tion of the Association, on the basis of branch or auxiliary societies, which branches could annually, or at less frequent periods send representatives to the National Association. For the next annual meeting he was in favor of Chicago. Dr. Rush said he would withdraw his suggestion of St. Louis, and unite with his friends on Des Moines. Mrs. Tupper, of Des Moines, said that though she would be glad to welcome the Society to Des Moines, she feared the expense of going there would be too great for most of the members. After considerable discussion of the subject, the matter was handed over to the Business Committee. Adjourned till Thursday morning. SECOND DAY-MORNING SESSION. The following Publishing Committee was appointed: Mr. Pope, Dr. Rush and Mrs. Tupper. The report of the Business Committee, giving topics for the morning discusson, was presented, the first being the question of "Adulteration of Honey.' Upon this subject Mr. King, of New York, read a paper, from which we extract the following concerning the effect of adulteration upon the honey producing interests of the country. "A leading honey merchant of New York, who bought largely of the comb honey of Mr. Harbison's great 100,000 pound honey crop, said (and I have it from his own lips) that he refused to purchase the extracted honey, because he could furnish a better article by making syrup of white sugar and adding to flavor the mixture, one gallon of honey to every seven gallons of this syrup, costing only eight or ten cents per pound. He said if the syrup was heated to the boiling point, so as to dissolve all the particles in the sugar, the mixture would not granulate. Others claim a secret of their own by which they prevent granulation. "But what will be the effect upon the price and sale of extracted honey when the dealer increases every 1,000 pounds to 8,000 to flood the market? If one-third of the 300,000 pounds referred to be treated in this way 100,000 pounds would be increased to 800,000 pounds, which would no doubt glut the market and greatly reduce the price. But this is not the worst feature in the case. Dealers in New York and Chicago have resorted to the use of glucose as a substitute for sugar syrup, as others have done in the manufacture of golden syrup. Glusos is a liquid which is often made as clear as water, and of about the consistency of honey, though less sweet than even cane sugar. "Messrs. A. Boyer & Co., whose address is Auberville, per Paris, France, are large manufacturers. Glucose is found in the juice of several kinds of fruit, but it is usually manufactured from starch or dried grapes. But will the evil stop here, or will glucose, which costs from six to eight cents per pound, soon become too expensive, and acids be used in its stead? Then will extracted white-clover honey go begging for purchasers, and even buckwheat honey, though darker, and therefore commanding a better price, will be of dull sale, as these ingenius dealers can color their mixtures to look like the darkest buckwheat honey." As to a remedy for the evils complained of, the speaker said: "Perhaps apiarians will conclude to dispense with the extractor and think to remedy the evil by raising and selling only bad honey or comb honey in the frame. But these dealers have already found a remedy for such a contingency. They now sell most of their-how shall I call it-no, their mixture in glass jars, with one or more narrow strips of honey in the comb, which occupies the little space in the jar, but looks well, and sells the mixture with which the jar is filled. "I can suggest no remedy but education. We must educate the people, and thus qualify them to judge between a pure and impure article. Apiarians must write on the subject, not simply for their journals, but for the city press, both secular and religious. While earth remains in its present state, evil men, as the Apostle says, shall wax worse and wore, but when Paradise is restored, that land flowing with milk and honey, these honey adulteraters shall go into their "own place, and trouble us no more." Mrs. Tupper stated, after the reading of the paper, that she had frequent letters from Honey Dealers, wishing to purchase clean white comb. After some further discussion, Messrs. King, Hoagland and A. Benedict were appointed a committee to draft resolutions expressive of the judgment of the association against the practice of adulterating honey. The next topic of discussion was "BeeForage" and was debated at some length. Some of the members expressed themselves as in favor of buckwheat, others white clover, Mr. Hoagland, thought the forest was the great home of the bee. The richer the soil the greater would be the amount of honey extracted from the flower. The discussion as to the value of various flowers for "bee forage" was continued at some length, and was quite interesting. The sunflower, sassafras, the purple aster, and any quantity of flowers had their respective merits as honey plants thoroughly demonstrated. The third topic reported by the Business Committee was "The wintering of bees under glass." This was discussed at some length, and the experience of different members of the Convention related. "The best method of preventing honey from candying" was next discussed at some length, after which the Association adjourned till 2 P. M. AFTERNOON SESSION. The Society met at two o'clock P. M. The first hour of the session was occupied in the exhibition of patent bee-hives, honey extractors, and some fine specimens of honey. