/0> / DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDnDDDDDnDannaDDDDD D D ^ D D D D D ^ o* iJ-^s^^ a D X^ eais iigo. He says his supplies have nearly all been made vn another table, and this one has scarcely been used ar all. He sa\s: " It is in perfect ruuning oider, aud the saws are" in good shape, having been tiled only twice, by an experienced hand. The machine is as good as new, except a few scratches." Of course, this table has not our late improvements, such as the screw-aud- chaiii attachment and miter-board, shown in our catalogue, but it is a big bargain to some one at §15.00. A. 1. Root, Medina, O. NEW AND SECOND-HANO FOUNDATION- MILLS AT REDUCED RATES. We have on hand the following fdn. mills that we desire to dispose of; and to do so we quote these special prices: One 11-inch mill, made about 2 years ago, but has never been used. This mill makes fdn. with the round, or improved cell. It is as good a mill as we could make a year ago; but with our new machine for cutting the rolls we do much bet- ter work now. hence we ofler this mill at the very low figure of ?25.0ii. Regular price §40.00. One 12-inch mill, second-hand; has been used about one season, but is in good order. We will sell for $15,011. Regular price $30.00. One lOinch mill, made about 3 years ago; has been used almost none; was returned to us because our customer did nor have enough use for it. Regular price ?20.ii0. Will sell lor S15.00. One O-incli mill in same condition, and from same man as above lO-inch mill. Regular price 613.50. We will sell for .^10 o:i. One 6inch drone-mill, new; never been used; just right for making thin drone fdn. for section boxes. Regular price ^15.00. We will sell it for $13.00. One 6-inch Olm mill, made 6 or 7 years ago; bas been used a little, but will do nicely for one who wants to make his own fdn. We will sell it for $8.00. One 6incli Pelham mill. A new machine, never been used. We took it in exchange for one of our make. Will sell it for *S.OO. A. I. Root, Medina, O. LEPAGE'S LIQUID GLUE. A. ROOT. Medina, O. Few words of praise are neces- sary for this excellent article, so widely known and advertised. It is one of the best of liquid glues. Always rcad.v for use. Mends every thing. We have 4 different- sized packages. Glass bottle like the adjoining cut for 10 cts. ; 75 cts. for 10; $7.00 per 100. Half -gill tin cans with screw cap, and brush fastened to inside of cap, price 15 cts. each; *1.10 for 10: .S10.5U per 100. This latter can be sent by mail for 10c. extra for postage and packing. Gill tin canwiih brush, 20 cts.; lilfor$1..50; 100 for $14.00; '/s-pint tin cans, no brush, 25 cts.; $2.20 for 10; $21.00 per 100. LePage's Mucilaoe, in large bottles, with a nice enamel-handle brush, at 10 cts. each: 75 cts for 10; $7.00 per 100. This is the best mucilage made, and will do nicely in many cases for glue, although it is pretty thin to be used as glue. A. I. ROOT, Medina, 0. GLEAN IxN(iS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. Seeds for the Garden and Greenhouse for 1888. As :i iiumltei- of the liieiids in the South are now sending in their orders for seeds, it I'e- miiids us lliiit it is time to indicate our preferences, and to let you know what we feel like atlvisiiig and offering for sale the coming year. PRICE 5 CTS. PER PAPER; 10 PAPERS, 40 GTS.; 100 PAPERS, $3.50. Seeds (>f vcw or rare vegeiahJef< and novelties, we include at the uniform price of 5 cents •per imcl-aae ; bid, of course, tve are obliged to put a smaller number of seeds into such packages. This will be noticed ioith the White-Plume Celery and Snowball Caidijlower, etc. Kow, these 5-cent p(ipers are all sent by mail postpaid; but lohen you order seeds by the ounce ok pound, you 7nnst pay 2c extra for 'postage and packing on each and. every ounce, and 18c extra fo^- post- age and packing on each, and every pound of seeds ordered. You will 7wtice from this, that the FIVE-CENT t'ACKETS, POSTPAID BY MAIL, never contain a full ounce of any thing. ASPARAGUS. €oiiover-s Colossal. Oz. "ic: lb. o.ic. There are said t.i bf iniiiioveiuonts upon this variety. but they have not been fully tested. No one will lose any thing- by planting this old standard. BEANS. Liaiidrclli's First in the Market. Pt. 20c; pk. $3.00. The earliest shell beans. l>«'arf Oerinan AVax, or Butter Beans. Pt. lOc; pk. I^L.iO. The earliest snap-short variety. Golden Wax. Pt. lOe; pk. *1..50. A staple snap-shoit bean. 'Wliite Kidney, l.ari!:e. Pt. ICc; pk. $1.00. One of the best to use shi lied, when green or ripe. We sell bushels of these at 15c a i)int, shelled green. We market them in new pint strawberry-boxei . POLE BEANS. Soiitliern Prolific. Pt. 10c: pk. fl.50. The best snap-short pole bean, maturing in 70 days LargeLima. Pt. I5c; pk. f2 00. We K't 20l' per pint for these, when green, shelled. See White Kidney bean above. The above beans will be fui-nishcd in 5-cent packages; hut where then are to f/o by mail, postpaid, of course the above packages will have to be quite small. If wanted by mail, add 13c per pitd for postage. BEETS. Ei-lipse. Oz. oc; lb. 60c. This gave us the best satisfaction last season of any thini? we ever raised in the way of beets. They are a very quick grower, of excellent quality, and the ap])earanre of the bright smooth scailet bulbs is fully equal to any thiiit^- that has been pictured in the colored jdates i>f our lalalngues. In order to get a fancy price for them, start them in the greenhouse, and transplant when of the size of peas, or a little larger. They bear transpl.anting well, and ai-e exceed- ingly hardy. Pliiladelpliia Turnip. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. Th)s i- ;i little later and larger than the above, and is a nov- elty Ineatise id its alternate rings of dark and light pink. Iiane's Improved. Oz. 5c; lb. 40c. The best vaii. ty )oi stock-feeding. It showed a larger per cent of sugar at tin- Exiperiment Station than any other an- alyzed. It is ru sweet, that when small, they are nice to eat raw. lion^ Bed lUangel. Oz. 5c; lb. .30c. Yields well, but not so sweet as Lane's improved. CABBAGE. Select, Very Early Jersey Wakefield. Oz. 25c: lb. f 3.00. Our cabbage seed this year is raised by Francis Brill. At the Kxperimeutal College Farm, at Columbus, C, they give his cabbage seed the prcleicnc-e over that raised by any other seedsman, and they havr tested neaiiv all of them. They all say that the Karly .Jersey \Vakilii-l are roiiml, and some of them are so hard as to seem al- most lilie bullets Our customers of last season greatly pre- ferred these and Henderson's Early Summer cabhage to the later flat cabbages. liouisville Druniliead. Oz. 15c; lb. $2 00. One of the most uniform and surest-heading sorts tried at the Ohio Experiment Station. It is a little earlier than Flat Dutch, hence may be planted later; just the kind to plant after early crops. tclat Dutcli. Oz. 10c; lb. $1.50. This is a standard late cabbage, for winter. Perfection Druniliead Savoy. Oz. 10c; lb. $1.50. The Savo.y cabbage is handsome in appearance, and richer and finer m quality, than any of the other varieties. In taste it nearly approaches the cauliflower. liariie Bed Urumliead. Oz. 10c: lb. SL.'iO. This is a red eabhagi' Icr pickling. Tlie liriL;ht red, by way of oiitrast, \\ill make a load .)r lot of ealiliages attract at- tention, and there is always more oi" less tlemand for red cab- bage for pickles. CARROTS. Orange Danvers, Half-Ijon»-. Oz. 5c; lb. 60c. Yields well, and is easy to dig. The best sort known, by all odds. CAULIFLOWER. $1.00; Henderson's Early Snowball. ^ oz. $3.00. Nice specimens of early cauliflower often bring extravag.ant prices, and it pays well to start them in the greenhouse, and use hand-glasses to forward them befoi-e the hot weather comes on. CELERY. Henderson's "tVliite Plume. I4 oz. 10c; oz. 35. We place this at the head of the list, and especially for ear- ly eelurv. Dining the past sea-^on we had fine stalks on the market 'ill .July, and it sold readily at 10c each. We are jilan- niiig to have celery this year in the market in the month of June. The seed was slarted in the greenhouse about the middle of December. On account of its self-bleaching quali- ties it is better fitted for early celery than any other. Oolden Dwarf. Oz. 20c; lb. $2. ,50. One ot' the standard sorts for a later crop. The golden tint of the head stalks makes it a very handsome vegetable. Boston Market. Oz. 20c; lb. $2.50. An old standard variety in and around Boston, and raised largely throughout the land. Ma.ior Clark's Pink. Oz. 40c: lb. $5.0). While the Wliite riume is the earliest and finest in ajipear- ance. we regard the aliove as the richest ami nicjsl toothsome of all the celeries. It also, under favorable eiicuiiistaiiees, makes exceedingly rapid growth. Plants set in September, the past season, made stalks weighing 2 lbs. each, by the mid- dle of November. CORN (FOR TABLE USB). Ford's Early Sweet. We put this at the head of the list on account of its excel- lent quality and exceeding earliness. Cory's Extra Early. Probably a few days earlier than any other known. Crosby's Extra Early. This is a great yielder, with soil suitable, although it comes a little later than Ford's. liafe inammolli Sugar. This is excellent in quality, and gives ears of mammoth size, and is a wonderful yielder. Our trade has been very large in this kind of corn for eight or ten years past. Liivingstou's Evergreen. Earlier th:in the Mammoth. Excellent as a market varie- ty, also for drying and for home use. Corn we sell at 5 cents for a half -pint package; but at this price purchasers must pay the postage, which is 7 cents for each half-pint. If wanted in larger quantities the price will hr $1.00 per peck, or $3.50 per bushel. CBESS, OB PEPPEB OBASS. Extra Curled. Oz. ."jc; ib. .50c. CUCUMBER. Early Frame. Oz. 5c: lb. 50c. The earliest cucumber. 1888 GLEAN^INGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Rawson's Improved Early Wlilte Spine. Oz. 30c; lb. $3.00. This is the kind he uses for raising- in liis greenhouse, and the ciiiMiiiilitrs bring 50 to 75 cents eiieli, even where he raises them by tlie tliousands. Fine speeiniens are wonderfully handsome, and taking, and they sometimes grow to a great size without getting yellow. Short Prolific Pickle. Oz. 10c; lb. f 1.00. This is is the kind generally used for raising pickles for market. KOHLRABI. White Vienna. <^z. l.'ic: lb. $^.'M. This is a quiekgi-dwint;- vegetable, luilt way between tur- nip and cabbage. 11 the iilanis are started in the greenhouse, the vegetable may be juit un the market at the same time with the very earliest cabbages; and where people once get a taste of it, it Is pretty sure to meet with a rapid sale at good prices. LETTUCE. Landreth's Forcing. Oz.40c; lb. $5.00. Excellent tor hot-beds and eold-frames; exceedingly early. The heads are small, and may be sent to the table in their en- tire form, on the root. Boston Market. Oz. 10c; lb. $1.00. The best variety for greenhouse culture, as the heads are .small, but compact and handsome. Cincinnati Market. Per oz., 40c; per lb., $.5.00. This is a large white lettuce, raised extensively by the market-gardeners about Cincinnati. It docs nut lieaci, but makes a bunch c.f large wliitc crisp leaves. In many places it brings a better price than any uther lettuce, especially as it makes its appearance in Kebriiary. Bloonisdale Early Snniiner. Oz.lOc; lb. $1.,';0. Second early; sometimes called, by the Southern friends, " Creole." Henderson's New York. Oz. 25c; lb. $3.00. <^ne of the largest and most beautiful varieties of lettuce known. When grown to perfection on good soil, the inside of the head is white, like a cabbage, and wonderfully crisp and refreshing. Deacon liettiiee. Oz. 10c; lb. $1.50. The variety is highly reconimeniled by the Ohio Experiment- al Station, and S(i hardy that we have had good heads of it f rowing in the open ground as late as the middle of Novera- er. Hanson. Oz. 10c;Mb. $1.00. An old standard variety, producing heads that sometimes weigh as much as 2 lbs. Brown Dutch. Oz. 10; lb. $1..50. A variety that always attracts attention, and always seUs on account of the red or bronze colors of the greater part of its foliage. It is a very old variety, and the sight of it often finds a purchaser, because it reminds them so vividly of the days of childhood out on the old farm. MELONS, MUSK. Extra Early Citron. Oz. 10c; lb. $1.00. Always profitable because of its extreme earliness. Casaba, or Persian IHiisknielon. Oz. 5cts.; lb. 60c. A standard large variety. Pine Apple. Oz. .5c; lb. 60. Excellent in quality, and only meditim in size. Banana. Oz. 5c; lb. 75c. I consider this one of the best mtiskmelons it has been my fortune to taste, judging from sjH'cinieiis wi" bad last season. They are long like a rail, or hke a b.anaiia, 11 yt. 5c; pk. $1 00; bii. $3.5;!. ( inc of the most desirable and well-known late sorts. Pi its Inj mail icill hr at same rate of beans for poxtaye. PEPPERS. Spanish Pepper. Oz. ;-'5f.; II). $3.00. A new variety, so large that the natives of warm climates slice them up and fry, as an article of food. Bullnose. Oz. 3.5c: Ih. $3.00. A laiger variety than the above, but in every other respect the same. Cayenne Peppsr Oz. 25c; lb. $3.00. Much called for, tor seasoning soups, pickles, etc. RADISHES. W^hite-tipped Scarlet Turnip. Oz. 5c; lb. 60c A fancy variety of the scarlet bulb with white bottom; very showy. Scarlet Turnip-rootsd. Oz. .';c. ; lb. 60c. Larger and later tlian the preceding. Lady Finger. Oz.lOc; lb' $1.00. One of the standard long radishes. Sometimes it grows as large as a parsnip, and yet is of e-xcellent quality. Becker's Chartier Radish. Oz. 10c. ; lb. $1..50. A novelty, and oni' that lias '.iiyen lis the greatest satisfac- tion; of rajiid growth and g:,od size, both at the bottom and top. In favorable seal it will grow to a large size, and still be excellent in quality. The Chartier radish has been to us an acquisition during the past year. They are remarkably cer- tain to make ,a good bulb. SALSIFY, OR OYSTER PLANT. A vegetable th.at is sure to be called lor, where it is once introduced. Oz.lOc,; llj. ifl.r.o. SPINACH. Bloomsdale Extra Curlad. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. It combines as many of (he good qualities as any other. SQUASH. SUMMIOR VARIICTIES. Early W^hite Busli, or Patty Pan. Oz. 5c. ; lb. 60c. Not surpassed by the Golden Summer Crookneck. One of the old staples. Golden Summer Crookneck. Oz. .5c; lb. 50c. The standard summer S(iua-h. WINTER VAKIETIE-. Perfect Gem. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. A round squash, about C inches in diameter. The quality is excellent, and it will keep till spring. Hubbard. Oz. 10c; lb. 60c. Too well known to need comment. Boston Marrow. Oz. 5c; lb. 75c. An old standard staple, especially in and around Boston, TOMATO. Mikado. Oz. 35c; lb. $3.00. This tomato is so distinct from the ordinary sorts that it has a different - shaped foliage that can be" recognized at once. The tomatoes are of immense size, and the greater part of t belli smooth; besides, tliev are about as early as any thing we have. Some of flic first last seasim sold at 8 cents apiece, and it does not take many such to fill a basket. Acme. Oz. 30c; lb. $2.00c. Too well known to need comment. Trophy. Oz. 20c; $3..50. A companion to the Acme. Livingston's Beauty. Oz.35c; lb. $3.00. This is ,1 iproduitioii of the same Livingston who brought out the .Viiiic, Tii.idiy. F.ivoiite, and Perfection; but he pro- nounces this superior to them all. They are better shape, and smoother, than the Mikado, but not so large. (iLEANlNGS IN 13EE CULTURE. Jan. Pear-Sliapcd Tomatoes. Oz. 30c; $3.00. TliL-sr an- iKuulsium' for pk'kles and preserves. We have tliiMii of two coliirs— red and yellow. They are immense Uearevs, and uf ^ood qualit\'. TURNIP. Early Bloomsdale Red Top. Oz. He; lb. 00c. One of tile li.'sl for the tirsl turnii) in the market. White Egg. Oz. 5c; lb. .">0c. Very showy and handsome, as well as quite early. Last .season they sold readily for a dollar a bushel in our market as fast as we could get hold of them. Yellow Aberdeen. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. We consider this the hest table turnip frrown. When cock- ed it is so yellow that it will sometimes be mistaken for squash. Purple-top White-globe Turnip. Oz. 5 c; lb. .50 c. This turnip, during- the past extremely ditfii-ult season to raise any kind of turnip, gave us the best "results of any thing we tried; and although the crop was not vei y large, the quali- ty seems to be unusually line for table u>e. es)ieciaUy when tney are abiiut as large as fair-sized apiib-s. We have been selling them all the fall for a dollar a bushel; and to day. Dec. 2f*, we are just closing out our last bushel of them, and we could sell a good many nioi-e :it the above price if we had them. They pi-obably grow as quic-k as any turnip kntiwu. and are very h;iiiil^^(.iiie. Wlu-n washed they are almost :is white as an egg, witli a beautiful purple ariuind the top. They are .smooth and round Bloomsdale S-«rede. Oz. 5c; lb. 50c. Perhaps the best of the Rutabaga varieties, A. 1. ROOT, Medina. O. CoLrUMuns. — Ho?iej/.