The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-21
THE INDIANA BEE-KEEPERS.
The Opening Session of the Associations
Seventh Annual Meeting.
The Address Of the President and His Sugges-
lions Regarding Apiculture-Extent of
the Adulteration of Honey.

The seventh annual meeting of the Indiana
Bee-keepers' Association began yesterday after
noon. The attendance is rather large, but it is
expected that more will be present to-day. The
revision of the bylaws was considered after the
opening of the session yesterday, and it was de-
cided to reduce the membership initiation fee
from 81 to so cents.
Jonas Sholl, the president, in his annual ad-
dress, expressed the opinion that the next
five years would bring great develop
ness of bee-culture. The unusual sever
ity of the weather during last winter, he said,
caused a great destruction of bees in some parts
of the State. The spring and summer
were favorable for an increase Of the
colonies, but the surplus was small, and was re-
stricted to favored localities. The statistics
show large decrease in the number of colonies
and in the quantity Of honey produced. AS there
is now comparatively little honey in market, he
predicted that the prices for next summers
product would be better. Progressive bee
keepers, however, are interested more in the
question of how to produce honey at a lower
facilities and improvements now at command, he
thought honey could be produced at q fair
profit. even if the dealers should be compelled to
take lower prices than have been paid during
the smG charges that
honey is adulterated, expressing the
opinion that the articles were written
by persons who know little about honey, and are
harmless to the business He advised members
of the association to put on the market nothing
hf1t a firSt-c19ss article of hOnav and To nav No
attention to the insinuations regarding adultera-
tion unless absolutely necessary to do so in self
defense. A matter of much Importance to
apiarsts, he said is the solar evaporation OF ex-
tracted honey. The honey which is allowed to
remain in the hive to the close of the season is
of superior quality, but the result is dimin-
ished yield He hoped to see the same results
accomplished by the utilization, in some manner,
of the concentrated heat of the sun. The presi
dent directed attention to the fact
that the next meeting of the North Amer
lean Beekeepers Society will be held in this
city. He urged that steps should be taken at
once to give hearty welcome to the national
society, which, after an absence of fifteen years.
returns once more to Indianapolis. The nation
al society was organized in Indianapolis in 1870,
and met here again in 1872
Charles F. Muth, of Cincinnati, one Of the
largest honey producers in the country, in COM
menting on the presidents remarks, said it was
useless to try to disguise the fact that honey is
adulterated. There are manufacturers in Chica-
go who do nothing but adulterate. producing an
article in which there is only one-nfth of pure
honey: 1t is shipped to Western markets, and is
sold by the barrel The business is very
profitable. The adulterating business
instead of injuring the sale Of the pure article,
is really an aid to the producers of pure honey,
because it affords them better market The
worst thing with which the producers of pure
honey have to contend is the internal glucose"
which is grape sugar. The genuine honey is
also grape sugar. There is, in consequence,
much injustice done producers by scientists who
cannot distinguish in their analysis between the
pure and impure sugar.
A paper written by Mrs. L. Harrison, Of Peo
ria ILL.,, on "The Educational Powers of Beo-
keepers Convention, was read by the secretary.
The evening session was devoted to the discus
sion of questions relating to bee culture. in
which lively interest was manifested by all
present. The principal feature of the evening
was paper on the wintering of bees, and the
question Of whether or not pollen causes dyson
terry among them, by Charles Muth. of Cincin-
natl, which was made the subject of a general
discussion. Mr.. Muth said: Pollen is nitro
genous food, and is wholesome. Without it the
existence of the bee would be an impossibility.
1t preserves for years its nutritious qualities if
kept dry. but it sours in damp place, like other
farinaceous matter, and swells over the brim of
the cells Bees will get sick if they are COM
PEELED to use it. The same can be
said of honey 1t will keep forever in
a dry place, but will sour in damp place. In
putting up bees for winter it should be remem-
bered that they can create great amount of
heat when in cluster, and when well supplied
with healthful food. Their exhalations condeuse
into water when the outside air is colder than
the temperature Of their hive. The moisture
will increase with the falling of the thermometer,
and if it cannot escape as fast as created, causes
the comb to become moldy and decomposed.
The hives should be given ventilation.
The association will continue in session to-day
and tomorrow This morning, at 10 o'clock,
James Whitcomb Riley will recite his poem en-
titled ''Bee Fessler" and papers on subjects
relating to agriculture will be read. The officers
for the next year will be elected day.