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. At the expiration of the hour, the Pies ident said that the election of officers had been made the special order for three o'clock to-day. The Society on motion, went into an election for officers, when the following gentlemen were named for President: W. F. Clarke, H. A. King, Seth Hoagland, Aaron Benedict, Abner J. Pope, J. W. Winder. The balloting resulted in no choice. Mr. King, who had the second highest vote, moved that the President be authorized to cast the vote of the Association for W. F. Clarke of Canada for President. The motion was carried unanimously, and Mr. Clarke was thereupon voted for and elected. Next in order was the election of a Vice-President from each State and Territory. The following persons were chosen Pennsylvania, Seth Hoagland; Ohio, A. Benedict; West Virginia, A. Chapman; New York, M. Quinby; Tennessee, M. Benton; Indiana, A. J. Pope; Illinois, F. Grabbe; Iowa, Mrs. Ellen S. Tupper; Ontario, Dr. Thorn. In the States not represented at this meeting, the present Vice Presidents will hold over. Dr. L. Brown, of Indianapolis, was eleted Recording Secretary, and E. S. Hill. of Ohio. Treasurer. Mr. H. A. King was elected Corresponding Secretary. The reports of the officers of the Assosociation for the past year were read and approved. Mrs. Tupper, from the committe appointed to make arrangements for a display at the Centennial in 1877, reported that the committee had arranged for space, &c., at the Exposition, and that everything bid fair for a successful display. On motion, Seth Hoagland was added to the committee. The Association adjourned till 7 o'clock P. M. EVENING SESSION. The Association met at half past seven o'clock, and Mr. Seth Hoagland, the retiring President, delivered his valedictory address, in which he said that he left the chair of presiding officer not in sorrow, but in a joyful mood. Mr. W. F. Clarke, of Ontario, Canada, President elect, was then introduced, and spoke as follows: Ladies and Gentleman of the North American Bee-Keepers' Association:-I thank you very sicerely for the honor you have done me for the second time in electing me to the Presidency of this organization. As the retiring President observed, in the brief remarks which he made, the times are stringent and there have been unusual difficulties in getting up this meeting, and in view of the difficulties which the retiring President has experienced in this respect I hope we shall draw up a resolution at some later stage of our proceedings ex pressing our appreciation of his course and our thanks. I am not vain enough to suppose that I owe my elevation to the presidency of this society to my knowledge of apiculture or to my unprecedented success as a bee-keeper. I think I owe my present position to two causes. First, that I have taken an interest in the Society from the outset, and secondly, that I have not had any particular selfish interest in connection with this Society. This Society in its start encountered peculiar difficulties which rendered it rather surprising that it should have weathered them all and come out into smooth open waters, as it has done. It is true that this is a day of small things in this organization, but we have made considerable progress. We have, I think, escaped the greatest danger that menaced us at the outset-the danger af the Society being made use of for other than broad disinterested purposes. Bee-keeping has made considerable progress during the history of this Society. It has advanced out of what might be called the "slough of patents." Many lessons have been learned about patents which will never be forgotten. Every business is likely to be traded upon by King Humbug. P. T. Barnum has said that mankind like to be humbugged. Whether they like it or not, they submit to it. An educated physician once met a quack and said: "How is it I have so small a practice and you have so large a one?" "Well," said the quack, "how many people who go down street are really wise people?” "Well," said the educated physician, "perhaps one in fifty that pass our office are wise people." "Then," replied the quack, "you get the one and I get the forty-nine." [Laughter.] Whether the same philosophy does not ap ply to a good deal of the quackery we have had in connection with bee-keeping I leave you to judge. We have some principles pretty well established, which I think ought by this time to be pretty well understood. Leaving the movable comb principle and the air chamber, and one or two other conditions of successful bee-keeping out of sight, the rest is not of much account. Those who like complicated hives with all sorts of fixings, can have them. We know bees are not particular, and will store honey in rough hives properly constructed as well as in the most finely adorned palaces ever construct ed. We have learned a good deal about moth traps and other things, and those who have traded in this kind of apiarian Empyrean articles have shrunk away, and our society has done much to consign them to the grave they have chosen. Empyrean patents have been ignored, and this society has done