— Fancy white 1-lb. sections, 18@20c. Off Ri-ades not in demand; extracted, 10(gi 12c. The honey-market is very dull; too high prices, and large lots are being offered. To increase the demand we shall be compelled to lower prices. Earle Clickenger, Dec. 22. 117 South 4th St., Columbus, Ohio. pe^EY Gmnm- CITY MARKETS. New York.— HoHe?y.— For the past few weeks the demand for honey has slackened off' to some extent, as it generally does at this time of the year. In or- der to make sales now, we are obliged to shade prices slightly. About the middle of January we expect the demand to be more active again, at firm- er prices. F. G. Strohmeyek & Co., Dec. 22. 122 Water St., N. Y. Philadelphi.\. — Honey.— We quote: 1-lb. sec- tions, white, 1.5(rtjl6c; dark, and 2-lb. white, 10®14; strained, 8(flil0c. Pancoast & Griffiths, Dec. 22. 122 Dock St., Philadelphia, Pa. Cincinnati.— HoHCiy.— There is a quiet but fair demand for honey of all kinds. Extracted honey brings 4(§'9c on arrival; demand e.vceeds the arriv- als. The demand lor comb honey is rather tame. It brings 16(g20c for best, in the jobbing wa.y. De- mand is good for beeswax, which brings 20@22c for good to choice yellow on arrival. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Dec. 27. Cincinnati, O. Kansas City.— i?o?icy.— The demand for 1-lb. sec- tions is good ; verv little on the market. 1-lb. sec- tions, white, 20(gi22c; dark, L5@1'V; 2 lbs,, white. 18c; dark, 16@il6; extracted, white, 6!i4(S,7; dark, 5@6. HAMBLiIN & BE.-i.RSS, Dec. 22. 514 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. Boston. — Honey. — Fancy one-pound comb. 18@20c; two-pound comb, 17@18c. Extracted, 7®8c, Sales are slow. BtiAKE & Kipi-ey, Dec. 22. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. St. Louis.— Honey.— We quote choice comb 18® 20c; latter is for choice white clover in good condi- tion, and in 1-lb. sections. Sti-ained, in bbls., .5@ti cts. Extra fancy, of bright color and in No. 1 pack- ages. }'i cent advance on above. Extracted, in bbls., 6'4@7c; in cans. 7}.i@8c. Beetjioaz. 20c for prime. Market very tirm at above prices. Dee. 22. D. G. Tutt & Co., 206 N. Commercial St., St. Louis, Mo. New York.— Honey.— The past two weeks the honey market has been quite dull. We attribute the inactivity to the continued warm weather. We Albany.— Ho?iey.— Market quiet, and steady in price. Stocke of comb honey are light. We don't look for much change in prices. Extracted, slow sale, prires nominal. We quote comb, clover, white, 14@18c; mixed, 12@13; buckwheat, 10®12. Consignments solicited. H. R. Wright, Dec. 21. 328 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. New York.— Honej/.— Honey is moving rather slow, especially off goods. Beetiwax is selling at 21 22c. Thurbeb, Whyland & Co., Dec. 22. New York City. St. Louis.— Honey.— We quote you choice white- clover comb honey, scarce and nominal, 17®20c. as to size of section and package. White sage, comb, plentiful and dull, as to size of section, at 14@18c. Extracted honey, white clover, nominal, in bbls.. 6 @6'/i; cans, 7!i4@,8!/2; white sage, cans. 7(a8. South- ern, bbls., 4®5y2. as to qualitv. Beeswax, bright, 19|@20: dark, 14@L5. W. B. Westcott & Co.. Dec. 24, St. Louis, Mo. Chicago.— Honey.— Very little demand for honey, and receipts are quite heavy for this season of the year. Prices are being shaded, to effect sales, which are very few and in a small way. R. A. Burnett, Dec. 21. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Detroit.— Honey.— Honey has advanced since last quotations. Best white, in 1-lb. sections, 18@,20c, and good demand, as there is much less in commis- sion houses. Extracted, 10®llc. Beeswax, 21@33. Bell Branch, Mich., Dec. 22. M. H. Hunt. For S.\le.— 1000 lbs. of white honey, for 17c per lb., 30 lbs. in a crate. Nelson Dewey, Tecumseh, Mich. For Sale.— About one ton of extracted buck- wheat honey, in kegs holding about 160 lbs. each; also two kegs of white-clover honey. Send for prices. W, 1). Wright, Kuowersville, Albany Co., N. Y. For Sale.— A few hundred pounds of comb hon- e,y, in crates that will weigh from 20 to 28 lbs., or thereabouts: very nice for this season. C. S. WoLCOTT, St. Johns, Clinton Co., Mich. For S.4.LE.— Eight cans, containing 60 lbs. each, of basswood honey, for tic per lb. It is well ripened. B. B. Wesley, Lagrange, Lorain Co., O. - FOR SALE. - 3i4-horse-power upright Engine and Boiler, with 3 pullevs, 2 belts, and 16-foot shaft. In use only two seasons. Almost as good as new, with valve-cock, steam-gague, 20-foot smoke-stack, and Hancock's injector, all complete. Will take $160 cash on board the cars at Knoxville, Iowa. Cost when it was new, 4^237.50. For particulars, inquire of Itfdb J. W. BITTEN BENDER, Knox%'ille, Iowa. SEEDS GIVEN AWAY! A package Mi.xed Flower-seeds (500 kinds) with Park's Floral Guide, all tor 2 staiuiis. .New tlowers,new engravings; teems with tloralhints. Everybody delighted. Tell all your friends. Send now. G. W. Park, Fannettsburg, Pa. DADANT'S FOUNDATION FACTORY, WHOLE- SALE AND RETAIL. See advertisement in another column. 3btfd quote as follows: Fancv Mhitc. 1-lb. sections. 16® 19; 2 lbs,. \V,: 16; buckwheat, 2 lb. sections, 10®11; 1 lb., I CflD C Al C Semi-portable engine and boil- 11('(12. Off grades, 1 and 2c per lb. less. Extracted, 1 I Ufl OllLt"""er, nine-horse power; price ,..i.i».. i;..... r>„,„ .1.1^.. >.) ! ^3;-,o.OO, on board cars. For further particulars, address Thomas Gedye. LaSalle, LaSalle Co., 111. white, 8(«,!). Beeswax, 22®23. McCaul & Hildreth Bros,, Dec. 20. 28 & 38 West Broadway, N. Y. Vol. XTI. Jan. 1, 1888. No. 1. TERMS: 81.00 PkbAnnttm.in Advance ;1 T? (%+nJ\l-i oTn nrJ t'-ti 7 J? '7 ? f Clubs to different postoffices, not less 2Copiesfor$1.90;3for82.75;6for$4.00; -C/Ol/CC/C't't'OAt'fc/tl' Ufl/ -t O / C? . | than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- \ published semi-monthly by •' ^- '^^ ^''^^ Canadas. To all other coun- ber. Sets. Additions to clubs maybe ( .... tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 made at club rates. Above are all to yl / DDDT MPDIhlA nUlf) cts. per year extra. To all countries be sent to ONE roSTOFFiCE. J/J. /. tlUUI, IVILUIIvH, (//// C/. Uorof the U.P.U.,42cts.per year extra. DOOLITTLE'S BEE-CAVE. BO.XES FOK EXTRACTED HONEY. T SEE on pag-e 888 of Gi.eanings for 1887 that you j^ wish a description of m.y special repository for ^i bees. My bee-yard slopes aentl.v to the north **■ (I wish it were southeast), while near the west end is a slight sag- through which flowed a small brooli in wet weather, but which was dry the larg-er part of the sum,iner. This brook now has an underground passag-e. so as to be entirely out of the way. West of the brook was a knoll, or rise of ground, facing- the oast, and rising at the rate of about four inches to the foot. Into this knoll I dug about 30 feet, or so that the back end of the hole was about 10 feet deep, measuring straight up on the west bank. This same hole was about 9 feet wide, and, for a trial, it was boarded up at ttrst. a roof put over, and 3 feet of earth put on top of the roof. Herein 1 wintered my bees successfully, thus proving the value of such a place for winter- ing bees. When the boards became rotten I tore all down and put in a good wall of stone and mor- tar, on top of which I put a good strong roof, which was covered with three feet of dry earth, and over the whole was a larger roof, so as to keep the earth and all under it dry. The first cave did not have this last-named roof, consequently the dirt was kept wet by the rains and snows of winter. I And the latter much the best, as the dry earth seems to help to keep a more even temperature than did the former. The east end wall is ^4 feet from the west, and here is the entrance door, so that the cave is in reality only 24 feet long by 6^4 feet wide by 7 feet deep, inside. Two feet out from the entrance door is another door, and still two feet further out is an- other door, and in front of this last door is an ante- room 4 feet square, which has a door to that; sol have to open four doors every time I go into this cave. As these doors all fit nicely, I have three large dead-air spaces through which the cold air must pass to get to the cave, and .vet the first-nam- ed door is the coldest part of the cave, or cellar, as is readily shown by the moisture collecting in drops upon it. As I have said in a former article, after the bees are put in here, all is shut tight, and left so till spring after the bees are set out. After this the doors are fastened open, and all ventilators opened, till time of putting the bees in, so that the heat of summer shall dry all out as much as possible. B.v thus leaving open during the cool and frosty nights of October, it so reduces the temperature of the cave and ground around it that it stands at about 47° after the bees have got quiet. As winter pro- gresses it gradually lowers till it reaches 44% vary- ing only from 43 to 4.5°, no matter how high or low the temperature goes outside; and, as I said on page 887, it keeps the same, whether there is one colon.v or a hundred in it. To the west of the cellar, one rod, is 30 feet of fence, 4 feet high, which causes the snow to drift over the roof and cellar from 3 to 8 feet deep, and this snow has something to do with the matter; but I have never known a lower degree than 41 to be reached, with 20 degrees below zero outside and no snow. THOSE UO.\ES FOR EXTRACTED HONEY. I was quite a little surprised at the logic, or, rath- er, lack of logic, displayed in the editorial comments 8 (CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. at the close of my article on page 931. If Bro. Hed- don conveyed the idea at Chicago, which you attrib- ute to him, he must at that time have laclied that clear-headedness which he generallj' exhibits. All know that candied honey in cold weather has a ca- pacity of resistance almost equal to wood, and one of these bo.xes of honey is little if any more easily broken during- the months I named than is a solid block of wood of the same size, being about as solid as bricks, except at the top. To make this more se- cure I use heavier lumber for the cover. Then about the leakage. Surely liro. Heddon couldn't get so far off the track as to talk of honey, candied solid during December and JMnuary, leaking, even were it possible to break the boxes. Why! even A. I. Root used to tell us of cutting such honey up in square chunks and selling it in this shape as Slick candy. Bear in mind, I do not recommend these bo.xes, and never iliil, e.vcept for the purpose set forth; viz , for liolding and shipping so? id honey during the cold months of the year. The sleigh is used as convenient for carting or carrying truck in winter, when snow is on the ground, but it is nearly worthless at all other times, as a means of carriage, and it.iwould be about as consistent to condemn sleighs entirely as it was for Bro. Heddon to con- demn a box for solid honey. No man could ever become more disgusted with wooden packages for liquid honey than I have been, and I have not used them for that purpose in ten years, much prefer- ring tins and glass; but after the honey has been stored in tin tanks till it is candied so it will scarce- ly run, it can then be put in wooden bo.xes, and, aft- er becoming solid, handledduring the cold months to good advantage. Solid honey is conveniently gotten out of a box, while it is a nuisance to try to get the same out of the bung-hole of a keg or barrel, or from the screw top of a can, as many consumers try to do. We made a good point years ago, when the candying of honey was placed before the pub- lic, as a test of its purity; and upon that decision I saw the way clear to get pure honey in a solid shape to said public, and I still believe that whoever tries the plan unprejudiced will like it. Borodino, N. Y., Dec, 1887. G. M. Doolittle. Friend D., I am greatly interested in that bee-cave of yours, not only for wintering bees, but it comes the nearest to cold stor- age without ice of any tiling that has ever been given us. Your plan of making the snow drift over the cave is a wonderfully bright thought, and I never heard it men- tioned before in any of pur papers devoted to cold storage and cellars for farmers. The Prairie Farmer recently described a root-cellar that was much like yours in some respects. In our soil, I agree with you ex- actly in preparing a good roof over the dirt, to keep the rain out. You did not mention having a ventilator at the west end of the cellar, where it is deepest in the ground. For fruit or for roots this would be quite an item. By opening these ventilators at the proper time, so as to let dry air go through the cellar, all moisture can be dried out of the whole cellar and its contents. It seems to me tliat (H feet wide inside is very narrow, is it not V If you put your hives on shelves one aliove another, perhaps it is as wide as you need. This would allow a two- toot shelf on each side, anda2i-foot pass- ageway. For a root-cellar you would not need more than two outside doors— may be only one. If on level ground, the outer door could be made like an ordinary cellar- hatchway, with steps to go down. Of course, you w^ant such perfect drainage that no water can ever show itself, even dui'ing the heaviest rains of spring. I think friend Heddon himself had bet- ter tell us his experience, in print, with those boxes for candied honey. No doubt they will answer very well wliere the honey is candied solid and hard ; but the honey we get will not always candy so as to make solid blocks ; and. again, suppose you have to hold your honey over, or prefer to hold it over, would it not melt during the summer time, so as to make trouble ? Perhaps, if stored in that bee-cellar, the even tempera- ture might prevent candying. AVho can tell us about that V I am leaning pretty strong- ly toward that wooden packtige for extract- eil honey, even if I did And some fault with it. Let us have the experience of every one who has ever used them. It is true, the Chicago ciuvention rather "sat down " on the arrangement ; but may be there were not many there w^ho had tried it very much, except friend Heddon. HONEY-TUMBLERS. DR. MILLER PROPOSES TO SHAKE US, NOT BY THE HAND, BUT BY THE SHOULDERS. fRlEND ROOT:— On page 938, friend Bugbee gives you some plain talk, at the close of which you want to get hold of him to shake him by the hand. Now, I'd just like to get hold of both of you, and shake you by the —shoulders! You both need a good shaking. You admit there is trouble about honey-tumblers, and say, " If there is no other way out of it, we will goto the expense of having dies and tools made to make a tumbler holding a full pound of honey— no more, no less." Now, you ought to see that any attempt in that direction would only make matters worse. I have some tumblers of two sizes— No. 803 and No. 804. 1 bought them of you a few years ago, and, as neai-ly as I can make out the stencil on one of the boxes, they were made by Wallace & Co., Pittsburgh. You first sent the smaller size, and as that was too small I got the larger. I have just weighed one of these filled with honey, audit holds a trifle more than IV ounces of honey. But it is filled just as full as it will hold, and I should not like to be so exact in filling a large number, so I like the size very well for holding a pound. But I suspect that much extracted honey is thinner, and possibly some of it is so. much lighter that this tumbler filled with it would weigh hardly a pound. Suppose, now, you go to the expense of getting up a new tumbler " that shall hold a pound— no more, no less." It will hold just one pound of a certain specific gravity, and will not hold just a pound of any other. So all you have gained is the throwing on the market another size of tumbler to make still greater confusion. Is it not possible that some who have used this tumbler, and found it too small, have filled it with rather thin honey? If so, the obvious thing is to evaporate the honey till it goes la the tumbler, rather than to stretch the tumbler to hold a pound of thin honey. You see, this is a 1888 GLEANII^JGS IN BEE CULTURE. very different thing- from the apple-barrel business. One is bulk, and a barrel of a given size will always hold the same bulk, while the other is weight, and you can't make a tumbler of a given size to hold always the same weight. SECTIONS HOLDING JUST A POUND. Neither, friend Bugbee, can you get a section that will hold just a pound. You ask if llg-inch sections " will average 1 lb. when used with separa- tors." No, they will not. Even if they did average just one pound this year, they might average more or less another year, for the years vary. But will it do to sell each section for a pound, even it they do average that? Is it right to sell one man 1.5 ounces for a pound, when another gets 17 ? I very much doubt if there is any fair way, only to weigh each section and sell it for just what it weighs. And this, as it seems to me, is the g-reatest obstacle in the way of ever having a dime package of comb honey. BE^T FOR USE OF GROUND FOR OUT-APIARY. I was much interested in the opinions given on page 946, and very much surprised at their varying so widely. They vary from little or nothing up to a rent of *.599 or more per acre! I don't know how many times I have read over the reply of Dadant «& Son, trying to make out some typographical error, or some way by which I could make it mean something different. They are solid, reliable men, not given to reckless statements, so I attach much weight to their replies. But let us look at it. An out-apiary will, I think, as a general rule, be plant- ed, not in a village, but on a farm where land is not worth more than $'0 to $100 per acre. One-eighth of an acre will bo ample accommodation for an apiary of, say, 100 colonies. At f 100 per acre that eightli of an acre can be bought for $13. ro, and $5.00 would be a very high rent for it. Those respond- ents who gave a higher figure than this must have counted on something more— in fact, considerable more, in somi.