210 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[June, 
States, plantation and farm, mine and factory, commer¬ 
cial and mercantile, are not only the sources of all our 
national and individual wealth, hut also the element on 
which our very national and individual existence depends; 
and 
Whereas, All national products are the fruits of labor 
and capital, and as neither labor nor capital will continue 
actively employed without an equivalent measurably just; 
and 
Whereas, Great material industries are only sustained 
and prospered by the interchange of the products of one 
section or country for those of another; and 
Whereas, The existing rates of transportation for the 
varied products of the Union from one part of the country 
to another and to foreign countries, as well as the transit 
cost of the commodities required in exchange, are in 
many instances injurious, and to certain interests abso¬ 
lutely destructive, arising in part, at least, from an in¬ 
sufficiency of avenues; and 
Whereas, The great material want of the nation to-day 
is relief from the present rates of transit upon American 
products; therefore 
Resolved, That the duty of the hour and the mission of 
this Association is to obtain from Congress and the sever¬ 
al State Legislatures such legislation as may be neces¬ 
sary to control and limit by law within proper constitu¬ 
tional and legitimate limits the rates and charges of ex¬ 
isting lines of transportation, to increase where practica¬ 
ble the capacity of our present water-ways, and to add 
such new avenues, both water and rail, as our immensely 
increased internal commerce demands; so that the pro¬ 
ducer may be fairly rewarded for his honest toil, the con¬ 
sumer have cheap products, and our almost limitless sup¬ 
plies find foreign markets at rates to compete with the 
world. 
Second: That the cheap transportation, both of persons 
and property, being more conducive to the free move¬ 
ment of the people, and the widest interchange and con¬ 
sumption of the products of the different parts of the 
Union, are essential to the welfare and prosperity of the 
country. 
Third: That the constant and frequent association of 
the inhabitants of remote parts of the United States is 
not only desirable but necessary, for the maintenance of 
a homogeneous and harmonious population within the 
vast area of our territory. 
Fourth: That the best interests of the different parts 
of the country also demand the freest possible interchange 
of the industrial products of the varied climates and in¬ 
dustries of the United States, so that breadstuff's, textile 
fibers, coal, lumber, iron, sugar, and various other pro¬ 
ducts, local in their production but general in their con¬ 
sumption, may all reach the consumer at the least practi¬ 
cable cost of transportation; and that an arbitrary and 
unnecessary tax levied by the transporter, over and above 
a fair remuneration tor the investment, is a burden upon 
the producer and the consumer that it is the part of wise 
statesmanship to remove. 
Fifth: That certain leading railway corporations of the 
country, although chartered to subserve the public wel¬ 
fare and endowed with the right of eminent domain solely 
for that reason, have proved themselves practically mo¬ 
nopolies, and become the tools of avaricious aud unscru¬ 
pulous capitalists, to bo used to plunder the public, en¬ 
rich themselves, and impoverish the country through 
which they run. 
Sixth: That many of the railway corporations of the 
United States have not only disregarded the public con¬ 
venience and prosperity, but have oppressed the citizen, 
bribed our legislatures, and defied our executives and 
jjidges, and stand to-day the most menacing danger to 
American liberty and to republican government. 
Seventh: That the present system of railway manage¬ 
ment, having failed to moot the just expectations and de¬ 
mands of a long-suffering people, must be radically re¬ 
formed and controlled by the strong hand of law, both 
state and national, and railway corporations compelled 
to perform their proper functions as the servants aud not 
the masters of the people. 
Eighth: That to this end we invoke the aid of all fair- 
minded men in all States of the Union in expelling and 
excluding from the halls of legislation, from our execu¬ 
tive offices, and from the bench, such railway officials, 
railway attorneys, or other hirelings as prostitute public 
office to the base uses of private gain. 
Ninth: That leaving different sections and interests 
that desire cheap transportation to work out the problem 
in such manner as they may deem best, we earnestly in¬ 
voke their careful consideration, their energetic action, 
aud their resolute will in regulating and controlling the 
rates of transportation, and giving remunerative wages 
to the producer and cheap products to the consumer, 
untaxed by unearned charges for their carriage. 
Tenth: That we invite the people of the various States 
to organize subsidiary associations, state, county, and 
town, to cooperate with the National association ; that 
the power to accomplish the purposes desired rests abso¬ 
lutely with the suffering millions ; relief is within their 
reach and control; united action and the near future will 
give, as certain as its need, for all time, and the good of 
all, the true solution of the problem of cheap transporta¬ 
tion. 
