THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
151 
the bees, and it was strongly recommended to 
be grown by apiarians. In pursuance of the 
society’s operations in detecting adulterations 
and exposing inferior honey, one of the members 
produced a very objectionable sample, which 
appeared to be half water. It is intended 
when a sufficient number of samples has been 
collected to get them analysed and to expose 
dealers in the adulterated article. The notice 
of motion for altering the date of meeting was 
discussed and rejected. The vice-president 
promised to read a paper at next ineetin g on 
the subject of co-operation as affecting the 
side of honey and the advantages to be derived 
from such a system. A motion to the effect 
that all members of the association should be 
recommended to label their honey was adopted. 
During a discussion as to the prospects of 
beekeeping at the present time, it was gener- 
ally agreed that the season is now at an end, 
and that the utmost care is necessary to 
prevent robbing. Mr. Jarrott reported that 
he had observed a queen mating with a drone 
in the air. It was stated by the secretary 
that the books ordered by the association had 
come to hand, and were now available for the 
nse of members. — Queenslander, 3rd March. 
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. 
The usual monthly meeting was held on 
Friday, March 2. Dr. J. A. Cockburn, M.P., 
in the chair. 
Letter from Victorian Beekeepers’ Society, 
asking co-operation in making a display of 
bees, products, and appliances at the Centen- 
nial Exhibition. Resolved that the South 
Australian beekeepers cannot as an Association 
co-operate in the matter, but will recommend 
its members to do credit to their industry by 
exhibiting as suggested. Letter from Mr. E. 
Cusack re Foul Brood Act, and promising 
co-operation, also enquiring whether the postal 
authorities here provide a special mailbag for 
conveyance of queen bees, and stating that 
the Queensland beekeepers were moving to ob- 
tain this concession. The Chairman remarked 
upon the satisfactory nature of the bee 
exhibits at the Autumn show of the Koyal 
Agricultural Society, and the eager crowds of 
visitors which surrounded the beekeepers' 
stand. The Hon. Secretary suggested several 
improvements in the rules with regard to 
competitive exhibitions An animated and 
instructive discussion then followed upon foul 
brood, the Foul Brood Act, its intention, and 
the misunderstandings of its scope, and the 
powers of Inspectors, entertained by a large 
number of beekeepers, including members of 
the present Association. One member said 
he quite understood that the Inspector would 
have power to enter any apiary, and if he 
found it infected with foul brood, he could 
insist upon bees, hives, combs, and everything 
being destroyed, and it wns stated that this 
erroneous idea was held by a large majority of 
beekeepers. It was then explained that the 
Foul Brood Act provided for nothing of the 
sort. The Inspector could not order the 
destruction of anything connected with the 
apiary, except so far as the combs were con- 
cerned, and then only so far as their mechan- 
ical structure was concerned. If the combs 
were melted into wax they would be destroyed 
effectually in the spirit and letter of the Act. 
The Inspector could insist upon hives being 
disinfected if foul brood were existent in them, 
and he would instruct the beekeeper how to 
do this. There was no power in the Act to 
compel a beekeeper to use any particular form 
of hive, but he must cleanse it if infected. 
Regret was generally expressed that such a 
misunderstanding should have arisen, and 
the speakers felt assured that if a Convention 
of all Beekeepers’ Societies and others could 
be arranged the matter could be so explained 
that the present opponents of the Act would 
become perfectly content to aid in the eradica- 
tion of a disease which greatly reduces the 
profits from beekeeping. A motion was 
ultimately carried to invite delegates from 
the various beekeeping districts to attend a 
meeting in Adelaide early next month in 
order that the subject might be discussed in a 
friendly manner, or in case such a course were 
not possible, the Association would appoint 
delegates to visit any of the large centres with 
a like object. It was felt that beekeepers all 
over the colonies should be in accord, but 
more especially in this colony, and it was 
most unfortunate that the objects of the 
Sooth Australian Beekeepers’ Association 
should have been so thoroughly misunderstood. 
There were only two or three of the members 
engaged in trade in supplying beekeepers’ 
appliances, and the large majority were 
amateur beekeepers, joining the Society with 
the view of acquiring knowledge through its 
papers and discussions. The aim of the 
Society was simply to give and acquire infor- 
mation concerning bees and beekeeping. — 
8. A . Register. 
IRews from apiaries. 
The Season in South Australia lias been by 
no means a good one and bees have stored 
very little A discouraging account from the 
possessor of an apiary in the Mt. Lofty Ranges 
reaches us as follows : — “ Bee affairs are very 
quiet in South Australia ; a very poor season 
indeed is the verdict for 1887-3, and all we 
now hope for in this district is the possibility 
of the bees being able to secure enough for the 
coming winter. As a consequence of this the 
interest displayed in beekeeping last year has 
considerably abated, and the attendance at the 
Beekeepers' Association meetings has con- 
siderably fallen off. Foul brood, too, makes 
the pursuit very dishca-teniug, and deters 