- cases, tlian the mere rent of the land. The Dudants pay one-flfth of the honey. If the average yield per colony is 7.") pounds, then the rent is 1.') lbs. per colony, or I.'jOO lbs. of honey for an apiary of lOJ colonies. At 6-, cts. per lb. this is worth $100, making the land rent at about .1800 per acre. There must be a mistake somewhere. I think some of the friends might well reconsider the matter of paying such high rents. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111. Now, look here, old friend, you need not talk about shaking anybody. "I myself said that some honey is thinner than others, and I am inclined to think, still further, that some honey has a heavier specific gravity, even when the density is the same ; and this accounts for the different reports in regard to our tumblers. The 804 is the one, if 1 am correct, that holds 17 ounces of very thick honey ; and 1 presume this is the one you would recommend us to adopt. — Your objection to the ten-cent cake of honey I think might be got over, because the amount in question is but a fraction of a cent any way. The retailer should insist on each customer taking the first one he comes to, without pulling them all over, and in that case each man would stand the same chance, and none of us would be suffering very much loss. — In regard to the matter of rent, friend Dadant has himself, in the ar- ticle following, covered the ground so thoroughly there is no need that either of us should say any thing more about it — at least, not much more. am I ^ OUT-APIAHIES. FRIEND C. P POINTS DADANT GIVES US SOME VALUABLE FROM PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. fRIEND ROOT:— I wish to add a few words to the answers to the questions on page 946, concerning out-apiaries. It appears that we are the ones who pay the highest price for hiving swarms. It was after a long experi- ence that we settled on this price, and we find that it is no more than sufficient. Perhaps it is owing to the fact that we are like Mr. E. France, and do not expect to have many swarms. We have found that it is very difflcultto get a boy, a child, whose time is worth but little, to hive swarms; and if we found one, we would hesitate very much in entrusting him with the job. He must see that the hive is well prepared, that the frames hang- true, that tlie bees are safely housed, and, when the hwarm is in, the hive has to be carried to the location which it is to occupy. All this must be done by a man. by some one who has a certain feeling of responsibility, or it will be badly done. Moreover, as the question correctly states, the bees are usually located near a farmer's house; and did my readers ever see a farmer who had very much time to throw away in May and June, or in swarming time, whenever that may be? He must either sit there watching- for swarms, and then he is a hce-hcepcr who had better be hired by the day, or else he must be called from the field to hive o\ir swarm. If he gets only 10 cents, or 3.5, or 50 cents, he may at times hesitate very much before leaving- his work, and your swarm will be in danger of being- allowed to leave. Your farmer may have to climb a tree, or cut a limb from one of his apple-trees. All that is trouble, annoyance. True, if he can harvest a number of swarms in a day he will make quite a profit; but since he caii not leave his business during the whole season to watch for your swarms, he must either hire some one to see to it, or do as I said at first— come from the field whenever a swarm is out. If the bees are not too far from the house, the house-folks generally notice the swarm readily, and there is no great need of constant supervision. If help has to be hired to catch the swarms, it had better be special help, hired by the apiarist. But some of our friends will say that ihc ladies can often hive the swarms. That is so; but in many instances they can not; as when the swarm is high up in a tree, or if they are getting dinner, and the farmer and his hands are expecting to eat at their regular hours. If we say that we will make allowance for the swarms that are more dif- ficult to hive, it becomes a source of trouble to decide when a swarm is harder to hive. On the other hand, if we are liberal with our man, we can require more care from him than we would other- wise. We can insist on his ascertaining that noth- ing is lacking in the hive, and on his transporting it at once to the place which it is to occupy, and set- ting it level, so that the combs will not hang out of their frames, etc. We can also ask him to ascer- tain which hive the swarm came from- This can be done when the bees first come out, and may save a great deal of bunting to the apiarist when he comes. 10 GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. Taking it all in all. and considering that, in the oldca times, the one who looked after the bees generally received half of the swarms and half of the surplus, we think our price of 75 cents will not be considei'ed too high, by the majority of our readers. In regard to the other question, " What rent should be paid for an out apiary?" we are again the ones who paj' the largest amount. We wish to state that, in this bargain, are included both the house-room for extracting, for spare supers, boxes, crates, etc., and the board of men and team while at work. We say team, because we take it for granted that the apiarist uses horses to transport himself from one apiary to another, and to haul his hives, boxes, honey, etc. When we put bees on a farmer's place, we expect him to take an inter- est in them, es'en if he does not work with them, and we want to give him a. share of the profits, so that he will make the most out of them when we do. Then our interests are similar, and a bad sea- son for us means a bad one for him. Then he sees his interest in cultivating plants that are beneficial to bees; and we have had one of our farmers to ask at the feed-store for alsike in place of red clover, just because he was expecting to increase his profit as well as ours thereb5-. In the same way be will think of sowing buckwheat, which he will plow under at the first frost, not only because it will act as a fertilizer, but because it will also give our bees a crop in which he has a share. One of our farmers, a careful one, was in the habit of run- ning his mower over a lot of Spanish needles, just before they bloomed, in alow marshy place on his farm. Since we have bees on his place, and he has a share of the surplus, the Spanish needles have grown unmolested, wherever they did not injure his crops. Is it necessary to give more examples of the benefits derived from an association of the farmer with the bee-keeper"? Were it not for the space which 1 should take, I could give 30 of them. C. P. Dadant. Hamilton, Hancock Co., 111. Well, old friend, I guess your head is lev- el on this matter, after all, even if some of us did not understand you. It never oc- curred to me that this rent of ground for the apiary was going to cover board and lodging and horse-feed, and all that; but 1 am sure that it is the better way. You thus make the owner of the land a small partner, as it were, and have him interested with yourself ; and it is true that we often defeat ourselves by wasting too much time on small penny matters. Pay the folks handsomely, and the chances are they will take care of your property handsomely ; and a hearty good will is, a great many times, worth several dollars. FAKEWELL ARTICLE TO GLEANINGS. Fill END HUTCHINSON'S NEW DEPARTURE. ip BOUT ten years ago I received a card that Rj, read something as follows: P Frietid H}itchUi)n:—\Ve usually have more K matter on hand than we c;in make room for in Gleanings; yet we think we can use the articles you have sent, and have credited you $3.00 for the same. A. I. Root. How well I remember the thrill that went to the very center of my being as I read these words! It was the first money I had ever earned with my pen. Since then I have been a regular correspond- ent for Gle.\nings, writing, perhaps, in all, 150 articles; and although I have been free in my criticisms, I have always had, and still have, a warm feeling of friendship for Gleanings, its editor, and its readers; and that this feeling is returned, I feel certain from the many kind and encouraging let- ters I have received, and from the manner in which, at conventions and fairs, men have come up and grasped my hand, saying, " I know this must be Mr. Hutchinson, from the picture I have seen in Glean- ings. I have read your articles in Gleanings, and have wanted to see you for a long time." I have "grown up "with Gleanings, so to speak; but by reference to its advertising columns, you will see that I am about to start a journal of my own; and although it is done with feelings akin to sad- ness, I must say "farewell" in Gleanings, hoping that I may bid you all " welcome" in my own new paper. W. Z. Hutchinson. Flint, Mich., Dec. 20, 1887. Perliaps I should explain to our readers, that the articles for which I credited friend II. the three dollars were not only nicely and carefully written, but well punctuated, and the shet-ts were arranged in the most convenient manner for the compositor ; but they contained real, sound, honest, and practical ideas, evidently written with the view of helping the brotherhood. We, too, feel sad to think of losing friend 11. from our pages ; but we are always ready to re- joice over any thing that will benefit the people at large, and no doubt he is right. I believe the first work that our friend ever did for print was through Gleanings; but during the years that have intervened, we have l)een pleased to see him a prominent contributor to the Country Gentleman, Amer- ican Agriculturist, and. if I rememlier cor- rectly, several other agricultural papers. TUMBLERS VERSUS BOTTLES EOR HONEY. SOMETHING FROM A DEALER. T WANT to say a word about tumblers to hold ,^ one pound of honey. I am a retailer of gilt- ^r edge extracted honey, and think I know •*■ whereof I write. The one-pound bottles do not fill the bill. People would rather pa.y for a tumbler than for a bottle; and then, the bottles are too high. When we take into consideration the expense of corks, tin-foil caps, and expensive la- bels, it is plain to see that the tumbler has all the advantages. When you, Mr, Root, or some other friend, gets up a tumbler 2i.j inches across at the bottom, and three inches at the top, and just deep enough to hold one pound of honey, with straight sides, something will be accomplished that should have been accomplished long ago. They should be made to hold 16 ounces of honey when level full. Those who have handled tumblers will recognize this as a solid article. I have no ax to grind. Just- ice to all. If the words, " One pound pure honey" were blown in the glasses it would be a help to the trade. Covington, Ky. See Dr. Miller's article in this number, friend , showing the difficulties in the way of the improvement you suggest. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 11 UNFINISHED SECTIONS. VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS FROM SAMUEL CUSHMAN. T WAS very much interested in your account of 1^ the Chicago convention, and especially in ^l your explanation of why we should use ■^ foundation in sections, instead of drawn-out combs. 1 have been slow to accept the idea advocated by various writers in the bee-journals, that unfinished combs in sections should not be again used. Previous to the present season, my experience led me to believe their use a great help. Two years ago, by doubling up I secured a choice lot of apple honey in sections. Every other frame of sections given contained drawn- out combs. These combs were left over the pi-evious season, and had been cleared by the bees before they were put away, and were nice and white. Some were partly, others fully drawn out. The comb honey obtained was as white and clear, and as well finished as that built on new founaa- tion. We could generally tell which was new and which had been used before, by the wood or sec- tion itself. This was the only difference seen. If there was any difi'erence in thickening or ripening it was in favor of that in the drawn-out comb. This honey took the first prize at the Rhode Island State Fair; and some that was kept until midwinter was just as fine in appearance— no sweating or leaking. I then believed that, without those empty combs, I should not have received such a crop. In this belief I extracted in the fall all partly filled sec- tions, that I might use them the next season; but as it was done late they were not placed where bees could clean them, but were stored as they were, sticky with honey. Last spring the season was unsuitable for securing apple honey, and the sections were not used until supers were adjusted for the clover crop. I then put in each super from one to three wide frames of these sections of comb. Clover was a failure, but basswood yielded well for this location. Our strongest colonies filled their supers, but many of the drawn-out combs were poorly capped, and, when finished, were inferior in appearance to that built on foundation. Fair colonies filled the brood-nest and the empty combs in sections, but did not cap them, and did not work on foundation. We have been troubled by some of these combs sweating. Was it becausS they were not cleaned by the bees before they were stored, or is basswood honey so much thinner than apple honey that it could not be so well ripened in drawn-out combs? Your conclusion of the question is just about what I have settled on. I shall put on the hive three or four drawn-out combs, for a bait, in the center of the first super, using those partly drawn out in preference to full- depth combs, and only those which are white and cleaned of honey the season they were built. All ^other sections will contain full sheets of thin foundation. Supers placed underneath, when tiering up, will contain only foundation. When working for goldenrod and aster honey in sections, it is cool, and bees do not build comb or work on foundation readily. We shall then fill the supers with drawn-out comb. By this plan, and by giving but very few brood-combs, we secured this fall a limited amount of aster honey in sections, which was delicious and very handsome. Now, friend Root, I should like to ask you a few questions relating to this matter. Do you believe it is better to use foundation in- stead of combs in the extracting supers, for the same reasons? Did any one ever know of honey, stored above or below in thick brood-combs, to sweat or be unripe when well sealed, and left on the hive through the season? If it applies to one, why not to the other also' To be sure, ordinary brood-combs are about 7a inch thick, and that in sections sometimes 1'4 inch; but many use ex- tracting-combs 2 inches thick. I have some my- self that thick. If bees ripen honey in brood- combs, why not in sections? Can it be because the sections cut them up into small clusters, resulting in less heat, al^o causing less circulation of air, while on brood-combs they can cluster in more compact masses, generate more heat, and the cir- culation of air is less restricted? If this is the case, ' then perhaps the side-slot section (or, as the Eng- lish bee-keepers call it, the " four-bee ■^^ ay sec- tion " is just the thing. I have thought that bees often ripen honey in the brood-combs first, then take it up above and store it in sections, and this view was strengthen- ed by the following: In preparing the colonies for apple bloom, instead of uniting all with