much to spread abroad throughout the land the fundamental principles of apiarian culture. Although the society has not done as much as some hoped for it, it has done much. It has brought bee-keepers together and awakened an interest in the science of apiculture, but what we want in this society is to gather together all the intelligent apiarians of this country and make this a grand institution in the diffusion of a correct knowledge of apiculture. To do this we must find some nieans of bringing together our best apiarians. I do not undervalue the influence of this society in the place when it meets from year to year. In all the different cities where its various sessions have been held an interest has unquestionably been awakened. But we want to do good upon a large seale. This society shall embody the wisdom of all of our apiarians upon the subjects submitted to us. Some measures ought to be taken by which we can accomplish this result than by organizing auxilliaries to this society in every county, State and neighborhood. Pecuniary difficulties operate undoubtedly against our having as full a representation as we should have at the meetings of this society. There are many to whom apiculture is a sort of side business. Some go into it because of the interest they take in the subject. I have never been so situated that I could keep bees with an eye to profit. Yet, I have been well paid for my trouble in the interest in the pursuit. Let an interest be awakened in the minds of the public by lectures and all other legitimate means. In conclusion, the speaker said the society had a great work before them, and it could be accomplished if they only did their duty. The rubicon had been passed, and this Association had a great future before it, and the speaker could only say that in the position he had been selected to fill, he would, with the assistance of the society, endeavor to promote the interests of apiculture on the North American continent. Mr. A. Chapman had had the subject on his mind for some time, and thought it was worthy of notice. Mr. Benedict thought the way Queen raising was now carried on was very uncertain, and more attention should be paid to the subject. The topic was then discussed at considerable length, the details of taking care of queens and managing them as shown by the experience of a large number of persons being given. Dr. Rush read a recipe, which he had in his possession, to prevent honey from candying and souring. THE NEXT MEETING. Mr. King, from the Business Committee, reported in favor of Toledo, Ohio, as the place, and the first Wednesday of De cember, 1875, as the time for holding the next annual meeting. The report was adopted and the time and place fixed accordingly. The following committee was appointed to report on the question of breeding pure Queens and stock: Messrs. King, Benedict and Mrs. Tupper. The Association then adjourned. FRIDAY MORNING, A discussion was held on the spring management of bees. This necessarily involved the subject of wintering, it being generally agreed that stocks well wintered, could be brought through the spring with comparative ease. Some advocated cellar wintering, and others out-door wintering, but the importance of having strong colonies, was admitted on all hands. Warmth, stimulation by feeding, to make them strong early, were considered the chief points of spring management. The subjects of extra combs and a standard size of frame were discussed together, a paper being read by Mr. King advocating the adoption of a standard frame. After several had spoken on these topics, it was resolved to lay the matter of a standard frame on the table until next annual meeting, then to be taken up at an early part of the session, and that papers b solicited in regard to it. A paper sent by Mr. A. J. Murray of Memphis, Tenn., was read by Mrs. Tupper. It consisted chiefly of extracts from Purches's work on bees, published some 300 years ago, and was calculated to show that more was known about apiculture by that old author, than is known by many modern bee-keepers. A communication from J. P. H. Brown of Auguata, Ga., recommending certain experiments in bee-culture to be made under the direction of the Society, was referred to the Business Committee, who reported recommending that such experiments be conducted by individuals rather than by the Society, which report was adopted. ADULTERATION OF HONEY. The Committee on Adulteration of Honey presented the following report, which was unanimously adopted : WHEREAS, It has come to our knowledge that certain honey dealers in New York and Chicago are using large quantities of sugar syrup, and glucose, with which they mix a small quantity of honey and sell the whole for pure honey, thus making 1,000 pounds of honey sell for from 3,000 to 8,000 pounds; and WHEREAS, We, the North American BeeKeepers' Society, in annual session assembled, believing that the adulteration of honey can tend only to the ruin of the honey producing interest of the country by overstocking the market, reducing prices, ultimately lessening the consumption, and dishonoring our calling as well as their own; therefore, Resolved, That we hereby express our unqualified condemnation of the course of these dishonest dealers, and hereby notify them that they must cease to adulterate honey