Norwich bulletin., 1910-04-11
PRESIDENT LATHAM TELLS
 OF WATERING BEES.
Gave Interesting Talk Before State
 Beekeepers' Association.

The nineteenth annual convention of the Connecticut Beekeepers associa- tion was held in Hartford on Friday. The morning session, which began at 10.30 o'clock, was given up to the cleo tion of officers and to the transaction of business, and the afternoon session was given up to the discussion of ques- tions presented by the members, and two interesting subjects were especial ly treated.
 President Allan Latham of Norwich called the convention to order. Sec retary and Treasurer James A. Smith of Hartford reported a membership of 142 and a balance in the treasury of s27-73- A. w. Yates, who is chairman of the associations state fair commit tee, urged the members to make ex-- hibitions at the next state fair.
 It was voted to increase the dues from 30 cents to 75 cents year, so as to gain for each member a subscription to the Connecticut Farmer.
 A number of prizes were given at the end of the morning session. c. $. Guernsey of Thomasto won the first prize for the best general exhibit and George T. Whitten of Hartford won the second prize for a general exhibit. Allan Latham of Norwich won the prize for the best pound of wax and the second prize went to c. S. Guern- sey of Thomaston. A. w. Yates of Hartford won a prize for the best pho tograph of @ Connecticut apiary. George T. Whitten of Hartford exhibit ed swarm catcher. It is an ingenious device with a screen intended to be placed on top of hive to catch the queen bee and is the means of chang ing the swarm from one hive to an other. The device has been patented.
 Something unusual was an exhibi- tion of bee books. The cultivation of bees is not modern study and va r1ous books telling how bees should be raised have been published. The prize for the oldest and best pre- served bee book was awarded to Miss Ellen B. Peck of Clinton The book was published in 1921. It was named 'The Farmers Manual and contained a treatise on the mana cement of bees. It was written by Frederick Butler A. M, of Wethersfeld, published by the author. and printed by Clark & Ly- man of Middletown The second prize for an old and well preserved bee book was won by Stephen J. Griffen of Bridgeport. whose book was published in 1S36. It was written by John M. Weeks of Salisbury, Vt, and was published in Middlebury, vt It was a very small book, but the original purchaser had a note on the flyleaf that he paid s5 for it. c. S. Guernsey won prize for the oldest and best preserved bee journal It was an 1888 number of ''The Beekeeper's Re- view.'
 The paper on Pollenation, given by Ava w. Yates at the afternoon ses- SiOiA W e1S cAii iCCOQHL Ol III0 culture of bees and an explanation of pollenation.
 At the election Allen Latham was chosen president for another year. as told in Saturdays Bulletin. President Latham told of the successful winter ing of thirty-one baby nuclei in a house peculiarly constructed for the purpose. The house was ten feet by twelve feet and was constructed with the studding outside and carefully cov- cred with paper so that it would be nearly as airtight as possible. Thirty one small hives one of which MT. La tham exhibited, were grouped together in the center of the room. Each hive was especially enclosed with covering to keep out the dampness. There was no ventilation and the room was dark.
 The results were entirely satisfac- tory, for the bees lived and good swarms resulted in the spring. It was MT. Latham's opinion that tenn perature made no difference in the keeping of the bees. Sometimes when he visited the house during the winter the weather was very cold It was his opinion that the absence of dampness was essential for the keep Ing Of the bees. and his house was constructed so that the heat of the sun would keep it as dry as possible. He took the bees out about March l. Some of the hives were robbed by other bees and he had to put those hives back into the house until a few weeks later.