The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-01-19

I
AFTERNOON SESSION
The Convention was called to order by
President J. c. Belman, of this city. A call
of the roll by Secretary Daugherty showed
fifty members present. Pursuant TO pro-
gramme, the Secretary reported that of the
sixty-two members on the rolls of the Asso-
citation. sixteen had sent to him reports
showing total number of colonies repre-
scented by them to be 40. with no surplus
honey or wax. In connection with the re-
port he also submitted the following:
THE BEE-KEEPISG INTEREST.
To the Honorable State Board OF Agriculture:
GESTLENEN-At the late Convention of the In.
diana state Bee Keepers Association the follow
"ResOlved, That the Secretary OF this AssOci.
alton be instructed 70 confer with the state Board
OF Agriculture in respect in the further encour-
agement of The science OF agriculture in the State
Of Indiana"
In pursuance of this resolution would respect
fully call your attention to the bee keeping inter
est in this state. Your honorable Board, by the
offer of premiums and other means have encOur-
aged almost every other department of industry
in the domain OF agriculture. manufacture and
science, enabling those in search OF knowledge to
come TO safe and inexpensive results. Stock rails
ing, horticulture, darying. wool growing, poultry
raising and tile making are each separate and i'm
pOrtant interests receiving your special care, and
by virtue of this precedent the bee keepers feel
that they too, are entitled to some consideration
al YOUR hands Too long has the idea prevailed
that bee keeping is a minor pursuit. in which so
few can probably engage, that to neglect ii a
prominent feature of our National industries
should not be regarded as detrimental TO the gem
eral welfare. We hope few facts will place this
subject in new light. Indiana has has growing
upon her soil almost as large a variety of honey
producing plants as any state in the Union.
we have honey-producing trees in vast numbers
such Eastwood poplar, maple, willow, aud
the various fruit trees. We have
among the countless multitude of Towering
shrubs and plants, white, alsika and red clover
buckwheat, gOldenrOd, the many astOrs and
minis, and of small fruits. currant gOosberries,
raspberTies, blackberries, etc. In fact from the
first blossoms of early spring TO the coming FROST
the flora of Indiana are sufficiently prolific in the
secretion of honey 10 afford our little pets
abundant forage an which To work. The bee
keeping interest has become one of vast National
importance. and is growing larger each year. To-
day America stands first in the world for honey.
production, aSwell as . scientific manage ment
and improved implements for the apiaTy. We
have within the last two years exported more than
SO tons Of American honey to the Old World. We
are also producing hOme-bre American queens,
that at least are equal 10, II not superior. TO
those we import from Italy. 1t is estimated that
we have in our State &c 900 colonies of bees, pro-
duciHg an average yield OF fifteen pounds to the
cO.ony, or a total of - .0O pounds of honey,
which, at an average OF twelve and a half cents
per pound, would produce revenue of S5i,2 5,
and believe the estimate none too high. There
is no reason why Indiana should not be in the
front rank with products from the apiary. We
information Oh this subject but through
the efforts of l.. &. Newman. President
of the National Bee Keepers Association, arrange
ments have been made TO have complete statistics
gathered by the Government, while taking the
next census. Arrangements are also being made
by the Executive Committee OF the Indiana State
Association to gather al possible information on
the subject in this State. As regards the offering
of premiums. etc, | would respectfully suggest
the following as a competitive list: Best package
of comb honey, one pound or more; best package
OF extracted honey, one pound or more; best crate
of honey I'm the CONN, in the most marketable
shape; best display of honey, both comb and ex
tracted; best machine for eXtractlng honey; best
display of wax, and the best display OF bee keep
ers' supplies.
In conclusion, ! would ask that you also in
quire into the feasibility of the establishment of
an apiary in connection with our Agricultural
College. Other States have gone far ahead of our
own in this respect. Michigan has, in connection
with her Agricultural College. an apiary managed
by competent practical agriculturist, whose OBJ
servatiOns are recorded and published. and whose
methods of treatment of the little Insects are al
ways open to the inspection of learners
The State of Tennessee has followed the
worthy example of Michigan This depart
ment, in connection with the Agricultural
Colleges. should be and will be- ii successfully
managed, not only self-sustaining financially but
repository of demonstrated facts and scientific
knowledge. 10 which the public should have full
access, and bee keeping will thereby be raised to
the rank of a surely remunerative pursuit instead
OF haPhazard speculation Now, should your
honorable Board SO far interest itself in this en-
terpriSe to ask by formal resolution. the Board
of Trustees of the State University to establish
an Apiariau professOrShip in connection with the
Agricultural Department of the State University,
we think ii will have done no more than the bee
keepers of Indiana have a right 10 expect of
them the guardians of all industrial Interests.
Such department would not only be source of
scientific knowledge, but a financial success, and
shortly become to the University source of reve-
nue.. Let IL start with apiary of moderate size,
say twenty-five or fifty colonies, and it will even
pay large interest on the investment from the
first year. There are many questions yet to be
solved by experiments which coHld be well
done only in an apiary of this kind
Thanking you, gentlemen, for your Kindness,
have the henOr TO be- respectfully yours,
FRANK l. DAUGHERTY,
Secretary of the Indiana State Bee Keepers Asso
citation.
Following the report of the Secretary, ].
C. Belman delivered the
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS,
as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE BEE KEEPERS CONVENTION
You are again assembled Mt the Capital In State