other colonies I filled the brood- nest of one with ten combs of capped brood from other colonies, and above I placed an odd crate containing a lot of narrow sections, lU inches wide, filled only with foundation, 32 in all. The weather was poor, and there were but three or four good days, just' as the bloom was almost over. After the blossoms were all gone I found the super was over two-thirds full; and of that, more than half was nicely capped. I left it on, and in a few days 'more all were full and well capped, except the outer half of the outside sections next to the glass. On examination of the brood-nest I found half of the brood-combs were empty of both brood and honey— the remainder partly filled with brood and honey. What would be your explanation of the case? Samuel Cushman. Pawtucket, R. I. Friend C, we are much obliged for your report, for we want to get all the truth there is in regard to this matter. Your first experiment seems to indicate that per- fectly clean empty comb is better than foimdation. Your last experiment, how- ever, does not seem to tell the same story. I do not know how it will be in regard to ! working for extracted honey. It would seem that shallow combs, or even combs with foundation not built out, would be best for getting a nice article of thick, well- ripened honey. Some years ago the matter of using very thick combs, produced by spreading them a good way apart in the upper story, to be used especially for the extracting season, was considerably talked about. The matter was brought up at the Chicago convention. I believe friend Board- man did say that he had used such very thick combs for extracting;, but that he felt sure the bees did not ripen the honey as rapidly as in ordinary depth of brood- combs. In regard to sections made with four entrances, see Question 25 in this issue. Your suggestion, that the bees store the I honey and ripen it in the brood-combs be- 12 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. fore they move it up into the sections, is a valuable point. We were told by some- body, a good while ago, that the bees which gather the honey never carry it up into the sections, but that they just take it inside of the hive and deposit it in the first empty combs they come to, leaving the nurse-bees to put it out of the way, and put it in supers or wherever it belongs. While writing in regard to this matter, a little incident of years ago occurs to my mind. The honey was coming from bassvvood in great floods. Somebody called me just when 1 was put- ting some empty combs back into the hive, the combs having just been extracted. This hive was the old-style American, with an open side. Well, these cotobs were put just inside of the hive, without being moved up into place, and the open side was leaned against them. I did not have time to put it in place and turn the buttons. The bees were working heavily, and the entrance was pretty well crowded. When I came back, half an hour later, the incoming laden bees had found the opening, and were going in there because it was a shorter cut. The outside comb that was not moved up against the rest of them contained quite a little freshly gathered honey. The workers w^ere so eager to find a place to put it, they simply put it in the outside of these empty combs. Yes, and here is one more fact : That same season, somebody was guilty of leaving some pieces of comb on the alight- ing-board of an American hive. The honey came so rapidly one day that I saw quite a lot of honey sparkling in the cells of this old neglected dry comb. lu their haste, the workers had evidently dumped it down there, and hustled off to the fields for more; Now, then, to get back to our subject : The honey-gatherers— at least sometimes— drop their tnin watery nectar into the very first bit of comb that comes handy. It would also seem quite natural that even this hasti- ly dumped-down honey should be evaporat- ed more or less before it is moved back in- to the hive or up into the sections ; but we do not know it for a fact. Can somebody enlighten us on this point V THE COMBINATION SYSTEM. SHOULD EXTRACTED HONEY BE SECURED FROM CO.MBS HAVING ONLY A MODERATE DEPTH OF CELL? 'HEN 1rritin{f the article on page Sb'i, I ex- pected somebody to take me up on the point you make in your comments there- on. I agree with you, that it does not look like good policy to take away the set of extracting-combs before the bees have made a start in the sections. The only reason why I did not ads-ocate raising them up and leaving them on awhile, as you suggest, was that 1 had never tried it: and without trying it I could not be certain just how it would work. I know it will seem strange that I should have neglected to thoroughly test so important a point in the system [am advocating; but 1 must admit that such is the fact. The plan always worked well as I gave it, and so I never thought it worth while to experiment further un- til two years ago. In 1886 I was so busy that, be- fore I realized it, all my bees that were in shape for a trial weie at work in the upper story, in the midst of a honey-flow; and it was too late for a fair trial. Any bee-keeper in this part of Illinois will readily see why I did not test it last season. You can't make experiments In honey production when there is no honey. I never like to recommend any thing I have nev- er tried, so I kept silent on that point. Since it has come up, though, I will say that it is my opin- ion that it will pay, under some circumstances at least, to leave the extracting-combs on until a start has been made in the sections. This will be some more labor, and will increase the proportion of extracted honey produced; but there will not be such a break in the work of the colony, and not so much liability to swarm. By the way, my bees do not swarm nearly so much as most others' seem to. I do not know whether the difference is in management, locality, or bees; but it seems to me there is a difference. SECTIONS FILLED WITH COMB. lam heartily glad to see so many testify to the worthlessness of old combs in sections. It will probably be hard work to get it into the heads of some that it is any thing else than wicked waste to melt up nice combs; but 1 think we can persuade the majority that all section combs not in the best possible condition bad better be made over. It is not likely that mahy very soon will grasp the whole truth that it will not pay to save any such sections at all. Judging from the comment the subject has re- ceived, it is a new idea to many that sections filled with comb are any thing else than an advantage. I have been convinced to the contrary for some time. If you will turn to page 445, Gleanings for 1883, you will find the record of an experiment made by me in 1883 that showed me that founda- tion was superior to comb in sections. For the benefit of those who may not have the back num- bers, and did not attend the convention, I will say that the experiment consisted of putting on each hive about an equal number of sections containing natural comb, worker foundation, and drone foundation, the worker foundation being fresh, while the drone size was old and hard. At least 1500 sections were so arranged. To quote the arti- cle alluded to, *' The worker foundation was drawn out and finished first; the natural comb next, while the bees seemed verj- averse to working the drone foundation." Each year's work since has only help- ed to confirm me in the belief-that the use of comb in sections was unprofitable. There has been a great deal of talk about the hard septum left by foundation, and the effect it might have on the market ; but I have always been more afraid of the old sections left over from the preceding season. A section of comb left all win- ter, to bleach and harden and become blackened by dust, etc., is not an inviting subject for mastica- tion, even if it contains the best of honey, and we have plenty of evidence that usually it does not. It just occurs to me, that the reason why extracted honey is never quite equal in flavor to the best comb honey, and is usually much inferior, is that, on account of being placed in deep cells, it remains longer in an unripened condition. J. A. Green. Dayton, 111., Dec. 10, 1887. Friend G., I am really ashamed to find 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. IS that it is indeed true, that you called at- tention to this very important matter as long ago as 1883. Very likely some of the friends did think of the important truth that your report indicated ; but it is a little strange that nobody took it up and called attention to it. Now. suppose the bees have drawn the foundation out but a very little, say from one-fourth to one-half an inch. If the section is nice and clean, is it not best to use it V I have, a good many times, thought that extracted honey was seldom if ever quite equal to some samples of comb honey, especially if it is extracted about as soon as it is gathered. Where an upper story is left on the hive until the hon- ey season is all over, and then extracted, there is no question about it ; but it is verj' likely true, that even then the honey in very thick combs would be a little inferior to that in shallow combs. Then comes the question, Can honey be ripened by artihcial means so as to be equal to that thoroughly ripened in the hive ? STATISTICS FOR BEE-KEEPEKS. SOME TREMENDOUS FIGURES FROM OUR FRIEND GEORGE E. HILTON. AY I add emphasis to what Prof. Cook has said in regard to this matter, and make additional suggestions? It is some- thing I have been interested in for some time, and, for the first time, the way now seems clear; and it requires onlj' a little effort on the part of bee-keepers themselves to receive this much-desired information. The great newspapers of the country, and even the (iovernment itself, stand with extended hands to help us in this mat- ter. Some time ago I received a letter from the business manager of the N. Y. Tribune, asking me for an article and a statistical report of the bee and honey industry of the United States. I wrote him quite at length, but was obliged to admit that I did not consider my sources of information reliable, and that certain portions were misleading. Perhaps it would have been better not to have written at all, but I desired to make the best showing I could, the recapitulation of which was about the same as friend Newman reports in a recent number of his valuable journal; i. e., that the annual product of North America is about one hundred millions of pounds, and its value is about $15,000,000; the annu- al wax product is about half a million pounds, and its value about $100,000; that there are about .300,000 bee-keepers in North America; and at the very low estimate of ten colonies each, this would amount to 3,000,000; and at f 5.00 per colony for bees and fix- tures, it would make an investment of $15,000,000, so the industry represents at least 30 millions of dollars annually; and if the facts were known, I think it would be nearer $50,(X10,000. You will re- member the letter I read at the Michigan State convention, from the U. S. Statistician, offering to include our industry in the monthly crop reports if we would furnish the corps of cori-espondents, or inform him how to get them. Now, my suggestion is this: No one has better facilities than yourself for selecting four or five representative men in every State, to make reports to you (I don't think there is a bee-keeper in the United States that would think of accepting pay from you for his services). Well, after you get your corps well established, just turn their names over to Statistician Dodge, and we shall have the whole thing in a nut-shell. The reports you give will reach all who read the bee-journals, and the crop reports will reach thousands that do not read the journals, and they are the very ones most in need of information. You may receive many better and more feasible plans than the above; if so, I shall be very thank- ful. In either case I shall be very glad to serve you as suggested by my dear friend Cook, and please do not say any thing about pay. Fremont, Mich., Dec. 13, 1887. Geo. E. Hilton. Why, friend H., your figures and values almost take away one's breath. I did not suppose it possible that our industry repre- sents so much. Now, I presume that not as many as one in twenty of the 300,000 take a bee-journal of any kind. Many thanks for your kind offers of service, friend H. We shall be glad to call on you when we are ready. Our industry is growing, and getting to be a great deal better understood than it was a few years ago. It has been long said, that honey has never yet been served at our first-class hotels. At the Morton House, in Grand Rapids, we had beautiful honey for supper, and hot cakes to match. They brought us two hot cakes at a time ; and as soon as we were ready they brought us two more, and so on. The honey was served in dainty little dishes holding square pieces of about two ounces. I am pleased to notice, that in the little pamphlets that are now be- ing sent out, describing the resources of the great West, and other localities, they are begining to mention bee culture with other things. BEE-KEEPING FOB WOMEN, ETC. rubber bottles. Jp S you do not believe much in medicine, I k think you will find rubber bottles, hold- V' ing two quarts or one gallon of boiling ^ water, invaluable. The one we use holds two quarts, if filled only two-thirds full. It will adjust itself to different parts of the body. You would do a good work for humanity if you could get them at reduced prices. Many could then afford to buy them, as they come high; at least we thought ours was high— $1.75. BEE-HATS. We have been troubled with our ill-fitting wire- cloth bee-hats, as the wire makes them stiff, and. unless fitted to the head, they flopped around un- pleasantly upon the head whenever we stooped. I thought I would try a lady's old straw bonnet with long ear-points. The one I made for myself fit so comfortably I made one for Mr. Axtell. Although it does not look quite so genteel as a hat does, per- haps, yet it is so comfortable and easy on the head that we both conclude we never want to wear any thing else, when made of wire cloth in front, and a cloth curtain at back and side. Our hats be- ing in constant use, we get holes torn through very easily when using brussels net. Hence we prefer wire cloth for constant use. For Mr. Axtell's bon- net bee-hat I sewed a piece of braid on top, to 14 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Jan. cause the wire cloth to project over in front further, so the wire cloth would not come in contact with his Roman nose. I shall have to disagree with Mrs. Chaddock about bee-keeping being too hard for women, ministers, and invalids. I am a woman and an invalid, and 1 find the pursuit as it were an angel of mercy to me. I delight in it, and it has become, as it were, life to me. as my health always improves while working with bees, and declines when bees are put away. Possibl J- the bee-poison causes a languor or weakness with Mrs. Chaddock. If I thought so, I would dress bee-proof, as I always do, except I prefer to work with hands bare. But my help I always try to have perfectly protected from bee-stings; but often they see me working with no protection on my hands, and they learn to do without. As our pets, the bees, have been put forest, and fall work pretty well brought up, T will again visit " The Home of the Honey-Bee" by pen and ink. The above is a sweet name. We like to read your descriptions in Gleanings of the "Home" and its surroundings. We have these many years followed you in your growth, both in Christian life and in business pursuits. You have become like a branch- ing tree, whose branches reach to the ends of the earth. While the old stock is waning, new Rootlets are springing up to walk in the paths of the parents, and to carry on the good influences thus commenced, away over into eternity, after long cycles of time have passed. Oh the good we all may do. While the days are going by! Oh! the world is full of sighs, Full of sad and weeping eyes; Help our fallen brother rise. While the days are passing by. But the seed of good we sow, Both in shade and shine will grow, And will keep'our hearts aglow. While the days are going by. It is not altogether the good we can do personally, but the good that others accomplish brought about by our influence over them. This was what a good minister said to me this fall, as I was lamenting we had BO little cash to give for Christian work this year. "It is not so much what we do, as what we are," he said. Mrs. L. C. Axtell. Roseville, 111., Dec. 1, 1887. We will gladly see what can be done about getting the rubber bottles cheaper, my good friend; but why not use soapstone bricks, with a bail to them, that can be bought so cheaply almost everywhere? 