13 
Bee-Keepers’ Conventions. 
The growing interest in Bee-keeping lias 
resulted in establishing local meetings or 
conventions of those interested in the pro¬ 
duction of honey in various parts of the 
country. These meetings are productive 
of much good, as the novices will, learn 
much from the experience of others. 
We had the pleasure of attending a 
meeting of the Keystone Bee-keepers’ As¬ 
sociation at Scranton, a few days ago. 
This is the only society of the kind in 
Northeastern Pennsylvania and much in¬ 
terest was manifested by those present. 
The society numbers some fifty members 
owning from six to two hundred colonies 
•of bees. The questions discussed were, 
The Production of Surplus Ploney, Win¬ 
tering Bees, and Rearing Queens. Mr. J. 
Vandervoort of Laceyville, Pa., the in¬ 
ventor of the Vandervoort Fountain Ma¬ 
chine, was present and exhibited some of 
the finest sheets of foundation we ever 
saw. All present agreed that a much 
larger yield of surplus honey could be se¬ 
cured by the use of foundation than with¬ 
out it. It was generally agreed by those 
who had tried it, that the foundation for 
the lower frames or brood chamber should 
be secured by fastening with fine wire 
drawn through the frames several times 
from top to bottom. These wires stiffened 
the frames and kept them from sagging, a 
fault which is quite common in unwired 
frames and results in the breaking down of 
combs in hot weather. For the section 
boxes small triangular pieces of thin foun- 
foundation were recommended." 
Different methods of wintering were de¬ 
scribed by the members present, and as 
most of them had lost more or less ees, 
it was agreed that no perfect method had 
been discovered yet. Mr. Geo. C. Green of 
Factoryville, who had lost a very small 
percentage for the past four years, advoca¬ 
ted the use of the chaff hive, as also did 
several others. There appeared to be no 
professional Queen Breeders jn'esent but a 
few chapters from Mr. Alley’s new book on 
Queen Rearing were read and proved to be 
very instructive. 
It was decided to make a Society Exhibit 
at the next Lackawanna County Fair and 
we presume that some fine specimens of 
the work of the industrious little insects 
will be exhibited. 
The Constitution and By-Laws of this 
Society are very plain and simple and re¬ 
quires very little machinery to run it and 
we recommend that our bee-loving friends 
in all parts of the country unite in forming 
these local societies for mutual aid and im¬ 
provement. 
-- 
The Silk Industry. —The Womens’ 
Silk Culture Association of No. 1328 Chest¬ 
nut St., Philadelphia, offers $500 in pre¬ 
miums for the best single pounds of co¬ 
coons produced during the season of 1883. 
Entries to be made not later than Dec. 1, 
1883. The $500 will be divided into ten 
premiums consisting of 100, 75, 65, 60, 50, 
45, 40, 30. 25, and 10 dollars respectively. 
The lots in competition will be tested by 
experts who will reel the silk and award 
the prizes according to the quality and 
quantity of silk produced. The cocoons 
for which prizes are given will become the 
property of the Association.. 
A faithful brother in a Fairfield (Conn.) 
church recently prayed for the absent 
members, “who were prostrate on beds of 
sickness and chairs of wellness.” 
We frequentlj r see it stated that a scheme 
is on foot. Wouldn’t a scheme be advan¬ 
ced faster if it could be got on horseback? 
Curious, isn’t it, that some people great¬ 
ly troubled with sleeplessness get over that 
difficulty so soon after settling into their 
pews on Sunday. 
Live within your means and nobody will 
know how much you have ahead; but the 
moment you borrow a cent people will 
know how poor you are. 
-- 
FLOWEHS. 
BY W. B. DERRICK.. 
Sweet, lovely flowers, so bright and fair, 
Born of the sunshine and the air, 
On dews sustained, with nectar Ailed 
That from Ambrosia was distilled, 
Mellifluous gifts from Heaven above, 
In tokens of effulgent love; 
I love them, for they cheer the heart, 
Bright hopes inspire and joys impart. ; 
Baileyville , III. 
