Topics of Interest.

Illinois State Convention.

JAS. A. STONE.

At this, my first spare moment, I proceed to give a kind of synopsis of the late convention of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association. The attendance was not as large as we hoped for. Some of the members sent their regrets, and that sickness was keeping them away. And we hear from many that were kept away on account of La Grippe, etc. Though we had a fair attendance, and an exceedingly interesting meeting.

Our meeting was held in the Senate Judiciary room at the State House, and through the kindness of the State Secretary, I. N. Pierson, and Chief Janitor W. E. Savage, we received the attention that could not fail to make our visit to the capital a pleasant one.

The meeting was called to order by the President, P. J. England, of Fancy Prairie, and Rev. Dr. Johnson, of Springfield, invoked the divine blessing -praying that we might learn lessons of industry from the habits of the little bee.

Mr. G. F. Robbins, of Mechanicsburg, gave us a very eloquent address, to which Mrs. L. Harrison, of Peoria, just as eloquently responded.

Each member was then requested to report as to their several apiaries, which feature proved to be as much of a love feast as it was said to be at the meeting of the Northwestern. And although none could report any light-colored honey, and not a great quantity of dark, it was talked and laughed over as though it was something to amuse rather than disappoint. Later we received a report from A. Coppin, of Wenona, stating that his crop of white comb-honey this year was 3,000 pounds, and that they had no honey-dew.

The Secretary, in his report, took the stand that it was unjust, and prejudiced the minds of consumers, for us to call honey-dew bug-juice. And that honeydew was not all from the exudation of the aphis; and if it was, it only differed from honey in that it was exuded by aphis, and fell upon the leaves, while honey and wax were exuded by bees in the hive. And, further, that as the season advanced honey-dew became darker, caused by the windy, dusty

weather, depositing dust where the honey-dew was on the leaves.

The Secretary's report also showed that our membership had increased to more than 50, largely through the efforts of Mr. A. N. Draper, of Upper Alton.

The Treasurer's report (A. N. Draper) showed a balance on hand of $46.25.

Committee on by-laws, C. E. Yocom, of Sherman, A. Coppin, of Wenona, and G. F. Robbins, of Mechanicsburg, reported, and by-laws were unanimously adopted as a whole.

Hon. J. M. Hambaugh addressed the convention on "What Laws are BeeKeepers in Need of ?" He said that bee-keepers did not need many laws, but that they should have justice by being represented, recognized and protected in their interests the same as all other industries are.

Mrs. L. Harrison read an essay, explained by charts, as follows, on the Fertilization of Plants by Honey-Bees

It appears to be the first anxiety and care of all animal and vegetable life, to reproduce its kind. As plants cannot walk like animals, other agents, viz: wind, water, birds and insects, were appointed to carry out the requirements of nature.

Some families of plants grow the male and female flowers on separate plants, as the willow and green ash. In others they are found growing on the same branch, as on the oak, walnut, or castor-oil plant. It is plainly seen that in these two modes of growth some foreign agent is necessary, to bring the life-giving power to the embryo plant.

Those plants that are dependent upon the wind to bring together the agents that produce life, yield pollen in great abundance, as the pines, and it is carried great distances. It has been seen covering the ground so thickly that it looked like a layer of sulphur, and it must have come from forests 400 miles distant. Currents of water convey pollen from one aquatic plant to another. In some parts of the world, as in South America or Australia, humming birds are the agents in conveying the pollen to some species of flowers.

Insects are powerful agents in this distribution of the "father dust," and many plants have their own particular insect. Dicentra spectabilis never bears seed in this country, because its fertilizing moth has never been introduced from North China, its native habitat. Red clover, Trifolium pratense, bore no

seed in Australia, until bumble-bees, Bombus, were introduced, and they appear to be the chief fertilizers of this valuable forage plant.

When Columbus discovered America he found no honey-bees here. But when the settlers came, they brought apples, pears, quince and cherry trees, and their fertilizers, the honey-bees. "Nature detests self fertilization."

The apple blossom is a perfect flower, containing both sexes in one, with the stamens and anthers waving above the germ; why then does it need a foreign agent to insure fertilization? On a close examination we find that when the germ is in season for the fertilizing powder, the anthers waving above have not burst. When the germ is ready, nature spreads a rich feast of delicious, fragrant nectar, and invites the bees to the nuptials. They come, like millers, with flour on their bodies, and their pollen baskets filled with it, kneaded into bread, and as they load up the nectar, they leave behind them some of the fertilizing powder in exchange.

Five distinct fertilizations must take place to produce a perfect apple; if the seeds on one side are fertilized, and those opposite are not, it will be shrunken, or one-sided.

