Buchanan, Mich., March 9, 1881.
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CONVENTION
NOTES
]
Champlain 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.