a 

 time when the U ion so much needs the 

 cordial support of every i telligent bee- 

 keeper of the United States, it seems unwise 

 to refuse the admission of the North Ameri- 

 oan, for this is really what this society is 

 asking of us. The constitution advised by the 

 amalgamation committee differs but slightly 

 from the present constitution ; and I can 

 not see that it will impair the usefulness of 

 the Union, while it will bring to us a large 

 and valuable support. The management 

 remains the same, vested in a board of di- 

 rectors selected by the votes of all the mem- 

 bers of the Union, as at present. The pop- 

 ular annual meeting, if such is held, has no 

 control over the funds of the Union — neither 

 directs its policy nor elects any of its officers. 



I can understand why the Canadians op- 

 pose the amalgamation, as they probably 

 foresee that it will be found impractical to 

 make the new Union international. For 

 several years the usefulness of the North 

 American has been seriously impaired, and 

 its existence imperiled, if not shortened, by 

 a long-continued quarrel between the 

 Americans and the Canadians. I suggest 



that the present time would be a favorable 

 opportunity to end this belligerency by each 

 party consenting to mind its own business. 

 By making the Union a national organiza- 

 tion we shall be at liberty to attend to the 

 question of adulteration of our products, 

 and the eliactment of such laws as may be 

 necessary to wipe it out ; and if, at any fu- 

 ture time, the board of directors conclude 

 that the Union can assist in any way in 

 marketing honey, there will be opportunity 

 to do so. It may be found practical to dis- 

 seminate information as to the relative 

 needs of different markets and different 

 parts of the country for shipment of honey. 

 \)ar -w^eM}/ American Bee Journal is pub- 

 lished at the present headquarters of the 

 Union, and information as to the weekly 

 receipts and further needs of the chief dis- 

 tributing-points could be quickly dissemin- 

 ated. In some such way an intelligent over- 

 sight of the markets might be had, of much 

 service to honey-producers, with no invest- 

 ments, and at not a heavy expense. It 

 would not do to use Canadian money for 

 this purpose, nor would it be advisable for 

 us to try to assist them in a work that they 

 could do so much better themselves. 



But more important than any exchange 

 or possible supervision is the thorough de- 

 Vdlopmetit c f aliome market by every bee- 

 keeper. The bee-keepers of this part of the 

 country could easily sell all they produce 

 in their home markets when such amount 

 does not exceed a ton, and is put up in such 

 form as to suit the demand of consumers. 

 This would reduce the amount sent to the 

 cities or main distributing points, so that 

 prices would materially improve, 



ADVERTISEMENTS 



If the Review is mentioned when answer- 

 ing an advertisement in its columns, a favor 

 is conferred upon both the publisher and the 

 advertiser. It helps the former by raising 

 this journal in the estimation of the adverti- 

 ser, and it enables the latter to decide as to 

 which advertising mediums are most profit- 

 able. If you would help the Review be sure 

 and say " I saw your ad in the Review." 



JOHN F. STRATTON'S 



Celebrated 



Band Instruments 



DRUMS, FIFES, 

 Piccolos and Band Supplies. 



Send for JOHN F. STRATTON 



Catalogue. 81 1,813,815,817 E. 9th St.,'N.Y. 



flease mention the Heuiew 