and assure us of the fact, or, for selfprotection, we shall be compelled to publish their names and expose them to deserved contempt. The Committee advise honey producers to sell no honey to dealers guilty of adultering. The Committee recommend the appointment of a Standing Committee authorized to communicate with honey dealers, and take such action as they may deem necessary to carry out the spirit of this resolution. H. A. KING, E. S. TUPPER, HOAGLAND, BENEDICT, W. F. CLARKE, Committee. The Chairman of the Business Committee reported the following resolutions which were unamously adopted: we WHEREAS, This Society has sustained a great loss since its last annual meeting, in the death of the late Dr. Hamlin, of Tennessee, one of its Vice-Presidents; desire to put on record the high estimation in which the deceased gentleman was deservedly held by his fellow agriculturists for his thorough knowledge of the science and art of bee-keeping; the zealous interest manifestated by him in this organization, from its inception up to the time of the annual meeting, showing before his death, at which he worthily presided in the unavoidable absence of the President; and finally for his upright character, urbane manners and kindness of heart. Honor to his memory, and peace to his ashes! Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be, and are hereby presented to Ex-President Hoagland, for the interest shown by him in the prosperity of this organization, and for his efficient, courteous, and praiseworthy occupancy of the chair. Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be tendered to the railway companies and hotel keepers, who have encouraged attendance at this meeting by a reduction of their usual rates. Resolved, That this Society, having received in every city where it has met, the most polite and kind attention from the local press, is pleassd to find the members of the fourth estate in Pittsburg not a whit behind the fraternity elsewhere; and for their patient attendance, courteous behaviour and excellent reports of our proceedings, we desire to tender them our best thanks. Resolved, That any and all of the officers of this Society are hereby authorized to ornanize auxiliary or branch socities, membership in which shall carry membership in this society; provided always that the membership fee shall be one dollar annually, and that one-half thereof shall be payable into the treasury of this Society. A communication was read from the firm of Jesse H. Lippincott & Co., of Pittsburgh, claiming to deal in genuine, unadulterated honey, and inviting beekeepers to deal with them. A standing committee, consisting of Messrs. King, Benedict, and Mrs. Tupper, was appointed to arrange a system of premiums for Italian queens and full colonies, for the next annual meeting. A committee of local arrangements for next meeting was appointed, consisting of the Secretaries, Messrs. Day, Zimmerman, and Smith. After some routine business and informal discussion on one or two points not thought necessary to be embodied in the resolutions, the subject of publication of the proceedings of the Society was taken up. The 'Secretaries could not engage to prepare a report in time for the December Bee Journals, and as Dr. Rush volunteered to furnish an abstract of the discussions in time for the December journals: The Dr's generous offer was thankfully accepted, and the Society adjourned to meet in Toledo, O., on the first Wednesday in December, 1875. Since the foregoing Report was "in type," we have received another from Dr. Rush, Simpson's Store, Pa. From it we select such portions as was not elaborated in the former Report. This annual meeting is reported as one of unusual harmony and interest, which must result in good, not only to the members present, but to the bee-keepers at large whom they represent.-T. G. N. QUEEN REARING, DRONE PRESERVATION AND BEST METHOD OF INTRODUCING QUEENS. Mr. Benedict-I generally have a hive that holds a half barrel, such a hive keeps a great many drones, though large hives keep drones until late or very cold weather, while small colonies will kill them as soon as the honey season is over if they have a fertile queen. I am generally successful with this kind of a hive and they fly out strong and seem to enjoy themselves and fly finely. Large hives also raise drones two weeks earlier, and they are better ones and more active. To introduce queens, put them right in. I sometimes wait a day and sometimes wait longer. I make no difference between a frame or box hive. I use a drum box, take old queen out and kill her, take esence of cinnamon in my mouth and wet them completely and put the queen in the top of the hive and let her go down among the bees. Sometimes I cage the queen and put her between the frames and leave her twenty-four hours, then I go to liberate her. I see whether the bees are inclined to sting her, and if they are, I shut the hive and go back the next day again, and they generally are all right. Mr. A. Chapman-I generally introduce same way as Mr. Benedict does; but another way is to put her in a wire cage and put in a cork of comb, not very thick or loosely, cut a comb the size of the hole in the cage and stick it in, they find the queen caged and loose her by eating the end out and liberating her. I never loose one queen