few gardens.

The small white lady's slipper (C. candidum) occurs locally in boggy
meadows. It is a very dainty plant. It grows in at least one wild
garden.

The ram's head lady slipper (C. arietinum) is very rare and local. It is
a very delicate and pretty thing, purple and white in color.

All of these species are to be seen in season in the Wild Garden of the
Minneapolis Park System.

* * * * *

Committee on the protection of Cypripedia: Mrs. Phelps Wyman, chairman;
Miss Clara Leavitt, Miss M. G. Fanning, Mrs. C. E. C. Hall, Mrs. E. C.
Chatfield, Mr. Guy Hawkins.

* * * * *

Our plant exchange should be of great benefit to our members, such a
fine beginning having been made last spring. Send a list of the plants
you have for exchange and those you would like to receive to our
secretary. These will be posted upon the bulletin board at our meetings,
where exchanges can be arranged between the members.

* * * * *

March 23. Public Library, Minneapolis, 2:30 p.m. Meeting of Garden
Flower Society. Program:

Our Garden Enemies.
Cultural Directions for Trial Seeds.
Distribution of Trial Seeds.
Minnesota Cypripedia. Have they responded to Cultivation?

BEE-KEEPER'S COLUMN

Conducted by FRANCES JAGER, Professor of Apiculture, University
Farm, St. Paul.

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD QUEENS.

The government census of 1910 gives the average of honey production per
colony for the State of Minnesota at five pounds per colony. Allowing
for mistakes which were made in making up this census, there is no doubt
that the average amount of honey produced by a colony is not nearly as
high as efficient beekeeping would make it. When some well known
beekeepers will average year after year fifty, seventy and even a
hundred pounds per colony, there must be something wrong with those who
fall far below this amount.

There are many causes responsible for this failure of honey crops. Bad
management, no management at all, antiquated or impossible equipment,
locality, etc., are all factors contributing towards a shortage in the
honey crop, but poor queens are the most universal cause of
disappointment. The queen being the mother of the whole colony of bees,
the hive will be what she is. If she is of a pure, industrious, gentle,
hardy and prolific strain, the colony over which she presides will be
uniform, hard working, easy to handle, e