CONVENTION NOTESChamplain Valley, Vt., Convention.
This Association held its winter meeting at Brandon, Vt., on Jan. 20, 21, 1881. Pres. Crane in the chair. Col. H. H. Merritt gave an address of welcome, to which Pres. Crane replied, stating the object of the meeting and giving a brief narration of the ancient history of the honey bee, and of its improved management in the present age.
Mr. A. E. Manum said success depended on the man and circumstances. The bee-keeper should be a person of even temperament—not easily excited—should be somewhat acquainted with botany; and recommended small section boxes, to hold not more than 2 lbs. Everything should be kept ready and in order. He gave an estimate of produce in a good season with Italian bees, and also a poor season like the past.
Mr. O. C. Wait, of Georgia, said that experience had shown that bee-keeping was no mystery or sleight of hand, but a clear, plain, practical science. Bee-keepers were an intelligent, enterprising class of men; men of progress. No intelligent man would destroy his bees.
After some discussion Mr. Manum exhibited some of his honey boxes, and explained their uses and advantages.
Bees were advantageous in the orchard, and to the buckwheat crop, as he had satisfactorily demonstrated. Some doubts had been expressed to the value of the red clover blossom on account of the inability of the bee to reach the nectary; Italians have the advantage over black bees, because they are provided with greater length of proboscis.
Pres. Crane said he had noticed bees working in red clover early and late in the season; bees will not work where they get no honey.
In the evening, after a few preliminaries, Mr. E. A. Hasseltine read a sensible and witty poem on “Prospects and Retrospects,” which was well received by the audience.
The talk on Sweets, by Prof. Seely, was a learned dissertation on the chemical properties and qualities of the various kinds of sweets that are offered in our markets. He exhibited over 20 different kinds of sugar; spoke of the various substances from which sugar was extracted, as trees, plants, roots and fruits; some specimens would solidify sooner than others; sugar from cane, corn, beets and maple, were all of the same chemical formation.
J. E. Crane spoke on the Individuality of Bees; there was a marked difference in the character of colonies, some were industrious, others not so; some prefer some kinds of flowers, others reject them; Italians dislike buckwheat, while black bees work well on it. Every colony has some peculiar character. He showed several samples of honey from different flowers, and explained their various qualities, and also exhibited specimens of bees from the Holy Land.
Dr. F. Bond said that the Creator had placed the sweets in flowers to attract the bee, to carry out nature's laws, by carrying the fertilizing pollen to the unfertile flower, and thus showing a wise and beneficent Providence.
On Friday, Jan. 21, after some preliminary business, the following were elected officers for the ensuing year: President, J. E. Crane; Vice-Presidents, H. L. Leonard, E. P. Wolcott, E. A. Hasseltine; Secretary and Treasurer, Hon. T. Brookins.
Mr. O. C. Wait spoke of the bad condition he found honey in the Boston market, and of the manner of awarding premiums at fairs.
Mr. Manum remarked that it was important to have good queens, he advised all to raise their own; old queens were best to rear queens from, say 2 years old or more; it is best to rear queens in warm weather, when honey is plenty.
The question “how to prevent bees from dwindling” Mr. Leonard answered thus: In this case as in all other ills to which bee-keepers are heir to, keep the colony strong and healthy. Mr. Leonard read an essay on “Bee-culture for Women,” giving instances of marked success. He said women in Vermont were as capable and had as good facilities as in any part of the country, and would succeed as well, if attended to.
Adjourned to meet at Bristol, Vt., in May next.
T. Brookins,Sec.
☞In order to have this Table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of time and place of future meetings.—Ed.
We supply the WeeklyAmerican Bee Journaland any of the following periodicals, for 1881, at the prices quoted in the last column of figures. The first column gives the regular price of both:
For Semi-monthly Bee Journal, $1.00 less.For Monthly Bee Journal, $1.50 less.
BUYERS' QUOTATIONS.
CHICAGO.
HONEY.—The market is plentifully supplied with honey, and sales are slow at weak, easy prices. Quotable at 18@20c. for strictly choice white comb in 1 and 2 lb. boxes; at 14@16c. for fair to good in large packages, and at 10@12c. for common dark-colored and broken lots.—Chicago Times.
BEESWAX.—Choice yellow, 20@24c; dark, 15@17c.
NEW YORK.
HONEY.—Best white comb honey, small neat packages, 17@18c.; fair do., 15@16c.; dark do., 12@13c.; large boxes sell for about 2c. under above. White extracted, 9@10c.; dark, 7@8c.; southern strained, 80@85c.