A committee was appointed to prepare an address to 
the people of the United States. It consisted of Josiali 
Quincy, of Boston, M. B. Wilber, of Michigan, Horace 
Day, New York, R. H. Ferguson, of Troy, N. Y., II. Bron¬ 
son, of Kansas, J. A. Noonan, of Wisconsin, and W. H. 
C. Price, of New York. The convention then adjourned 
to meet at Washington in January next. During the in¬ 
terval the address will be issued, and organizations will 
be effected throughout the country to cooperate in the 
work. .. (n: 
- » m-- 
The American Pomological Society. 
Many of the members of the Pomological Society have 
felt highly indignant at the course of the Secretary. 
This individual has taken advantage of his position to 
insult the whole agricultural and horticultural press of 
the country. The gentlemen of the press have abundant 
cause for dissatisfaction, and all right-thinking members 
feel mortified that the Society’s official publication should 
be made the medium for the venting of individual spleen. 
The particular act of the Secretary referred to is a foot¬ 
note on page 80 of the last volume of Proceedings, be¬ 
ginning: “The Secretary would here remark that con¬ 
ductors of journals and publishers of books are utterly 
ignorant of varieties of fruits and plants,” etc. As a 
statement this is false, as is what follows in the remain¬ 
der of the note. No abuse from the individual who fills 
the office of secretary would be considered of importance, 
but when it comes from one speaking as an officer of an 
important Society in the official record of the Society, 
the case is bravely altered. 
When this note appeared, we held consultation with 
several officers and members of the Society, and it was 
concluded best not to wash dirty linen in public, and to 
let the thing pass until the meeting of the Society in 
September next. Some of our cotemporaries have 
thought differently, and have presented the subject to 
the public in their papers. Rather than be thought in¬ 
different to this insult to the press, we reluctantly change 
our resol ition to keep silent. Perhaps we can best record 
our protest against this act of the Secretary by giving the 
remarks of two of our neighbors. The agricultural 
editor of the Weekly Sun had a most vigorous article 
upon the subject. Moore’s Rural New Yorker of May 3d 
has the following: 
“ The American Pomological Societt. — Hadn’t 
friend Elliott, Secretary of the American Pomological So¬ 
ciety, better keep still ? In a recent letter published in a 
Western paper, he quotes a correspondent as saying that 
‘ one editor of a weekly paper in New York City has tried 
to break down the Association because it did not meet 
his views.’ Why didn’t Elliott tell that correspondent 
that the statement was false; for no one knows better 
than Mr. Elliott that it is not true. The fact is, the Sec¬ 
retary made an ass of himself and got criticised for it, 
as he deserved; and if he don’t stop doing it hereafter, 
the American Pomological Society will find he is too big 
a burden to carry with comfort. Would Mr. Elliott have 
the public believe that when any one criticises his inju¬ 
dicious and untruthful statements, the party doing it is 
trying to ‘ break down ’ the American Pomological So¬ 
ciety ? If that is his object, he will find he has a bigger 
job on his hands than ho has before undertaken.” 
The Horticulturist for May is still more pointed, it says: 
“A NEW DErAKTURE NEEDED.” 
“Mutterings of discontent have reached us in various 
ways from many members of the American Pomological 
Society, respecting its Secretaryship. 
“Probably at its coming session next fall, no question 
will be considered with more anxiety than this, and upon 
its solution will largely depend the future success of the 
Society, and harmony be preserved among the leading 
pomologists of the country. 
“ The present Secretary has committed an unpardon¬ 
able blunder, one deeply deplored by the other leading 
officers of the Society, and has placed himself in a posi¬ 
tion calculated to draw out much determined and per¬ 
sistent opposition. 
“ For the past two or more years, flattered with pride 
of place and an egotistical estimate of his long years of 
experience in fruits and pomological matters, he has 
run a free gauntlet with pen and speech, criticising whom 
he pleased (sometimes most unnecessarily, perhaps even 
scurrilously, without just cause), and not in the least 
cautious in the use of uncomplimentary allusions to 
many of the most influential of the editorial fraternity. 