Nature has so ordered that only a limited number of insects shall survive the Winter's cold; only the queens of some species, as bumble-bees and wasps; but bees dwelling in communities have survived by the thousands.

It has been found, "by actual count in time of fruit in May, that the bees outnumber all other insects twenty to one, upon the bloom; and on cool days, hundreds of bees are seen on the fruit blossoms, while not a single other insect can be found." Thus we see, that the honey-bees are exceedingly important in the economy of vegetable growth and fruitage, especially of all such plants as blossom early in the season.

In England, a fruit grower was surprised to find that the trees near one corner of his grounds, in which were placed colonies of bees, were heavily laden with fruit, while those more remote, had set very sparingly. Then he called to mind the fact of its being very dark and foggy during the blooming of the trees, so the bees flew but a short distance from their hives.

Fruit and bees are inseparable. Horticulturists and apiarists are, like the American Union, one, and inseparable. White clover, Trifolium repens, and its relative, Alsike clover, Trifolium hybrida,

is dependent almost entirely for fertilization upon honey-bees.

Dairymen have complained that bees robbed the pastures of their sweetness. A writer in the Naturalist says, "It is estimated that to collect one pound of honey from white clover, 62,000 heads of clover must be deprived of their.nectar, and that 3,750,000 visits must be made by the bees." If this estimate is correct, the loss of sweetness is not appreciable.

experimented

for

Charles Darwin eleven years on the cross-fertilization of plants, and has given to the world some very valuable results, proving the very great value of cross-fertilization, as it is performed by insects. He found by experiments from 20 heads of white clover, protected from insects, one aborted seed was the only result, while 20 heads on the plants outside the net, and visited by bees, yielded by count 2,290 seeds. MRS. L. HARRISON.

A resolution made by Mrs. Harrison was adopted, viz: "That the thanks of this association are due to all the members of the State Legislature, who by voice or vote aided in placing our association upon a solid foundation; and in particular to the Hon. J. M. Hambaugh, of Spring, for his untiring efforts in behalf of our industry, and our Society."

A vote of thanks was also given to Mrs. L. Harrison for her efforts in behalf of the cause of bee-keepers throughout the State.

A resolution was adopted, and a committee appointed to prepare and report a premium list. Committee-Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria, G. F. Robbins, S. N. Black, W. J. Finch, Jr., and A. N. Draper.

A resolution was adopted, and a committee of three appointed to prepare a code of rules to govern the awards of premiums at fairs. Committee-Geo. F. Robbins, Mechanicsburg, D. D. Cooper, and Chas. Becker.

A motion was carried that when we adjourn, it be to meet at 7:30 p.m. for a night session.

The question box was opened, and discussions followed which were participated in with much animation. Adjourned.

The night session met at 7:30 p.m., for a sort of "love feast." Among other questions that came up, that of the adulteration of honey, caused a long continued discussion; the arguments generally favoring the passage of a law for its prevention.

SECOND DAY.

On Thursday at 9 a.m., the convention was called to order, with President P. J. England in the chair.

An address by Col. Chas. F. Mills was first in order. Subject -"Bee-Keeping for the Average Farmer."

Among the many things of importance of which he spoke were, of making fine exhibits at fairs, of advertising in papers, of the good results of agitation, and of honey for medicinal purposes.

Mr.. Hambaugh moved a vote of thanks to Col. Mills for his usefulness to this association, and his assistance rendered in numerous ways.

On motion of S. N. Black, of Clayton, a committee of three were appointed on legislation, and on the gathering of statistics, consisting of J. M. Hambaugh, Mrs. L. Harrison, and Dr. C. C. Miller.

Sub

Dr. C. C. Miller, though absent, had previously sent in an excellent esssay, which was read with good effect. ject, "The Future of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association." He favored the union of this and the Northwestern Association. He spoke of the importance of a large membership; of the privileges of bee-keepers in some countries, such as receiving bee-papers free, or for special rates, and of his faith in the future of this association, because of his faith in Illinois bee-keepers.

A resolution by S. N. Black was adopted as follows:

Resolved, That the Illinois State BeeKeepers' Association endorse and accept the action of the Northwestern BeeKeepers' Association as to joining this association, and that the President be hereby directed to call one meeting each year in Chicago, at such time as the Executive Committee may direct.

A resolution was adopted, that the Secretary be authorized to invite, in behalf of this association, all the other associations of the State to affiliate with us.

C. E. Yocom offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the Illinois State BeeKeepers' Association most earnestly protest against the opening of the World's Columbian Exposition on the sabbath.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare a memorial to be presented to the managers of the World's Fair and the State Board of Agriculture on this subject.

