56 First Annual Report. 



"Your humble servant was then invited to read an essay on moving 

 bees for the average bee-keeper to increase the honey flow. I took the 

 ground that it wouldn't pay. Then Mr. Hertel followed with an excellent 

 essay on bee-keepnig for the average farmer. After discussing various 

 points in bee-keeing President Miller called on 'Brother Draper' to explain 

 the objects, purposes and mtentions of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Asso- 

 ciation. I hardly know whether I can fully explain all their ideas and inten- 

 tions, I replied. But I'll do the best I can. The intention is to do all the 

 good that we possibly can and as little harm as possible; not only for the 

 cause of bee culture in the State of Illinois, but for the whole country, as 

 our interests are virtually the same the country over. I am satisfied th it if 

 we fiflid been thoroughly organized in time we could have got all we asked 

 for. As it is we will not receive any appropriation for the World's Fair. 

 We failed with the Legislature because we did not begin in time. We have 

 failed with the Agricultural Committee because we are not organized all 

 over the State. Today Madison county has more members in the Illinois 

 State Bee-Keepers' Association than all the rest of the State put together. 

 It is true, that through the heroic efforts of Mr. Hambaugh and some of his 

 friends there has been an annual appropriation of I500 secured to publish a 

 report of the proceedings of the Society. You, here in St. Clair county, 

 have just as much right to the benefits to be derived from this Association 

 as any bee-keepers in the State. All you need to do is to contribute your • 

 membership fees and become members, when you will have all the privileges 

 and benefits that there are in it. Well, 'Can we not affiliate as a society? and 

 then have our proceedings published along with the proceedings of the State 

 Association ? the same as the horticulturists do it ?' I believe you can, but I 

 am not certain, as I hardly think there has been any action taken on that 

 point yet. However, I would advise that as many of you as possibly can 

 join as members and we will try and have this idea incorporated along with 

 the proceedings of the State Association. 



"The following gentlemen then handed me |i each, as membership fees 

 to the Illinois State Association : E. T. Flanagan, Belleville; Peter Miller, 

 postoffice box 832 Belleville; Chas. Hertel, Freeburg; L. F. Dintelmann, 

 postoftice box 78r Belleville; Jacob Leibrock, Mascoutah; A. G. Fehr, Belle- 

 ville. The Association then appointed five delegates to attend the next 

 meeting of the State Association. I wish not only all the local societies in 

 the State would follow this example, but also all the Associations in the 

 neighboring States. 



" 'Where will the next meeting be ?' Either at Springfield or Chicago. 

 'Why do you have it away off at one side of the State?' The Northwestern 

 Association had its headquarters at Chicago. It proposed that if the Illinois 

 State Association would hold one meeting a year in Chicago it would cease 

 to exist and give the entire field to the Illinois State. This proposition was -^ 

 accepted. So that we hope to secure all the old members of the North- 



