STATE bee-keepers' ASSOCIATION. 6t 



were more eagrer to get the bits of wax that were around. 

 I had thought that they would not want much except the 

 screenings of honey, but during last season I noticed par- 

 ticularly they would not touch the honey at all, but if there 

 was a bit of wax on the ground they would gather it. 



Mr. Primm — I have the impression from my experience, 

 though rather short, that the expression which we use with 

 reference to comb is a misnomer. The bees don't draw it 

 out. They use the wax to build comb and probably that ac- 

 counts for their acting so, but I doubt if they ever really 

 draw out the comb from the foundation. If they did they 

 would enlarge the cells to any size they chose, and we would 

 have no benefit in putting in the foundation so far as pre- 

 vention of drone-comb, or anything like that. 



Mr. Bowen — I noticed this summer that the bees were 

 getting the wax on their legs so they could hardly fly with it. 

 I don't know what they do with it. I didn't know exactly 

 whether they used it for propolis or not. It is possible that 

 is what they use it for. I wondered when I saw them getting 

 it what they would do with it. I am glad the question came 

 up to-day as to whether it was used for building comb or for 

 propolis. In regard to building, when they have foundation 

 they have a base for cells. I think the tendency would be 

 clear, that a cell the proper size would be made, even larger 

 than drone-cells. 



Dr. Miller — If they can draw out the foundation a little 

 way they can draw it out to the full depth of the cell. If 

 you put in a piece of foundation in the working season when 

 the bees are fully at work, within 12 hours you will find 

 that foundation double what it was. You will find that 

 shallow cell-wall within 12 hours will be 10 or 12 times as 

 large. If you watch them you will say they draw it out of 

 those shallow cells. 



Mr. Stone — I would like to say that Mr. Poindexter is 

 here, and has a paper, and when it is the pleasure of the 

 meeting we will have him read it, Mr. Black was asked to 

 give a talk and we will look to him for that. 



COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. 



The following resolutions were then presented, and all 

 were adopted : 



Whereas^ We believe the bee-keeping industry of this 

 State would be greatly promoted by a closer union of all 

 bee-keepers ; and 



Whereas, The Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association is 

 the only incorporated body within the State, representing the 

 35,000 persons engaged in said industry; therefore, 



Resolved, First, that we, the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' 

 Association, in annual convention assembled, hereby invite 

 the cooperation of all bee-keepers, and bee-keepers' associa- 

 tions in Illinois, 'in everything that will promote the com- 

 mon interest. 