By a resolution the thanks of this association were extended to I. N. Pier

son, Secretary of State, and W. E. Savage, Chief Janitor, for the use of the Senate Judiciary room, and for the kind treatment received during our most pleasant sessions.

A vote of thanks was also given to the St. Nicholas Hotel, for its kind hospitality.

By motion a committee of three was appointed to visit the different bee-keepers' societies of the State. The committee are: A. N. Draper, Upper Alton; W. J. Finch, Jr., Chesterfield; and C. E. Yocom, Sherman.

A motion by A. N. Draper prevailed, that a committee of three be appointed to ascertain from the State Board as to the value for honey of alfalfa, and other plants foreign to our soil, and have it inserted in our published report. The committee are Geo. Poindexter, of Kenney; S. N. Black, of Clayton; and L. Mason, of Auburn. The committee reported unfavorably on alfalfa.

The election of officers resulted as follows:

President-Hon. J. M. Hambaugh, Spring, Ills.

Vice-Presidents-1st, Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria; 2nd, Mr. P. J. England, Fancy Prairie; 3rd, Dr. C. C. Miller, Marengo; 4th, C. P. Dadant, Hamilton; 5th, S. N. Black, Clayton. Secretary-Jas. A. Stone, BradfordN. Draper, Upper

ton.

Treasurer-A.

Alton.

Following the election of officers an essay by A. C. Hammond, Secretary of the State Horticultural Society was read as follows:

Bees in Horticulture.

In the economy of Nature it was ordered that the "little busy bee" should be an important factor in making fruit growing successful. Many a man has planted and carefully cultivated, pruned and trained, but when he looked for fruit, found "nothing but leaves," and has therefore concluded that he is not a born horticulturist, or that this is not a fruit country-when a little investigation would have shown him that the failure was caused by lack of fertilization. The wild goose plum, and crescent strawberry are marked illustrations of this truth.

Much can be done to overcome this difficulty by intermixing staminate and pistillate varieties, so that on the wings of the wind the fertilizing pollen will be carried from bloom to bloom. This is a wasteful method, and ninety-nine hun

dredths of it is lost, to the great disappointment of the planter. But let a colony of bees be put near the orchard or fruit garden, and the busy little workers will, while extracting honey from the blossoms, cover their feet and legs with pollen, and when they go to the next blossom in search of its hidden treasures, leave it clinging to the delicate organs, and its influence will be seen in the large crops of fruit.

It will, therefore, be readily seen that the apiary is a valuable addition to the plant of the horticulturist, not only for the honey it may yield, but as a means of increasing the yield and quality of his fruit (imperfect fertilization often causes imperfect fruit), and therefore increases his profits.

On the other hand, the orchard, vinėyard and garden afford excellent pasturage during several weeks in the Spring; and during the entire season, from the first-ripening strawberries to that of cherries, plums, peaches, grapes, pears, and apples; they also gather up the exuding juices from those that have been punctured by birds, grasshoppers and other insects.

"O! yes," says the man ever ready to jump at conclusions, "I have seen them puncturing and sucking the juices from my grapes, peaches and plums, and sometimes even the apples, and I think they do great injury."

Half the world go through life with their eyes shut; at least, without making any careful investigations, and these heedless people, when they see the bees gathering up this wasting sweetness, thoughtlessly conclude that they have punctured the fruit to get the juice, while every entomologist and horticulturist knows that they never injure perfect fruit.

It is therefore evident that these two industries are very nearly related, and that every horticulturist should be a bee-keeper, and to a certain extent every bee-keeper should be a horticulturist.

There is, in some minds, an idea that spraying trees and plants to destroy insects, is necessarily a blow at the life of the bee, as well as dangerous to human life and health. If done while trees are in bloom, I think there is no question as to the existence of this danger. But entomologists and horticulturists who have made careful experiments, and watched the effect of arsenical sprays on fruit bloom, and leaf, are unanimously of the opinion that it is worse than useless to spray until the bloom has fallen, and the young fruit is

as large as peas. It is about this time that the eggs of the codling moth are laid and hatched, and the minute particles of poison deposited in the calyx are eaten by the young larvæ, and its days of mischief are suddenly brought to a close.

If horticulturists and apiculturists would attend each others' conventions, and discuss these questions of mutual interest, it would be found to be very profitable to both; it is a great satisfaction to know that they are becoming better acquainted, and beginning to see that there is no antagonism between their interests. A. C. HAMMOND.

The following resolution, offered by Hon. J. M. Hambaugh, was adopted:

Resolved, That each member of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association be transformed into an Information Bureau, with the object of giving the Secretary such information as would enhance the interests of the pursuit, and make the first report a model, and of incalculable benefit to the public. Adjourned sine die.