1 am aware that the latter does not fit so closely to the body ; but when the soapstone is enveloped in ilaiinel it answers almost every purpose, at our house. I am very strongly in favor of applying heat in the way you suggest. With myself, it often performs wonderful cures ; and I think many cases of severe sickness might be obviated entirely by the timely and prompt use of hot water or the soap- stone, or even a hot Hat-iron, when nothing else is handy. — No doubt an old Shaker bon- net would be just the thing, except in looks; and I hope you will excuse me for saying that I should not want to ask one of our young men, or old men either, for that mat- ter, to be seen about the hives with a Shak- er bonnet on. Can not some kind of hat, that will afford an equal protection, and yet not make one look as if he belonged to the lunatic asylum, be found? In the height of the honey season we often look untidy enough as it is. If we men-folks should add a Shaker bonnet to this untidy appearance, I am afraid we should cast a slur on the in- dustry. I hope you will excuse my criti- cisms on your suggestion.— I am very glad indeed to know that you still find the "bees a benefit to your health. Many thanks for your kind concluding words. BEES, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES, IN FLOHIDA. REPORT FROM ONE OF OUR ABC SCHOLARS. ■JIP N article which I and others need very much gfM is a sprayer for trees and plants; not a large ^1^ pump, but something that may be carried ■^^- around in the hand, and not waste too much costly liquid. If you have such a tool, please let me know. If not, I think there would be a large demand if you would keep them in stock. 1 am much interested in "What to Do," and am trying to do even better than you. lean get more than $1000 worth from an acre. Last season I sold, from 1%, acre o!; strawberries, .5.560 qts. for a little over *700; with net, $400. The price ranged from 50 to 8 cts. per quart, and the picking season lasted 5 months. The strawberry-plants are now just be- ginning to blossom. Those cabbages of yours are probably safely stowed in a cellar. I have 5000 in all stages, from just set out to almost full grown; and the older plants, I think, cover the ground as those did you saw at Arlington, Mass. I should like to make arrangements to ship you some of my early fruit. Tomato, marrow squash, potatoes, melons, egg-plants, etc., are harvested here from the last of May until July 1st. Last season my strawberry crop, until April, was shipped in open (ventilated) crates to Kansas City. This has been my best honey crop. From 33 swarms, spring count, and very little care, I have taken 1300 sections and 1800 lbs. of extracted. I am shipping the comb to New York and Boston. It sells for about 12'/2 cts. per lb. The extracted I sell here. After considerable experience I find it sells best in 5-cent pails holding about 2 lbs. I leave it on sale at the stores at $2.50 per dozen. They re- tail at 25 cts. each. When you come to Florida, please meet me. This is one of the celebrated sea-islands, and a great shipping-port. About 13,560,000 feet of lum- ber alone were shipped from here in November. The city has been sinking some artesian wells in the last few months, that may interest j'ou. The first, a six-inch one, was drilled down 556 feet, when the tubing telescoped and it had to be abandoned. Then, right along beside it, an eight-inch hole was drilled 570 feet. A coral rock was struck, and the water began to flow; but the drill went 30 feet deep- er, right through the rock. After water was struck, the last 30 feet was drilled in two hours, the water throwing out the rock. The flow is 2000 gallons a minute. It flows over a tube 40 feet above the surface, the surface being 25 feet above sea-level. The temperature of the water is 73 degrees, and the well cost, complete, $3000. H. C. Daniels. Fernandina, Fla., Nov. 5, 1887. Friend D., the article you call for is one of the needs of the present day. There is a great variety of machines in the market, and it depends a great deal on just what you 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULT LIKE. 15 wish to do with them in deciding what ma- chine to use. There is probably nothing in the world, that will do the amount of work, for any thing like the price, like the Smith fountain pump. It can be carried in one hand, with a pail of liquid in the other, but you must set it down when you operate. The Whitman fountain pump can be operat- ed while you have a pail of liquid on your arm, but it costs a great deal more money. Woodison makes a spray-difEuser that is ex- cellent, but it costs three or four dollars. A great deal of time has been spent in devising sprinklers ; but my experience is, that every thing with a perfoiatea head, like a rose, is objectionable because it fills up so soon. The spray diff user is much the best. A water- ing-pot can. of course, be used, but it wastes a great deal of expensive liquid, and gives some of the plants too mucli, and others not enough. Where the liquid is to be carried in a barrel in a wagon, when we have to spray fruit-trees, for instance, a powerful force-pump is needed, and a great many of these are already in the market. The whole arrangement answers for treating potato- bugs with Paris green, where there are large fields of them. I am firmly convinced, how- ever, that, in a majority of cases, Terry's plan of hand-picking is the cheapest and surest for the potato-beetle. At the Michi- gan State Horticultural Convention in Sagi- naw, Prof. Cook gave us quite a talk on in- sect-pests ; and I believe the general conclu- sion was, that hand-picking, or some equiva- lent plan, is, a great many times, the short- est cut to success, especially if we commence just as soon as the first bug makes its ap- pearance. Even on squash and cucumber vines it will often be found to be the cheap- est and shortest way, especially if you cover them, when small, with the plant-boxes. — I am very glad to know you are doing so well in your Florida home ; but our Medina mar- ket would probably not pay the fancy prices you get for your early products. Ten cents a pound for the first tomatoes, cabbages, cu- cumbers, and the like, can be obtained until the market is satisfied, and I presume other towns in your vicinity would pay about the same ; but r presume that most of your products will have to be sold in our large cities. — I am glad to hear of your success with artesian wells. These will be a won- derful aid toward making a sure thing of your crops. REESE'S CONE-CASE BEE-ESCAPE. HOW TO MAKE, AND HOW TO USE; VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS. R. ROOT:— I have had in practical use the past season a device or plan for getting bees out of finished or full cases of honey, etc., while on the hive, without the use of smoke, etc. The plan also works well when applied to a pile— less or more— of full cases, when the bees can escape and not return; but I claim the application to the hive proper as new and original. One of the oldest and most practical bee- keepers and writers on bee-keeping has also given it a rigid test, and pronounced the plan practical and thoroughly successful. Dr. C. C. Miller also has the device to test; but his letter, which I inclose, will explain what he thinks of it, without having an opportunity of testing it, on account of the lateness of the season. Friend Beese:— There is no question but that your affair will work. It is too late to try it, but I know without trying. Somewhere I have a dim recollec- tion of seeing the double-cone principle mentioned, but it could not have been in the practical form in which you have it, I think. You speak of trying It with feeders; but in this place itis too late and cold, even for that. By all means, send me the pattern for the cones, if yoii will be so kind. Your cone escape will work nicely, I think, in this way: Having driv- en down the usual number of bees, take off the su- pers and pile them up four or five high, then put a cone-case on top to let the bees out. This will be more trouble than your way, but it would be better for an out-apiary, where the work must be rushed through. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111., Oct. 29, 1887. Now, in the first place I do not desire to apply for a patent on this " atfair," as Dr. Miller calls it, but I have come to the conclusion that you are the best man to have any appliance that will benefit bee- keepers generally, as you can put it before them to a better and greater extent than any one else. REESE'S cone CASE, AND HOW USED. The "affair," or cone-case bee-escape, is simply as follows: Take any empty surplus case that any bee-keeper may be using— say, for illustration, the T super you are making. Cut a thin board that will just fit evenly inside the T case; bore two one- inch holes, one near each end. Make two small cones of wire cloth, just large enough to tack over the one-inch holes, and about I'/s inch high. Now make two more larger cones, about 3'/^ inch at base and 3'2 high, and tack over the smaller cones. This will leave a space between the smaller and larger cones, and each cone has a hole in its apex that will admit a bee. You now have a device like E, in the illustration. Fasten this board, with cones, near the bottom of your empty super, as shown by B. Now, as this empty section-case with the false bot- tom—or top— with cones, is just the size of the sur- plus cases already on the hive, the full super may be raised as at A, and a super (C) filled with empty IG GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Jan. sections can be put on the hive. Between the su- pers A and C, the cone-case B is placed, with cones pointing toward the brood-nest. The full supers of sections and bees can be put on top of the cone- ca*e, and all is done in a twinkling. In a few hours you may expect to have your full super all clean of bees, and not a cell uncapped. If the cone-case be adjusted in the afternoon or evening, your full su- per will be just as you would desire it next morn- ing. I make the wire-cloth cones very rapidly and per- fectly by using two tin cones, the size I want the wire cones, and just mold the wire cloth between the tin ones. F shows the outside cone: C is the square of wire cloth, and H the inside cone, which is fastened on to a wooden stake, the latter stuck into the bench. The central mesh of G, or as near- ly as may be, is placed on the apex of the cone E. The cone F is then driven down, forming the square of wire cloth into a cone. I also make queen-cell protectors on these tin cones, to perfection. If you think you see any thing in this bee-extract- or, and do not just exactly understand everything about it, just let me know, and I will send you by express, prepaid, a life-sized model that you can take a good look at, and I know you will see practi- cal sticking out on all sides. I think the tin cone-molds are original, and can he made very cheap; and I doubt if any thing else will work so perfectly, provided the cones are made right. J. S. Reese. Winchester, Ky., Nov. 23, 1887. In response to this, friend R. was request- ed to send us models of his invention, which he did. It seemed so practical that we im- mediately placed it in the hands of our en- gravers, to show how the whole thing oper- ated. In the mean time we received the following from our friend : Dear Si/;— You will observe that I have sent one cone-case arranged to fit your T super, as I under- stand it to be 13'/2X 17^4, inside measure. I am in- clined to think one set of the wire cones would an- swer every purpose that the two do, especially if the hole were made larger, say 1^4 or 2 inches. In fact, I used our case with one large hole, one inch instead of two, and it seemed to work quite as well. I have used the cone-case in several ways, with per- fect success. In one instance I had two brood-cases tiered; and when I wanted the top one otf I put the cone-case between them, and all the bees went down to the queen; and at another time I gave it a most severe test by putting it between a T-super feeder full of bees, and the brood-chamber; and in a very short time the feeder was entirely freed of bees— not one remaining. I have also used it as Dr. Miller suggests, on a pile of full supers, with the few bees that could not be smoked out. I also send the tin cones that I use to mold the wire-cloth cones, and I want you to give them a test. I think they are worthy of being fully de- scribed and illustrated in Gleanings, as they are simple, and easily made and worked. I have also used the small cones to prevent or stop robbing, by taking a thin strip, about like a piece of lath, and as long as the entrance is wide, and putting one or more one-inch holes in it, and over the holes a small cone. This lath with cones pointing out or from the front, and secured over the entrance, will allow the bees, robbers and all, to come out, and none can return until the lath is removed, which would be at night if in a bad case of robbing. Winchester, Ky., Dec. 1, 1887. J. S. Reese. Friend R., the use of the cones for the purpose you mention is not altogether new ; but the plan of using them in connection with an emi)t> super is new, so far as T know. .Tid will be likely to prove very valu- able. Your plan of making the cone is also a bright idea, and. so far as I know, an orig- inal one. You make it so plain that almost every bee-keeper can, during the winter time, fix up his own bee-escapes. My im- pression is. that one set of cones is practic- ally safe. AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR AN APIARY. WINDBREAKS; FRUIT AND SHADE TREES, ETC. ERE I to choose an ideal situation for an apiary it would be on a gentle slope to the south or southeast, with buildings or large trees to the north side, and, not far distant to the south, another protecting hill or wood. If in a locality exposed to east or west winds, I should want a windbreak in those directions also. For windbreaks about an apiary, it seems to me there is nothing better than evergreen-trees. We must soon begin to use evergreens and the various hedge shrubs, as they do in England, for fences, and let us begin in the spring by putting one about the apiary. The common spruce or hemlock, properly trimmed, is hardy, and will do good serv- ice. A neighbor remarked to me last spring, that, if he had built a tight board fence to the north of his apiary, where the wind came through between two buildings, he would have saved at least one hun- dred dollars. The mortality was much greater op- posite the opening. Another acquaintance has for years wintered bees in box hives out of doors; and during the severe winter of 1886-'7 he lost only one or two, by mice. He is situated in a narrow ra\-ine between two mountains: and although the sun- shine reaches there, no breeze disturbs the quiet of this old-fashioned bee-yard. I visited this friend's bees during a cold day last winter, and I was surprised to see. through a large entrance-hole, part way up the side of the hives, the bees crawling slowly over each other as they were clustered upon the combs within. Bees thus exposed could not have lived in the open country. All these things help to convince me that some sort of protection besides the hive is needed to winter with the most perfect safety. As I said be- fore, I would have evergreens on the exposed sides of the apiary, but never among the hives, for shade in winter is apt to induce chill and dampness. To my idea, there is no better tree for shading an apiarj- than the plum. It never grows too high to take a swarm easily, and its shade is not too light or too dense. Next to the plum is the cherry, though its fruit matures earlier, and is apt to interfere with bee-work in the gathering of it. If you live in a village, or where your room is limited, and you are compelled to put your bees near the highway where people are passing close by the hives, I am very confident you will not be troubled by persons being stung if you will plant an evergreen hedge next the street, and train it 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 17 high, and then six feet back of it plant a close row of plum-trees and place your hives beyond them. This matter of outside protection is much neg- lected in this country. I have several kinds of fruit-trees in my bee-yard; for what is more deli- cious, or brings in more money for the outlay, than fresh ripe fruit, such as cherries, plums, pears, grapes, and apples? If you have no apiary, or have one and do not fancy planting trees among the hives, still, I say, plant fruit-trees. There is too much of selfishness in our ways of living to-day— not petty selfishness, but big selfishness. Houses are but flimsy structures, because "it will last as long as T want it to, and the next one can do as I did." Many an orchard is never planted, because "it will just get to bearing as I am done with this world." Let us think of what was left us by our ancestors. Vermont was once one unbroken forest. Let us think of the strong arms that once cleared its acres, and lived in log cabins the while, but to die as the sun was rising over a fertile, grain-clad country. Let us think of these things, and "go and do like- wise." If you have attended to this matter of shade and fruit trees in the apiary, I think there is scarce- ly a necessity of clipping the queen's wing to pi-e- vent absconding of swarms; though if you allow many high trees to grow near by, you may have an occasional climb. I had over sixty swarms issue the last season, and only one (a small second swarm) attempted to leave. Plenty of small trees will catch them every time. I do not like the appearance of those large bee- yards without a tree in them, and with the hives set in regular rows each way. I find that, with hives thus arranged, it is difficult to tell individual col- onies except by the numbers, and a number is too abstract for me. I group three or four under the shade of this "Fameuse," a couple under that small " Flemish Beauty," three or four under the friendly shelter of that clump of cherry-bushes. 