“ In the last report of the American Pomological So¬ 
ciety, this egotism is carried so far as to appear in the 
shape of foot notes to several pages, wherein he asserts 
and re-asserts in the most positive manner, the compara¬ 
tive ignorance of the editors of all our Agricultural aud 
Horticultural Journals, concerning fruits ; and while not 
disposed to allow them either the credit or benefit de¬ 
rived from a possible practical experience in fruit-culture, 
he actually intimates that they are responsible for most 
of the errors in pomological nomenclature, and are ig¬ 
noramuses in general. 
“ Only one person with ‘ long years of experience,’ the 
great ‘ I am ’ ‘ Secretary of American Pomological So¬ 
ciety,’ is supposed to have a correct knowledge of po¬ 
mology, and all are expected to play second fiddle to this 
noble functionary. 
“We are supremely disgusted, doubtless the public are 
too, with these airs of assumption. These foot n»tes we 
will collate and reproduce in our next number. 
“ By this abuse of the liberty of his position (for none 
of the other executive officers saw or knew of these notes 
until the reports were all printed and ready for distri¬ 
bution), the Secretary has not only arrayed himself in the 
most direct antagonism to the press of the country, but 
has thrown to them an insult, which every high-minded 
journalist will resent. 
“We say to the American Pomsdogical Society, this 
is disastrous to you. Youv officers should be in perfect 
harmony with the press. You should seek its coopera¬ 
tion. It is your most efficient ally; insult or despise 
them, and your own influence and success will wane. 
“Take a new departure; let your future Secretary be 
one whom all will delight to honor, and toward whom 
the press will cheerfully offer every assistance, and who 
will cooperate in helping your Society toward still greater 
success aud reputation. 
“ Our thoughts for a long time past have often turned 
toward one who we believe would receive the unanimous 
support of the horticultural w'orld; others have lately 
mentioned the same name to us, and we now break the 
long-kept silence we have maintained for the past four 
years, by proposing the nomination for the next Secre¬ 
taryship in the well known name of Hon. W. C. Flagg, of 
Illinois, Horticultural Editor of The Prairie Farmer. 
Who seconds ? ” 
The American Pomological Society is largely indebted 
to the press for the influential position it now holds. The 
columns of the horticultural and agricultural papers 
throughout the country have been open to it without cost, 
and the only return it makes is through its Secretary, 
who informs the conductors of these journals that they 
are a set of asses. We shall see what will come of it. 
Bee Notes.—Advice to Beginners. 
BY M. QUINBT. 
It is said that we can accustom ourselves to very mono¬ 
tonous things until they become pleasant—which is 
probably true. Now, to the man who considers it irk¬ 
some to open often a hive of bees with movable combs, 
and look it all through to be sure of its condition, with¬ 
out expecting to d® any particular thing, I would say 
that by doing so he will not only be likely to find it 
pleasant, but that he will gain courage, learn to avoid 
stings, get a knowledge of the natural history of the 
bee, and learn to distinguish between a thrifty and an 
unthrifty stock. The thriving farmer visits his growing 
crops scores of times without any idea that there is a 
necessity for it at the time, but often finds a rail of the 
fence displaced, a bar left down, or an insect just com¬ 
mencing its ravages, the timely discovery of which saves 
dollars. Instead of deciding to cut his grain on a parti¬ 
cular day of the month, he notes the appearance of the 
crop as the season advances, and his familiarity with 
the subject enables him to choose the proper time. Just 
so the apiarian who is familiar with the appearance of 
his bees will detect anything amiss or sec what is 
needed. If he is desirous to increase his stocks to the 
utmost by artificial swarms, he will be guided by the 
yield of honey and the condition of the old stock as to 
the best time to make them. If box honey is wanted 
most, let him supply boxes plentifully. But the hive 
should be filled with bees before acting in either case. 
Hives in which to put bees should be constructed on 
the following principle: 1st. Let the combs be movable. 
2d. Let there be room for at least 150 lbs. of honey. Such 
hives cost more money, but are cheaper than the writer 
once made for 37 'A cents. A gradual change from the 
rough box, through several modifications, brought us 
to the present convenient hive here described. Make 
the bottom of smooth boards, 21 x 25 inches square; 
cut out of the center a piece six or eight inches square; 
cover the upper side of the opening with wire-cloth to 
prevent a bee getting through. Make a slide for the 
under side that will graduate the ventilation according 
to the weather, from none at all to a full-sized entrance 
for the air. Make a lrame of near the following dimen¬ 
sions : Take half-inch strips, an inch aud a half wide and 
