The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-17
THE BEE-KEEPERS.
The Association Addressed at Length by
Governor Porter.

The morning session of the State Bee-keepers
Association yesterday was devoted to the gen
eral discussion of questions relating to the bee
culture interests, the members giving their eX-
periences and observations upon all questions
which were suggested. The information elected
was interesting, and the exchange of ideas was
altogether quite beneficial.
In the afternoon the association was addressed
by Governor Porter. In examining the agricul-
tural reports of other States, the Governor said
that he had found none in which the subjects of
bee culture and the production of honey were
discussed with more intelligence than in the re
ports of the proceedings of the Indiana Bee
keepers Association. He had always come to
their meetings to be instructed, rather
than to impart instruction. He had
proved by examining the State statistics that for
the year ending April l. 1880, the production of
honey was l, 097, 634 pounds. In 1881 the pro
duction had declined to 600, 141 pounds, and in
1882 it had declined to 400 Dol 1t further APP
peaFed from the statistics for the year ending
April l, 1882, that there was a loss of 1887
stands of bees The decline manifestly came
chiefly from the destruction of bees, owing to the
insufficient supply of food in certain parts
of the year, from unfavorable weather, and from
the destruction of bees ia wintering, it being es-
sential in winter that bees shall be kept warm
and dry by proper ventilation and shall be sup
piled with plenty of honey. 1t had been said by
the president of the association in his address
year ago that the best lessons in bee culture
were learned from failure. Obviously, the Gov
ernor said. the chief attention of bee-keepers
should be directed to producing plantsfor the food
OF bees. with reference to withstanding drouths
and other unfavorabe conditions, just pru-
dent stock raisers cultivate a variety of grasses
so as to meet the conditions of drouths and too
great excess of moisture, some grasses flourish
ing IN very dry seasons. and some fOurishing par
ticularly in wet ones. Improvements will have to
be made in modes of wintering bees so that the
loss in very cold weather will be less. tits prob
able that the production of plants for bee food
to enable them to withstand drouths and other
unfavorable weather conditions will be made by
those so largely interested in bee culture and the
protection of honey. They cannot afford to lose
in unfavorable seasons so enormous proper
ton of their bees. The Governor referred to the
production of better quality of honey and said
that the sale of oleomargarine as butter has tend
ed to the production of better quail
ity of butter. A superior quality will
now command as large price
as ever, while an inferior quality will command
only the price of oleomargarine. Thus the coun-
terfeit secures for better quality of the gen
uine. So the counterfeit honey, from which the
poor quality of the genuine cannot be distin
gulshed. will tend to give us better honey by
making the bee-keeper endeavor, by supplying
his bees with food that imparts high flavor
produce a finer quality of honey. The difference
between honey produced from the best quality
of bee food and the poorest is as great almost
as the difference between the best butter and
oleomargarine.
An interesting discussion of the Governors re
marks followed at the close of his address. The
association adjourned at o'clock.