1 take pains to leave passageways here and there, through which I can run my wheelbarrow, then each hive among one hundred retains its separate impression, and its general history and present con- dition can be told without a record, though some record is often necessary. WORKER CELLS TO THE INCH. I have been looking up, or measuring up, since I read Dr. Miller's article in Gleanings, and in twenty pieces of natural comb, from different col- onies, I found that the average size is 58.25 cells to the foot, placed side by side, which is less than Dr. M. estimates, by nearly two cells to the foot. How- ever, I have measured samples of comb built upon Given fdn., which ran just five cells to the inch. Van- dervort fdn. ran about the same as natural comb. Now, I wish to ask, upon this subject, whether it were not barely possible that the stretching and sagging of fdn. may not often be caused by too small cell foundation. Is it possible to enlarge the size of our bees by slightly enlarging the size of the cell, say to 56 to the foot? I should like to know if any one has tried it. I should like to learn, from those who have tried it, the effect of drone founda- tion in sections, with queen-excluder beneath. Larrabee's Point, Vt. John H. L.\rrabee. Friend L., your suggestions in regard to windbreaks are excellent ; and it is not only the bee-keeper but the market-gardener and fruit-grower who can afford to furnish wind- breaks. It makes a vast difference in any locality about cutting off the prevailing cold winds. Nothing does it so effectually, so far as my experience goes, as a heavy forest, or, better still, a forest of evergreens. If we can have all the sunshine and not have the wind, we are virtually a good many miles further south. Your suggestion in re- gard to grouping the hives is also good. The matter of getting bees slightly larger was experimented on and discussed years ago ; and although some experiments seem- ed to indicate that larger bees were secured by making comb foundation a little larger, others seemed to indicate they were about the same. In connection with this it may be well to mention the fact that different queens often produce bees of different sizes. We once had a queen, brought from the Holy Land by D. A. Jones, that pleased us in every respect, except that her bees were smaller than the average run of bees ; and occasionally we have an Italian queen that seems to produce extra large workers. As there are no means, however, of measuring them with any kind of accuracy, except the looks of them as they are clustered on the combs or in front of the hive, it is a little hard to be positive in liie matter. Another thing, we have not been able to see that the larger bees gathered any mnie honey than a hive full of small bees. Neighbor H., who was sitting by while I dictated the above, adds the following : One spring he was very anxious to get drones from a particular queen, therefore he furnished her with full sheets of dron^ comb, and fed the colony up, so as to make a sure thing of it. The queen very obliging- ly went and put an ejrg in every drone-cell, and he was rejoicing in tlie prospect of an extra nice crop of drones. After the bees sealed them up, however, to his astonish- ment they were all capped like workers. Well, these worker bees were actually large around, but short and dumpy, much like drones, and he thought he had got a larger size of worker bees. About the time they were ready to tly, however, they looked just like any other bees. Their extra size of cradle produced no permanent difference in size. This is probably about the way it turns out with worker cells slightly enlarged. KEEPING HONEY LIQUID THAT IS FOR SALE IN THE STOKES. MRS. HARRISON ALSO TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT MAPLE SUGAR IN A KEG. fRIEND ROOT:— I fully agree with Mr. Bal- dridge when he says: " It is my experience, that the price for extracted honey indicates, in the minds of consumers, both its purity and quality. A low price for extracted hon- ey, or a less price than is asked for comb honey, is very apt to create distrust on both points." Peo- ple have said to me, " I should think honey with- out the comb ought to be worth the most, because there is no wax in it." I have always said that I felt that my extracted honey cost the most. It is best that extracted honey should be sold in a home market, and direct to consumers, for this reason: IS GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. Those who buy it for talile use want it ready for use. It is not to be presumed that they understand melting it so as not to injure it; and if they want honey on the spur of the moment, they say, " Can't have any now, it is all hard." So it goes on, and is not used. Had it been liquid, it would have been used up and the family would have bought some more; but no more will be bought while they have that. It is something like this: A honey customer sold us a fifty-pound keg of maple sugar. He said he knew it was pure, for a friend of his in Vermont sent it to him direct from his camp (glucose had found its waj- to the camp, though). We were sev- eral years using that sugar, for it had to be dug out with chisel and l;aramer, and be melted before it was ready for the table. I said to a friend who bought a similar keg, " Used your maple sugar yet?" She said, " Oh, no! it's such a job to dig it out, and nobody will do it but me, and I can't spare the time." I suppose she has it yet, and it's of legal age to go to school. We produce mostly comb honey, because we think it is less work, situated as we are. Jf I need- ed employment I would purchase extracted honey by the barrel, melt it, and put it. into tin pails, and in a short time have a regular honey-route. If I found that honey, previously sold, had granulated, I would exchange liquid for it, and expect that it would be consumed when I came again, and the customer want some more. When extracted honey is produced in No. 1 order, that is, every kind kept separate, and well ripened, and delivered to the consumer in prime order, it should be worth the price of comb honey. Dark, mixed honej', with no distinct flavor, should not be offered to consumers for food, as it injures the demand. Peoria, 111. Mrs. L. Harrison. Mrs. H., may be your maple sugar was adulterated with glucose ; but the fact that it was so hard that it had to be cut out with a chisel and hammer is no evidence of this. As you describe it, I should infer that the sugar was poured into the keg while hot. This would be a nice way to ship it ; but any maple sugar, when it gets real dry, would make just that kind of trouble. I should by no means think of digging it out with a chisel. Knock off the hoops, take off the staves, and put the keg, or such a part of it as you think proper, into a laige dishpan or something else suitai)le. Add a very lit- tle water, and let the sugar melt slowly ; then when you sugar it off leave it rather damp— that is, don't sugar if off so as to get dry and hard. In this shape you can dip it out with a spoon, without any trouble what- ever; and at our house we think that soft maple sugar is ever so much nicer than hard cakes. Almost any maple sugar will get hard if the liquid portion be allowed to drain off. On one occasion we sent some little cakes of maple sugar clear to Connecticut. As it was in the summer time they got so dry and hard you could scarcely pound them up with a hammer. Well, now, these friends thought they ought to have damages be- cause we sent them sugar too hard to eat. Had they given these little cakes one dip in water, and let them lie a few hours, the sugar would have become as soft as they pleased, without any trouble whatever. Even dropping water on a cake of sugar oc- casionally will make it just as soft as you want it. Our children like it best sugared off warm. Just put some of the hard lumps into a basin, with a very little water, and let it simmer slowly ; then, just as you finish it, bring it to a boil, and you can have hot maple sugar any day of the year, without any trouble with hammer and chisel. THE QUAKERS. MRS. CHADDOCK ON DIFFERENT CHURCHES AND DIFFERENT RELIGIONS. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.— Ecc. 12: 12. R. ROOT:— You say, on page 890, "Why do you say that she says it is because she Is a Christian? That is, why do you not say instead that it is because she is a Chris- tian?" Well. I do not say that, because I do not hnow it. Anna aaya it, and she is a sweet and lovely girl, and a tndhfitl one, and I would not doubt her word on any subject. Oliver Wendell Holmes (I think it was) said that the time to begin a child's education is one hundred years before it is born; and perhaps Anna began being a Christian a hundred years before she was born; and if she did, she may have such a store of Christianity in her veins, in her bones, and in her brain fiber, that it helps her to bear all the ills of life without a murmur. You know, of course, that what Holmes meant was, that children inherit tendencies, and that a child of an educated stock would be more apt to learn than the child of illiterate parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. Anna Quil- lin comes of a religious stock, and all her tenden- cies are that way, and I believe that she feels what she says she does. My religious education did not begin a hundred years ago, and it is impossible to crowd enough religion into me to make me bear calmly and trust- fully all that Anna has to bear. If I had to lie in bed for eight years, I think I should be lying alone. No mortal could stay by me, I should be so " can- tankerous." But I do not mean by this that I am destitute of religion. I think I have some religion, but I do not believie in the same creed that you do. My mother's people were Friends (called Qua- kers). She married "one of the world's people," and was disowned for doing so. My parents moved to a new State, where there wei-e no "Friends' meeting," and there my mother united with a peo- ple calling themselves "Disciples of Christ," I be- lieve (I was a small child then), but they were call- ed by the world " New Lights," and we went to that church till mother died. I was ten years old then, and we were put out to be brought up by neighbors or strangers. My lot fell in pleasant places, and among Christian people, the Friends. I was a stranger and they took me in; I was hungry, and they fed me; I was naked (almost), and they clothed me; and to this Christian people I owe a debt of gratitude that I can never pay. I went to their schools, I went to their meetings. I was al- ways at their Sabbath-school and at their Bible- readings. I loved them. I think I was thirteen when I was taken into the society by request. This was the orthodo.x branch of Friends. My 1388 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE, 19 mother was of the Hicksitc division. I remember asliing aunt Ann Overman what the difference was between the orthodox and the Hicksite Friends, and she answered, laughingly, "The Orthodox be- lieve that the 'eld fellow ' has horns, and the Hick- sites believe he is a muly." Dear aunt Ann! she is now in heaven; but her good works live after her. When I began teaching, at fifteen, I had to leave the Friends' neighborhood. There were only two schools there, and Friends' children are all educat- ed, and most of them are teachers, and T went here and there wherever duty seemed to call me, till I finally landed in Illinois, among my mother's peo- ple. There was a small Friends' meeting here, with half a dozen members, but it was of the Hicksite branch, and it was so different from what I had been used to that I did not feel much at home among them. I liked them though. I have a re- spect for a tight silk lionnct and a big felt hat that nothing can ev<^r tnke away. In teaching and changing neighborhoods I always attended what- ever church was nearest, but they all seemed wild and ranting, and I wished that I had a good old Orthodox Friends' meeting to go to. For years and years I was homesick for the old Friends' meeting- house on the hill at Mississiuewa. No other such Sundays have ever been, nor ever will be to me, as those spent in that old weather-beaten two-ended meeting-house. The old oak-trees around it were greener, the sky above was bluer, and the winds more balmy than they have ever been since. The old plank road was a royal highway leading past the burying-ground where generations of departed Friends lie buried, with the Mississinewa in sight, if we chose to look that way, and the cultivated fields and orchards on either side. On Wednesdays school was dismissed at eleven, and we marched two and two, the boys in one group, the girls in another, and took our places, "quietly and in or- der," in the meeting-house, where the fathers and mothers and householders had already assembled; and time and tinje again we sat in silence the whole meeting through, without a word being spoken by any one; but the still small voice was speaking to each tieart; then the elder shook hands, and meeting was over, and we went out, not quite so " quiet and orderly," to our dinners and our play. It is of no use for me to try to tell outsiders what it was that I liked about those sHoit meetings. One who has never been there can not be made to understand it, so I shall not try. But I loved it well; and I would give twenty dollars (if I had it to spare) to go back there and sit for one hour and feel as I used to feel. Some years ago I sent to that nieeting for a let- ter, to be given to the Presbyterian church here. The Presbyterians received my letter, but— now here comes the rub— all Christians are going to the same heaven, and a church letter ought to be a legal tender anywhere, just as a gold dollar is; but it seems that it is not. The Presbyterian church said it would take me in on that church letter if— what? if I would bo baptized with water! Now, our religion— our orthodox Friends' kind of religion— taught mc that I need not be baptized of water, but of the Holy Spirit. Now, if I say that I believe water baptism is necessary, I shall tell a lie, because I do not think so, and I am not going to tell a lie for any church. I know that you have always talked to me as if I were an Infidel; but I want to say now that I believe in religion, in churches, in prayer-meetings, and religious expe- rience. Religion is a good thing. It seems to me that anj- thing that will take the swear out of a man. and make him stop beating his wife, must be a good thing, and religion did this for one of my neighbors, and it does seem as if religious people were happier, and felt more at home, than out- siders. It does not matter about creed— creed nev- er saved anybody yet. I say, it does not matter about the creed, but I'll make a few exceptions. I'd rather not be a Thug in India, nor a Mormon in Utah. Mahala B. Chaddock. Vermont, 111., Dec. 8, 1887. May God bless you, my dear Mend, for this little talk you have given us ; and please forgive me if I have, in any of my replies, talked as if you were an infidel. I shall never do it any more, especially if you don't take back any thing you have said in the above. I know there are objectionable things about our sects and creeds ; but you yourself have, in your concluding words, indicated that a line must be drawn some- where. I have myself been many times tempted to think that it does not matter about the creed ; but, where shall we draw the dividing line ? Among the readers of Gleanings there are many different ones, and I fear they will feel hurt at what you said ; but if Mormonism upholds polygamy, I should say it will have to be hurt and ought to be hurt ; but I am told by some of the friends in Salt Lake that it does not. In any case, we have not time to discuss this question here. Well, is there a common ground where we can all meet V I think there is, and it is