BEESWAX.—Prime quality, 20@23c.
CINCINNATI.
HONEY.—The market for extracted clover honey is very good, and in demand at 11c. for the best, and 8@9c. for basswood and dark honey. Comb honey is of slow sale at 16c. for the best.
BEESWAX.—18@24c.C. F. Muth.
SAN FRANCISCO.
HONEY.—Extracted is in large supply for the season, and purchasers for round lots difficult to find, except at extremely low prices. We quote white comb, 12@15c.; dark to good, 10@11c. Extracted, choice to extra white, 6@6½c.; dark and candied, 5@5½c.
BEESWAX.—21@22½c., as to color.
Stearns & Smith, 423 Front Street.San Francisco, Cal., March 4, 1881.
☞Constitutions and By-Laws for local Associations $2 per 100. The name of the Association printed in the blanks for 50 cents extra.
☞“What is the meaning of ‘Dec. 81’ after my name on the direction-label of my paper?” This question has been asked by several, and to save answering each one, let us here say: It means that you have paid for the full year, or until “Dec. 31, 1881.” “June 81” means that the first half of the year is paid for, up to “July 1st.” Any other month, the same.
☞We will send sample copies to any who feel disposed to make up clubs for 1881. There are persons keeping bees in every neighborhood who would be benefited by reading theJournal, and by using a little of the personal influence possessed by almost every one, a club can be gotten up in every neighborhood in America. Farmers have had large crops, high prices, and a good demand for all the products of the farm, therefore can well afford to add theBee Journalto their list of papers for 1881.
Hundreds of Men, Women and Childrenrescued from beds of pain, sickness and almost death and made strong and hearty by Parker's Ginger Tonic are the best evidences in the world of its sterling worth. You can find these in every community.—Post.See advertisement. 9w4t
☞When changing a post office address, mention theoldaddress as well as the new one.
☞We have prepared Ribbon Badges for bee-keepers, on which are printed a large bee in gold. Price 10 cents each, or $8.00 per hundred.
☞The Volume of theBee Journalfor 1880, bound in stiff paper covers, will be sent by mail, for $1.50.
☞Notices and advertisements intended for the WeeklyBee Journalmust reach this office by Friday of the week previous.
☞Instead of sending silver money in letters, procure 1, 2 or 3 cent stamps. We can use them, and it is safer to send such than silver.
Ladies who Appreciate Eleganceand purity are using Parker's Hair Balsam. It is the best article sold for restoring gray hair to its original color and beauty.
☞The date following the name on the wrapper label of this paper indicates the time to which you have paid. In making remittances,alwayssend by postal order, registered letter, or by draft on Chicago or New York. Drafts on other cities, and local checks, are not taken by the banks in this city except at a discount of 25c., to pay expense of collecting them.
Premiums.—For a club of 2,weeklywe will give a copy of “Bee-Culture;” for a club of 5,weekly, we will give a copy of “Cook's Manual,” bound in cloth; for a club of 6, we give a copy of theJournalfor a yearfree. Do not forget that it will pay to devote a few hours to theBee Journal.
☞Sample copies of the WeeklyBee Journalwill be sentfreeto any names that may be sent in. Any one intending to get up a club can have sample copies sent to the persons they desire to interview, by sending the names to this office.
☞Any one desiring to get a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Society, can do so by sending a stamp to this office to pay postage. If they desire to become members, a fee of $1.00 should accompany it, and the name will be duly recorded. This notice is given at the request of the Executive Committee.
☞It would save us much trouble, if all would be particular to give their P.O. address and name, when writing to this office. We have several letters (some inclosing money) that have no name. Many others having no Postoffice, County or State. Also, if you live near one post office and get your mail at another, be sure to give the address we have on our list.
☞At the Chicago meeting of the National Society we were requested to get photographs of the leading apiarists, to sell to those who wanted them. We can now supply the following at 25 cents each: Dzierzon, the Baron of Berlepsch, and Langstroth. The likeness of Mr. Langstroth we have copied, is one furnished by his daughter, who says, “it is the only one ever taken when he was in good health and spirits.” We are glad to be able to secure one of such a satisfactory nature.
☞We have filled orders for quite a number of Binders for the WeeklyBee Journal. We put the price low, 30 per cent. less than any one else could afford to sell them, for we get them by the quantity at wholesale and sell them at just enough to cover the cost and postage, the latter being 21 to 23 cents, on each. We do this to induce as many as possible to get them, and preserve their Weekly numbers. They are exceedingly convenient; theJournalbeing always bound and handy for reference. The directions for binding are sent with each one.