in this way. Mr. Zimmerman-When I introduce her I take her to, and put this comb and honey in the end of the cage and to make it more sure, put in a lot of strange bees at the same time; and thereby disorganize the colony and they are less disposed to kill the queen. Mr. Chapman-I take a comb of bees from another hive with brood in it, and a strange queen from another and put them together and they do well. Mrs. Tupper-Queen raising in the most important of all. Each one must understand it well, the way I take is one that any one can follow. Take the best queen you have, a good hive and queen, put her in a good colony in the fall for spring operations, stimulate by feeding early, have them strong in the fall and spring both, also feed in the fall; no difference where, so it seems to come from the outside of the hive. Go to the colony (early in the spring,) take out the queen, put her in another hive, disturb them as little as possible, put in frames in another hive with enough bees to keep them warm, get four frames in another hive, move the hive and put it in the place of the old hive, and if too many leave the old hive change them and continue; in this way you can get ten nuclie, and as soon as it is warm you will have queens. As soon as one comes out, put in another cell and continue this rotation, cage or change queens between ten and two o'clock and you can have from ten to sixteen nuclei all the time without much care. Mark the entrance for queens before they fly. Mr. Benedict-Those large hives, I would say, which have drones, that they fly early in the day, stop in the drones early, and put in a teaspoonful of honey in the big hive to feed and excite the bees and drones. Open the hive about five o'clock and liberate the drones and young queens and they will come right out and fly finely after all the rest of the drones are done flying. Mr. Chapman-I keep my hives large and strong, and in the spring of the year take out a few drone combs and put them in two hives that have no other comb in their hives and kill all the drones except those in the two hives. I killed all my drones in this way last spring. Have practiced this for a long time, and my best success has been with large hives to keep drones. Mr. J. S. Hill-I have introduced queens and have been successful; loose one once in a while. I do not like the method of wintering bees, they do not clean off or the queens either. When you want to change queens catch the old one, put her in a cage, raise the bottom or open the hive, put the old queen in the cage, on the bottom of the hive, and in two days if they are quiet, change the old one for a new one, and put her in the same place, stop the cage with bits of comb, getting your comb from uncapping honey. In two days after, examine to see if she has been liberated, if they have not let her go, then uncage her. Mr. Benedict--I would have my queen to breed from, in a good strong hive in the spring and as soon as the weather is warm enough, change her to another good hive and on the 9th day I would cut out the queen cells, get a nucleus hive and put in it frames of honey and brood capped, with a few bees, next day put the nucleus in the place of the old one, have plenty of drones in the old hive. Mr. Anderson-When I raise queens I do the same way, but when I put my cells in (as soon as they are capped) I put them in a wire cage and leave them an exit. Mr. R B. Price--I first catch old queen and kill her and put her in the cage with the new queen and succeed well, keep them in twenty-four hours. As soon as the bees find their queen dead they will readily accept the new one. Mr. Hill-I generally have bees two weeks before I distrub them after introducing a queen. Mr. Zimmerman-I have lost queens by being killed after they had been liberated two days. To make doubly sure I would take out the bees and put the queen in, and then let the bees go in slowly and they think it a strange place. Mr. Sweitzer-I cannot succeed in that way. Mr. Benedict-Be sure and conquer the bees first, by smoking them well, then kill old queen, put the new one in a cage with comb stoper. In forty-eight hours see if she has been liberated and if not let her be in the cage one week, then pull out the cork and let her go. Dr. B. W. Rush-I have tried the plan with a comb stopper and have succeeded well. BEE FORAGE. Can bee-keeping as a business be successfully practised in a locality producing a large amount of clover, but no other source except locust and fruit bloom in the spring? Mr. Chapman-I will give an idea how to get honey from clover. I have been a farmer. Take a field in a good state of cultivation, sow it in clover, and when it has fairly covered the ground it will draw a moisture from the surrounding land. I do not plow it, but add more to it; this field will deposit much more evaporation than the surrounding, or poorly cultivated fields. Mr. Hoagland—I don't think I am prepared to express myself, we cultivate from 20 to 60 acres of buckwheat of the black variety. The gray superceeded the black, and then in three years I got the silver quill. Two years ago it produced more than it has since. Sometimes clover is the best for honey and sometimes basswood, but now clover is the honey resource as basswoon has failed by being destroyed. I wish to say that buckwheat |