JAMES A. STONE, Sec.

P. S.-Any bee-keepers wishing to have their names go into the first report of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Assotion as members of the same, must send in their names (and $1.00) within the next 30 days to the Secretary. Other bee-papers are requested to copy this report. JAS. A. STONE.

Bradfordton, Ills.

Chilled Brood aud Foul-Brood.

C. J. ROBINSON.

Dr. C. C. Miller says that "chilled brood never made foul-brood," and asks: "Does anyone really believe that it ever did? Do they not rather hold this view? The spores of foul-brood are so plentiful that they are floating around everywhere, and a lot of chilled brood is just the right soil for them to take root in, just as white clover seems to come up of itself."

Dr. Miller's assertion that chilled brood never made foul-brood is one of the things he "don't know." If he knows that chilled brood is the right soil for foul-brood spores to take root in, he ought to know that chilled foul-brood has, in fact, made foul-brood-has spread it.

Readers are not competent-not wise

enough to "catch on" to any logical reason, in comparing the origin of foulbrood to that of white clover coming up of itself. If there be any truth in Dr. M.'s teaching, it is too subtle for mortals to perceive.

In another issue of Gleanings Dr. Miller quotes this from the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL: "A new theory of foulbrood. A. Leach says the moth-miller lays eggs in the cells besides the queen's eggs, which hatch out, suck the food from the bee-larvæ, which die, causing foul-brood." Dr. Miller asserts by way of comment--" this lacks confirmation.' Of course it does, as much so, almost, as does Dr. Miller's theory as quoted in the foregoing.

The idea that foul-brood spores are floating around everywhere," is an invention of Mr. S. Corneil, but perhaps Dr. Miller may appropriate it without giving credit.

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As matters of fact, live "brood is just the right soil" for foul-brood spores to take root in; and if the spores are floating around everywhere," they are floating around every hive of bees, and if the spores float inside and attack chilled brood, certainly live brood could not escape; and if foul-brood spores float everywhere, all chilled brood and all bee-brood would, inevitably, be done for, by foul-brood spores.

Learned scientists "don't know" of any bacteria or spores that commonly float around in the atmosphere, other than the so-called diplococcus pneumonites and the streptococcus pyogenes. If Corneil-Miller is credited with truth in the matter, somebody must invent a foul-brood-spore trap.

Richford, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1891.

Are there Black Bees in Italy?

GEORGE THOMPSON.

In Vol. XII, page 188, of the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, is a communication which I sent to the Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association, on the improvement of the Italian bee. I there stated that I thought from the unstable character of our Italians, that there must be many dark, and even black bees, in Italy, and pointed out the necessity of improving our drones, if we wished to improve the Italian bee.

In the August number, same volume, page 205, Chas. Dadant takes me to task, and denies that there were any black bees in Italy, and offered to pay

I

any man $200 who could prove it. undertook to do this, and in Vol. XIII, page 127, can be found proof enough to satisfy any reasonable, unbiased mind.

It is unnecessary to quote from that or subsequent articles-suffice it to say that it was generally believed, and even publicly declared in one of our bee conventions in Chicago, that I gave sufficient proof to sustain my assertion.

But now comes forward another witness to testify, and what I consider the crowning evidence, by a native of Italy, an intelligent bee-keeper, and one of the largest exporters of Italian queens in Italy (See Gleanings for Dec. 15, 1891, page 948). Question-Did you ever see any black bees in Italy ? "Certainly, in some parts of Italy the black bee is to be found." This coming from a gentleman who is supposed to be, and doubtless is, interested in the purity of the Italian bee, ought to set forever at rest the truth that there are black bees in Italy.

Geneva, Ills.

[At the Albany convention last month, Mr. C. P. Dadant stated that black bees were found just over the mountains in Carniola, and if they are there why not expect to find some in Italy? While we were in Italy, in 1879, we certainly saw some in different apiaries, which, to all appearance, were nothing but black bees. If they had any yellow bands, they were obscure, and it would take good feeding with honey, and active exercise on a window in a sunny day, to discover any golden bands.-ED.]

Some Things That I Have Learned.

P. D. WALLACE.

I have kept bees for two seasons, and have stored away a large quantity of bee-lore in that time. The first thing I learned was that the experts do not agree, and in all replies to the Queries in the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, the last year, none were answered unanimously. I learned also that bees will swarm in good seasons, and in good localities, if they had surplus room as large as a barn-the assertions to the contrary notwithstanding. I also learned that in years of scarcity, and in poor pasturage, you cannot induce, force, or coax them to swarm to any extent; that there may