The Delta independent., 1902-09-12
BEEKEEPERS IN SESSION

socistion ard the National BeekeeperS
Association both held their annual ses-I
sions in Denver, September 4th TO 6th,l
and both We're largely attended.
The State Association elected the fol-
lowing officers: President, James o.
Harris OF Grand Junction; vice presi-
dent, NJ. A. Gill of Longmont; secrel
tary, d. w. Working of Denver Mr..
Working later resigned and II. G.
Morehouse of Boulder WAS elected TO
ill the position. Tie treasurer elected
was Mrs. II. A. Rhodes of Fort Lupton.
The officers elected by the National
Association are as follows: President,
w. u. Hutchinson, Flint, Michigan;
vice president, James L. Harris. Grand
Junction, Colorado: secretary treasur-
er. George w. York, Chicago, Illinois.
Vice President Harris is the retiring
president of the Colorado association.
In speaking of the convention and its
work, President w. E. Hutchinson
said: Taking it all in all. the conyen-
tion has been one of the mOst success
full that the beekeepers have ever held.
We find Denver and the West all right.
In point of attendance l think the con-
vention has been the largest in recent
years, and there has been more gen
uine interest shown than ever before.
Some of the papers We're particularly
good, and are distinct additions to
apiarian lore"
Vice President Harris said: This
convention has been by all odds the
best yet. There have been a larger
number present, and the interest has
been much greater. We have, l think,
about 1000 members, and over 100
were in the convention. The discus
sions have been of inestimable benefit
Most of us have learned a number OF
things that we did not know about the
bee, although many of us have ceen IN
the work for many years
One of the most notable figures in
the convention was Prof Frank Ben
ton of the Department of Agriculture
at Washington, d. C. Mr.. Benton has
travelled over the country and the
world in the interests of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. looking into the
ways of bees. and he is an authority
on the subject.
1t may be safely said that any
| place where farming. gardening or
fruit raising can be successfully fol-
lowed. is adapted to the keeping OF
bees. in limited way at least, if not
extensively" says Professor Benton.
And any person with fairly steady
nerves and some patience and courage
can easily learn TO control and manipu-
late them. There are. it is true, some
| exceptional individuals whose systems
are particularly susceptible to the
poison injected by the bee, so much SO
that serious effects follow a single
sting. Such eases, however, are rare.
There is also u belief that bees con-
ceive a violent dislike for some per-
sons. while others are received with
favor. The truth is. this partiality is
due largely to the actions rather than
| the personal attributes of individuals.
| A nervous movement angers bee,
while moderation and calmness dis
arms his suspicious.
with an unruffied demeanor. and
with the further aid of a good smoker.
black bobinet or Brussels net veil,
and pair of rubber gloves. even an
amateur with bees can go among the
hives in comparative safety.
Spring Is the best season to eStab-
lish an apiary, especially for a person
unacquainted with the practical care
of bees continued Professor Benton.
The beginner should ob;ain his start
with one or two colonies of pure 1tal-
ian or Carniolan bees. These he can
get from a beenaster of repute near
his own place at a cost of Sc or IS.
Common bees in box hives may be OBJ
tanned for less, but when transferred
| into frame hives, fitted up with straight
combs. and the common queens re-
placed by selected ones, the actual cost
will not be less.
The common brown or German bee,
imported from Europe in the seven
is yN-il
| from the Atlantic to the Pacific. but
| the bees native to the island of Cyprus
have produced the largest yield of hon
| ey on record from a single colony in
! this country, 600 pounds in one sea-
| son. Every one admits their wonder
| full honey gathering powers, and their
| persevering courage in their labors.
even when flowers are secreting honey
but scantily. They winter well and de-
| fend their hives against robber bees
and other euemies with true tropical
energy. but unfortunately are also ex-
tremely sensitive and easily angered
| by rough or bungling manipulators.
| Even the producers of honey extract
do not seem to have learned how TO
| manipulate Cyprians without the use
| of much smoke. and on this account
| there is tendency to reject this mu-
|
| tier Italian or Carniolan variety.
The golden yellow Italian bees have
proved attractive to many on account
| of color and combmaking qualities, but
they do not winter SO well in severe
climates. The gray Carniolans, from
Austria. are the gentlest of all races
and winter the best of any. BY cross
ing the Carniolans with the energetic
Cyprians. yellow type with silver
wings is produced-a good, tempered
type with all the honey-gathering
powers. and one which commends it.
self most strongly to me for my per
sonal work. At my own apiaries just
outside of Washington. l have bred
the Cypro- -Carniolans with the greatest
satisfaction.
THE apiary should be located where
no surface water will collect. on u
ground having a gentle slope, south
a = n