\ State Bee-Keepers' Association. 57 



western. The meetings at Chicago will probably be very interesting on this 

 account . And I would earnestly advise all of you who can to attend the 

 meetings at Chicago. 



" 'Won't this meeting detract from the interest of the meetings at 

 Springfield ?' Judging from our meeting at Springfield in December I should < 

 say most emphatically, No ! What we need to do is to make our meetings 

 at Springfield so interesting that every bee-keeper in the State, and every- 

 where else, will attend them. In fact make them so good that no bee- 

 keeper will be kept away on any account. 



"Then followed the election of officers for the ensuing year. When the 

 Association was adjourned. 



"This was the most enjoyable meeting of bee-keepers that it has ever 

 been my good fortune to attend. • 



"Several of the bee-keepers present invited me to go home with them 

 and remain over night. I finally accepted Mr. Flanagan's. Mr. Dintel- 

 mann rode home with us. He is the rnan that made the translations of 

 those interesting articles from German that have appeared in Gleanings 

 from time to time. I found him to be a real interesting companion . On 

 our ride into Belleville Mr. Flanagan invited him to spend the evening with 

 us, which he did. 



"In going to Mr. Flanagan's residence we noticed a large factory near 

 by. 'That is the Belleville steel works. They manufacture Bessemer steel 

 rails and plates and other necessary fixtures for railroad tracks. 'I want you 

 to visit it after supper'; which we did. And I found it very interestmg. I 

 wish you would tell me your experience with foul brood. Didn't you have 

 quite a time with it when you took your bees South ? 'Yes, sir. 1 have lost 

 thousands of dollars from the ravages of foul brood, but I am entirely clear 

 of it now.' He told me all about his experience with it and in moving, &c. 

 The next morning we looked at his vinyard and his orchards, at his rasp- 

 berry patch, carp ponds (he has three of them). 'Do you see that little 

 clump of trees over yonder ? That is where I was born ' Then in his shop 

 I looked at his comb foundation machines, at his wax, &c. Do you make 

 all the foundation you sell ? 'No, sir. I buy of the Dadants. However, I 

 make some of it.' He then showed me a large lot that he had in stock, 

 besides over two carloads of dovetailed bee hives and a half a carload or 

 more of very fine sections. What in the world are you going to do with all 

 this stuff? 'Sell it. Last year I ran out of supplies and got behind with my 

 orders. I don't intend to get behind this season.' His shop, house, barn 

 and warehouse were jammed full of the various different kinds of the most 

 modern bee supplies. 'Well, Mr. Draper, I want you to go with me and see 

 my friend Fehr before you leave . We have plenty of time yet before your 

 train will leave . ' In a very short time we were spinning along the beautiful 

 streets of Belleville behind a splendid colt. We pulled up in front of a 

 beautiful store with the sign A. G. Fehr, florist. 'Is Mr. Fehr in?' asked Mr. 