indicated in the text I have put at the head of your article. God's word says, the summing-up of the whole mutter is to fear God and keep his com- mandments. I confess I never knew be- fore what a Quaker meeting is. Now, I think I could enjoy a Quaker meeting with you, if it were not too long. I am some- thing like Huber at morning prayers. He is an excellent boy when the prayer is not too long. I guess I could enjoy a Quaker meeting of fifteen minutes or perhaps twen- ty ; and, to tell the truth, 1 believe that sermons of fifteen or twenty minutes, have, as a rule, done me more good than longer ones. Are you not a little hard on the Presbyterian church ? I am not very well posted in these matters, for God has not called me to look closely into this matter of doctrine ; but without consulting our dea- cons, I should say that, if some one applied for admission to our church who is leading a consistent life, and preferred not to be baptized because he felt, as does our friend Mrs. Chaddock, that he had been baptized by the Holy Ghost, in his own Quaker church, years ago, I should say, receive him into the church. No w% may be it would be a bad precedent ; and may be my position is, on this point, an unwise one ; but I don't believe it would do very much harm. God has called me, with all my strength and all my heart and with all my soul, to preach in my own way the religion that, as you ex- press it, " takes the swear out of a man," and makes him stop beating his wife ; but he has not called me to labor with people who do not think as I do about baptism, or 20 GLEANINGS IN BEE CirLTURE. Jan. about which day should be Sunday, and many other matters of similar import. It seems to me, my good friend, that almost all the world will be willing to stnnd side by side with you and me on this ])oint. Then why not let us unite here and drop these other things that must be, to a greater or lesser extent, mere matters of opinion. " There shall be one fold and one shepherd." SETTING BEES IN" EARLY. HONEY NOT ONLY STORED FASTER IN FOUNDA- TION, BUT OF SUPERIOR QUALITY. XJFOUR remarks on why bees can store honey I^Hki faster when furnished with foundation than '^^ when furnished with empty combs, were "*' most interesting-. One thing-, it seems to me, should be emphasized; and that is, the quali- ty of the honey is decidedly improved by the foun- dation process. Being- so perfectly ripened, the smooth, oily taste so much craved would be pres- ent. Who would advise the same line in working for exti-aeted honey? We are confronted with the same difficulty there, in a modified way. The cells are not so deep, but too deep for the current of air to pass " close to the surface " of the first nectar deposited; and has not extracted honey taken from new combs been found richer in flavor than that taken from old combs, even though both were cap- ped over? This is a large subject, and should be amplified through Gleanings. My bees were humming merrily yesterday. I placed my thermometer on the south side of the honey-house, and it soon marked 95°. Your " zero weather " made it quite plain to you that Mr. Doo- little had " hit it this year." This 9.5° weather makes it quite as clear to me that he would not have made an egregious blunder had he left them till now. To-day seems quite as pleasant as yesterday. Lawndale, 111., Dec. 8, 1887. F. C. Blount. Friend B., I think you are very likely right, and that our extracted honey would be better if stored and ripened in combs with shallow cells. We can secure this by having the combs quite close together. HOW MANY COLONIES TO THE SQUARE MILE? friend FRANCE RECONSIDERS THE SUB.IECT DIS- CUSSED ON PAGE 816. N Nov. 1st. Gleanings, page 816, friend Porter introduces the inquiry as to how many bees can be kept profitably on one square mile, and that without regard to the range inside of the mile. As he puts it, the bees are not confined to one square mile, for he says the bees may be put at the corners of the mile. In that case a very small proportion of their produce comes from the one square mile. We all know that bees do range off awny from home for from one to five or six miles, to gather honey. If they can not do better they will Hy si.v miles to gather honey, and that over a lake five miles wide, without a chance of stopping on the way to rest. Now, if bees go five miles each way from the center mile, then we have 11 miles square, or 121 square miles. That looks like a big pasture for the bees that are on our one square mile of ground. Now, if there are no other bees kept nearer than ten miles of our bees we should have the range to ourselves. If the pas- ture is all good, perhaps we could keep 1000 colo- nies on the one mile square. But divide the 1000 colonies by the 121 square miles of the range, and we have a fraction over 8 colonies to the mile. But, how far do bees fly, on an average, to gather honey? In my opinion, very few go more than two miles when honey is plentiful. Say they go two miles. In that case, the bees located on the cor- ners of the one square mile would have 25 square miles to pasture on. Take the average of the country about here, 200 colonies would be as much as I should think profitable for that range. Here, again, we have eight colonies to the mile. We are keeping .500 colonies of bees here, divided into 6 apiaries. They are far enough apart to give each apiary a range of 16 square miles, which gives us a population of about 5^ colonies to the mile, and we think we are stocked heavily enough. I should like to hear from other large honey-producers on this subject— how many bees they have, and about how large a range they cover. We are all well aware, that there is a great dif- ference in location. Take the land here in my lo- cality, and there is not over one-fourth of it good bee-pasture. All the good tillable land is plowed up, and used to raise farmers' crops which do not produce any honey. Then there is perhaps another quarter of the land covered with timber, with no basswood or any honey-bearing- trees. White clo- ver and basswood are our main dependence. We never get surplus from any other source. I am very well aware, that there are many locations far better than mine in which to keep bees. In closing my i-emarks on the subject of how many colonies to the mile, I just want to say that the remarks that were placed under Mr. Porter's article (referred to above) caused a very percepti- ble smile. I don't know who wrote those remarks, but I suppose it was our much-respected uncle, A. I. Root. It struck me that he must have had a very slow horse, and it took him a long time to get around that one square mile, for he came to the conclusion that it was a large tract of country, big enough to place .50 colonies of bees on each corner, and then have room in the middle for 50 more. I would not put the .50 in the center, but, rather, divide them up and add them to the corner apia- ries. They would thus have an equal chance with the others, and then I think it would depend a great deal moi'e on what covered the surrounding country for two or three miles out, then it would on what covered those 640 acres. If one were raising queens to sell, your arrangement of 2.50 colonies (or nuclei) on a square mile, perhaps, would do, if they were fed stores to winter on, and the nuclei were doubled down to about half to winter; but handling large colonies of bees, for the purpose of a profitable honey crop, is another matter. We want room, and plenty of good pasture. Platteville, Wis., Dec. 1.5, 1887. E. France. Yes, friend F., it was A. I. Root who wrote that about riding around the square mile; and T want to inform you that a square mile is a good big slice of ground. I suggested putting TjO colonies in the center, because, when w'e arrange fruit-trees, cab- 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 21 bages, or even bee-hives, in the form of a square, there is always more or less vacancy in tiie center of the square. On this ac- count a triangle would be much better; but our roads are seldom laid out so as to form a triangle, let alone the measuring of a mile on each side. If this square mile were cov- ered with alsike clover I do not believe that 250 colonies would be enough to gather the nectar during a good season ; and if it w^ere covered w ith a dense growth of basswood, it seems to me it might take a thousand colonies to gather it all. While 1 think of it, I should very much like to see the ex- periment tested, of a square mile of bass- wood-trees, and nothing else. Perhaps there are localities where the other timber could be cut out, so as to leave only basswood for the bees ; and I believe 1 would give more money for such a honey-farm than for any thing else that has been suggested. Who knows but that it may be done in the next hundred years ? We have bee-men now who have" capital enough to undertake the matter, if they felt so inclined.— I may mention to our readers, that, with the above letter, came an excellent photograph of our friend France ; and I may add, that he is a fine-looking, gray-headed old gentle- man. May be we shall give you his picture in a few^ days. I am very glad to have him take Uncle Amos to task whenever he gets astray in his figures. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, THE ALLEY TRAP AND ITS PROPER USE. T SENT to you and got an Alley drone-trap, and jfflp used others of my own make. This is the way W the bees worked: The swarms would come off "*■ four or five at a time. They would alight and hang anywhere from one to Ave hours, then go back perhaps into one or two hives. They would keep tills up for a week or two, then in the fall T would find these hives queenless. Did they kill the old queen and try to raise a young one, and, finding she could not come off, kill her? You see, they could not swarm nor come out to get fertilized, and when they ought to have been making honey they were fooling in this way. I have 123 swarms, and do not wisli for more. Do they act in that way where the Alley trap is used? What would the friends advise me to do? E. S. DEKAiiR. Raceville, N. Y., Nov. 30, 1887. The Alley drone -trap will not prevent .sw^arming. It is designed only to prevent the swarm from absconding with the queen in the absence of some one to hive them. Just as soon as the swarm is well in the air, and the queen has got into the "• up-staii' " apartment of the trap, place the latter with the queen among the flying bees, and hive them as you would ordinarily do if the queen were confined in any kind of a cage. In other words, the trap is simply a matter of convenience. Bees will swarm just the same with as without it, only it prevents them from taking their queen and absconding with her. If the trap be left on, and a colo- ny makes several unsuccessful attempts to get away with their queen, they will be quite sure to kill her. No other cause can be assigned for this than that they regard her as of no further use for the well-being of the colony, because she will not swarm out with them. Accordingly, they reason that she must die, and her place be supplied with one which will swarm. Of course, the queen is in no way at fault, but the bees think she is. They can get through the trap, and can not understand why she can not. After the bees have made one attempt, the object of their desire should be gratified as soon as possible, and the trap should not thereafter be left on the hive. Of course, the young queen could never be fertilized with the trap still remaining attached to the hive. !|!400 FROM THE BEES. My bees did very well this year. I have sold $284.19 worth of honey up to date, and shall have enough to run the amount up to $400. I do not keep the amount of honey taken off, but the amount of money received, or its equivalent. I commenced with 40 or 41 in the spring, and have increased to 8lt, all in good condition. PEDDLING HONEY A SUCCESS. About a month ago I loaded my two-horse wagon with hones', provisions, and horse-feed, and started out to sell honey. I went to an adjoining county and neighboring towns. I was out three nights and four days. I came back with $104, mostly in silver. The weather was very pleasant, and I enjoj'ed the trip and camping out better than any thing else I have been engaged in for a number of years. I also took with me a dozen or more back numbers of Gleanings, which I gave away and threw into the yards of pei'sons where I saw bee-hives. 1 said a great many good things about you, because I feel that it is due you from me. My success with bees is attributable to the publication done by you. Dodd City, Tex., Dec. 1, 1887. .7. H. Roderick. INTUODUCING VIRGIN QUEENS BY TAKING AWAY BROOD AND LARVyE. Mr. Root:— Ab you have requested to hear from queen-rearers generally in regard to " introducing virgin queens," I give my method. From what ex- perience I have had 1 do not like caging queens over frames, especially yanng queens. They seem to want their litKjrty. I have often found them dead when I would go to liberate them after two or three days' confinement. A strong nucleus will often start cells if it has eggs and larvue, when the queen is caged on top, or between the frames. When cells are commenced they will usually kill a young queen when liberated, for she will be weak and timid. The bees will soon inform her she is not needed, generally by balling her. I have tried manj ways of introducing, and have succeeded best with this method. When taking Invlng queens from a nucleus I take the frames containing eggs and larvae to another hive. The ne.xt day giving them a virgin queen or a hatching cell. The bees find they are queenless by this time, and, having no way to raise another, will gladly ac- cept any kind of queen. In this way I do not lose the use of my nucleus long. The young queen, by having her liberty to travel about the frames, be- 22 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. comes strong, and better fitted to fly. I seldom lose a queen by this way of introducing-. Mrs. Olivek Cole. Sherburne, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1887. Your plan will almost always succeed, J am well aware, my friend; liut the objec- tion to it is the loss of time it takes. You will notice that, in the ABC book, we ad- vise letting the newly hatched queen right into the hive, without taking away any thing ; and our losses are so few, especially where we wait until next day, as you recom- mend, that we think it cheaper to lose a queen once in a great while than to go to the trouble of taking the brood away. If we can get a queen within a few hours after she has emerged from the cell, we have found very little trouble in putting them where we wish, even into a hive that con- tains a laying queen. In the latter case they will often be allowed to run about for several days. SORGHUM-MILLS AND BEE'S. My bees average about 45 lbs. of honey to the col- ony. One ran over 100 lbs. One gave no surplus, but put some 60 lbs. in the brood-nest. The sepa- rators I bought of you last summer I used, and con- sider it a great Improvement, as I have been greatly troubled with bulged combs. I use single-depth caps, 28 sections in one hive, and 30 in the other. I tier up, and can show my neighbors the superiority of this method, as many of my acquaintances with 10 to 16 hives frequently fail to-obtain sufficient for their own use. I manufacture sorghum molasses in the fall, having a run of ten to twelve weeks, and a portion of this fall my crusher and also my evap- orating room were well nigh covered with bees. I was wondering if they could or did secrete honey from the juice or syrup. What do you think? I could see no evidence in their hives. Assumption, 111., Oct. 33, 1887. W. N. Root. Friend R., the bees will fill their combs, and may fill their hives, with what they gather from your crusher, etc. ; but it will be sorghum syrup, and not honey ; and if I am not mistaken you will find it very bad stuff to winter on. We shall be glad to have your report in the spring ; and tell us if you don't find it bad for wintering-stores. ENTRANCES TURNED TO THE SOUTH. Will bees in hives, with the entrance turned to the north, do as well as if the entrance were turned in some other direction? A. F. Fields. Wheaton, Ind. Friend F., we had a good opportunity of testing this matter when using the house- apiary. Half of the entrances were turned to the north and half to the south. Now, there were certain times in the spring when the weather changed suddenly, while the bees were out of their hives, say during ma- ple blossom, when the bees on the north side were, many of them, lost in trying to regain their hives ; whereas on the south side they got in all right. But it is also true, that there are special times in the winter M'hen the bees on the south side are tempted to fly out, and hence get lost in a light fall of snow, while those on the north side remain quiet. So you see there are advantages and disadvantages. On the whole, I should say one pretty nearly balanced the other. Where there are but few hives, however, and where they are placed a good way apart, I should rather prefer having the entrances toward the south, although I do not know that it makes any material difference. Some way it always seems pleasant to see them clus- tered out around tlie entrance, to get the warmth of the sun when the weather is cool ; but I am not sure they do any better with us. brood carried out. One of my hives is rather weak, owing to the old bees destroying all the first brood. I could assign no reason for this, so I turned to my ABC, and found that you said this state of affairs was caused by moths; but no trace of moths was found in the comb. Something was wrong, 1 knew not what. ALSIKE. How does alsike clover grow, compared with red clover, on the same kind of land? How does it stand drought? Of what value is sweet clover, more than for honey? R. H. Guthrie. Powhatan, Ark., Dec, 1887. Friend G.. I can think of no reason why the bees should destroy the brood, unless they have been driven to it by starvation. Have they not, at some period, been clear out of stores ? Where the larvae are starved they will die ; and a heavy flow of honey coming soon after would present just the state of affairs you mention. — Alsike clover is very much like the red in its habits. It stands drought just about the same, so far as my information goes. grapevines around the hives. How can we best keep down weeds in a grapevine apiary? If we mulch them, are we not likely to set the mulching on fire with our smokers? And if we cultivate the vineyard, it would be rather muddy when it rained, and when the frost comes out. What about the Niagara grape? Does any of the bee-men cultivate it? What can they be bought for? J. S. WiLLARD. Bedford, Taylor Co., Iowa, Dec. 8, 1887. Friend W., we use a lawn-mower and sickle to keep the grass down. To get a good growth of vines we occasionally dig up the turf, and then work in some ashes and bone dust. In this way we have secured fine crops almost every year. We have a Niagara vine, but it is a very slow grower with us. At the horticultural convention in Saginaw, some immense clusters of the Ni- agara grape were on exhibition. The bunch- es are not only large, but the berries are squeezed in so tight together that the bunches feel like lead. The grape is al- most equal to the California raisin grape, in sweetness and flavor. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. 354 bushels from two lbs. of seed. IpTEREis my report of Japanese buckwheat: I 1^ bought 2 lbs. of you, sowed it the 25th of E?| July. I got 3(4 bushels of nice clean buck- ^■'' wheat. I wasted some in handling. Jos. Griffin. Rio, Albemarle Co., Va., Dec. 7, 1887. 1888 GLEAN"INGS TN BEE CULTURE. 23 32 LBS. OF JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT FROM h^ LB. OF SEED. I purchased ]4, lb. of Japanese buckwheat of you, and I have 23 lbs. of nice clean buckwheat. The bees worked well on it; and if all is well, T will sow Six acres next year. J. M. Kinzie. Rochester, Oakland Co., Mich. 11 BUSHELS OF JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT FROM 4 QUARTS OF SEED. I had 4 quarts of Japanese buckwheat, which I sowed on poor ground. I got a big growth of straw, and 11 bushels of buckwheat. It did a great deal better here than silverhuU. Bees worked on it just as well. Sixty pounds of Lester's celebrated ground bone was used. Charles M. Underwood. Otego, Otsego Co., N. Y. EVERYBODY WANTS SEED OF THE JAPANESE. I want to tell you of that Japanese buckwheat. From 3 lbs. purchased of you, with no extra care, and on poor ground, I harvested 430 lbs. of reclean- ed buckwheat. Everybody who sees it wants some for seed. I do not think the hot weather hurts it any. This was the poorest season for buckwheat in many years in this vicinity. F. W. Dean. New Milford, Pa. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT SUPERIOR TO THE 8IL- VERHULL. I will say of the Japanese buckwheat purchased of you, that, owing to the very dry weather, but very little of it came up; but what did come, made a good growth and yielded heavily, while the silver- hull variety did not mature a single grain, and it had as good a chance as the other. I can not say as to its honey-producing qualities over any other, as I was unable to find a bee working on either kind. If it does yield nectar it will no doubt be better than any other variety, owing to its bearing such a profusion of blossoms. M. W. Shepherd. Rochester, O., Nov. 13, 1887. It is a little singular, friend S., that in so many cases bees have neglected to work on buckwheat during the past season. They have paid but little attention to it with us, and it was certainly not because they found forage elsewhere. BEES BOOMED ON THE JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. I noticed you want reports from those who have tried Japanese buckwheat. I would state that, from 3!4 lbs. I purchased of you last spring, I have three seamless sacks full. I sowed the 3^ lbs. on about J4 acre. I sowed it the first of June, and it came up nicely; but a month without rain kept it back, so when it was six inches high it began to blossom. Just then it rained, and rained frequently after that, so it grew over 3 ft. high, andmany stalks were over half an inch through. It ripened uneven- ly, some ripe and shelling off before I cut it, and some yet immature when cut, and much carried off and buried by gophers. Bees boomed on it every day till eleven o'clock, except when raining. Grain was as nice as that we sowed. I can not com- pare it with other kinds, as this is all that has ever been raised here. I shall sow twice (early and late) next year. Andrew Craig. Empire, Butte Co., Dak. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT AND RAPE. I sent to you for a sample of Japanese buckwheat (4 oz.), Aug. 6th. I planted a spot 4 x 34 feet, and gathered 1^4 lbs. from it. Was that a good yield? At the same time, I planted a little more land in rape-seed (of friend J. H. Ellis, who got it of you). The rape is still in full bloom, and the bees are busy on it. I think my bees will be in good con- dition for winter. J. M. Harris. Cedartown, Ga., Oct. 23, 1887. We should be very glad indeed to get more reports in regard to rape, both in regard to the value of the seed, and for honey. ]\[0¥Ef5 KU) QaERIEg. BEES KNOW COLORS. T HAVE had about the same experience as Mr. R. (^ Robinson. I allow my chickens to run about ^l among the bee-hives as they choose. Some- '*' times one gets stung. Last summer, among the six hens attacked by the bees were four black ones and two dark-colored. We keep about 40 chickens, and most of them are light-colored, some white. This has been a very poor season. I started last spring with eight colonies, of which I divided four; three of the rest did not make any surplus at all. I bought six colonies. Colony No. 10, with a select queen from A. I. Root, made 103 lbs. of extracted; colony No. 4, 97 lbs. ; colony No. 14, 102 lbs. ; colony No. 15, 107 lbs. ; colony No. 9, 45 lbs. comb; colony No. 12, 36 lbs. of comb, etc. I have to report, 99 lbs. of comb honey and 636 of extracted. I have 18 strong colonies. Paul Peine. Martinsburg, W. Va., Dec. 21, 1887. THE EXTRA FRAMES AFTER CONTRACTION. When contracting to secure comb honey, what is done with the extra space, or how are the bees kept out of it? Henry Willson. Clinton, 111. [The extra frames are given to nuclei, or are placed in the upper story of a strong colony. The space left after contraction is filled with dummies, or division-boards designed for that purpose. See A B C of Bee Culture or any of the recent text- books, for further particulars.] FOUL brood; MORE OF IT IN OHIO. I have been fighting foul brood for two seasons, the worst way; but I will not cry " enough " until I am whipped, and then I will tell you. I do not try to save any thing but the bees; for if I do it keeps breaking out. I have been spraying with a solution of carbolic acid this season, with better results. Hudson, O., Sept. 9, 1887. E. B. Blackman. [Friend B., I am very sorry indeed to know that you have foul brood so near us. I had hoped there was comparatively little of it in the State of Ohio. Do you mean the disease keeps breaking out when the hives have been boiled or scalded?] THE SIMMINS non-swarming SYSTE.M. I should be glad to hear reports from those who have tried Simmins' non-swarming system, or plan of placing a story filled with empty frames or starters below the brood-nest when running for ex- tracted honey, with one or more stories of empty combs above. Is it a success? H. P. Langdon. East Constable, N. Y., Nov. 31, 1887. [Friend L., there is very little difficulty in prevent- ing bees from swarming where we are running for extracted honey; but I think the empty space would do more good above the brood-nest than be- low it. I believe that storing below the brood-nest has been but little practiced in America.] 24 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. BOXESET HONEY FOR WINTERING. Will bees winter all right on boneset honey, well ripened and sealed over? C. E. Hardesty. Connotton. O., Oct. 29, 188T. [Friend H., I believe the general decision has been that any of the honey gathered from fall blos- soms answers all right, if ripened and sealed over. Some reports have, in certain seasons, seemed to indicate that fall honey is not equal to basswood and clover; but at other times many reports seem- ed to indicate no difference. If the honey seems good and ripe to the taste, I should not have any anxiety in regard to it.] Bees have done but little this year, owing to ex- tremes of weather— wet, cold, dry, and hot. Last fall we had 80 colonies. During winter and spring we lost 3.5. From the remaining 4.5 we have taken about 200 lbs. of honey. mostl.\' extracted. We had six swarms only, all in the month or August. J. M. Harris. Cedartown, Polk Co., Ga., Oct. 23, 1887. l^EPe^Tg ENC0^^^6IN6. FROM 9 TO 20, AND 1390 LBS. OF HONEY. T COMMENCED in the spring with six colonies. I |mP bought three more in May, and transferred ^i from box hives, making 9 in all. I have taken •*■ 1040 1-lb. sections and 2.50 lbs. of extracted. I have increased my stock by natural swarms (except 2 nuclei which I united and built up to a good strong colony) to 20, all of which have plenty to winter on. I had five swarms come out in Sep- tember from the 5th to the 10th. I fed them a little. We got no surplus in July or August; but about the 3d of September they commenced again with a rush, and continued until the 1st of November. On the 5th of November we took off all surplus arrange- ments and fixed them up for winter. They still get a little honey, but very little from aster. I extract- ed all unfinished sections, and put them away for spring. Besides the honey taken, we sold 40 lbs. of beeswax. PUTTING BEES ON A RAFT DURING AN OVERFLOW. I have been thinking of moving my bees to the east side of the Mississippi River. I have a good place for bees where T am, only we are overflowed with water every spring from 2 to 4 feet deep. You may wonder what we do with the bees during the high water. Well, as I have had only a few I have made a raft of large logs and kept them on it dur- ing high water, and let them float, keeping it sta- tionary; but if I had 100 or more it would be quite a job, I fear. R. J. Mathews. Riverton, Miss., Nov. 14, 1887. Friend M., it seems a little singular to get a report like the above, for the past year of drought. Ver>- likely the abundance of water you speak "of had something to do with the good yield of honey. Bees did very well this year. I got 1000 lbs. of honey, and loft plenty for winter. G. A. Dunbar. DSalt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 22, 1887. GROCERS BEGGING FOR HONEY. I delivered a case of honey (46 lbs.) to a grocer in Springfield, at 18 cts. per lb. the other day. It is the first time I have obtained that price since 1882. I have been keeping most of my crop for the ac- commodation of my home customers, and I told this grocer that I would rather not sell to him at all under the circumstances; but Springfield is almost barren of honey, and he begged hard for it, though not without a struggle to bring me lower. Geo. F. RoBBiNS. Mechanicsburg, 111., Nov. 13, 1887. Wh} , friend R., wliy didn't \ou charge 20 cts. tor your honey? You will see by our market reports that it is worth 18 cts. at wholesale, almost everywhere. MY FIRST REPORT OF BEES. Last spring I had eleven colonies, some of them strong in bees, and some rather weak. I increased to 20 by natural swarming. I took 70 lbs. of ex- tracted and 30 lbs. in 1-lb. sections. I Italianized what hybrids I had, and did it successfully. William Pickett. Deming, Hamilton County, Indiana. FROM 25 TO 54, AND 1125 LBS. OF HONEY. My report for the season of 1887 is as follows: Colonies, spring count, 25. Colonies, fall count, 54. Comb honey, 250 lbs. Extracted honej\ 875 lbs. Total, 1125 lbs. I have enjoyed my bees much the past season; but now that I have changed my busi- ness and moved to the city. I shall have to sell my pets— at least the most of them, as I can not attend to more than one or two hives; but I value Glean- ings, and consider me a lifetime subscriber. Fort Smith, Ark. W. H. Laws, 25, 54. an AVERAGE OF 85 LBS. PER COLONY. Our honey season is at an end. My report is, spring count, 16 colonies, 12 of which were strong. I increased by natural swarming to 24. I averaged per colony, spring count, 85 1-lb. sections. While this is not a very large report, it is quite good con- sidering the care given them. I use Simplicity hiv^es, 10 frames, with 7 wide frames in the upper story. I neither reverse nor contract. When the lower story is full I place an upper story on, hav- ing 56 sections, and look at them once a week. When full I remove and put on empty ones again. My time is so occupied that I give very little atten- tion to the bees. THE FIRST HONEY OF THE SOUTH; WHERE SHALL IT COME FROM? I think my apiary is located the furthest south of any apiary in the U. S. that is run for comb honey olone. My latitude is about 27'4°, and I get no sur- plus honey for market before April 23d, and then from gallberry. S. C. Coravin. Sarasota, Fla.. Dec. 14, 1887. Well, friend C, I am a little bit surprised at this ; but is it not possible that somebody further north than you are gets honey before you doV I think we have had, in our back numbers, reports of honey in March, from somewhere in the South ; and I can remem- ber several seasons when bees gathered hon- ey from soft maples in March in our locality. Of course, this would not be enough to be called surplus. Suppose, when you get your first honey from your hives, either comb or extracted, you let us know about it, and we will give you an advertisement of it free of charge. If anybody gets in ahead of you, of course he will have the same privilege. 18 TO 30, AND 300 LBS. OF HONEY. I commenced the season with 18 stands, increased to 30. I sold 4 and doubled back to 24, and got about 300 lbs. o( comb honey, and my beee are in 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 25 good condition for winter. We had a poor honey flow from white clover. Too cold at nights, and too wet in the first part, and then too dry. But bass- wood came in and helped us out, and we think that we did well this season. 1 mean by we, myself and the queen of the house. You see we are in partnership. We sold our honey at :iO cts. Now, a few words in regard to filling orders. I have been in the bee business on a small scale for three years, and most of that time I have got my frames, sections, etc., from you, and my orders were always filled just the way I ordei-ed the goods, and every thing came in good shape, and made out of the best of material. I shall need more mate- rial next summer, and, of course, A. I. Root will get my orders as long as he does as he has done in the past. C. E. Habdesty. Connotton, O., Mar. 28, 1887. NO CAU&E FOR COMPLAINT. I Started in the spring with 60 colonies, mostly hybrids. They built up strong by the fii'st of April, and were ready to swarm; but about that time a real Texas northern struck here. The weather was cool a good while afterward— just long enough to stop the honey-flow. The bees killed off the drones at once, and swarming for the time being was given up. May .5th, linn was in full bloom, and the regular surplus honey season was upon us, therefore I used the extractor freely, and did not have any increase at all this season. I have taken 160 gallons of honey, and have had no fall crop on account of a dry summer; and when rain did come, all fall flowers bloomed; but they bloomed out of season, and did not have any honey in them; therefore I conclude that flowers bloom- ing out of season have no honey. My honey is all sold, and I could fill only half the orders that were sent me. Net proceeds in money, $300. I have no cause for complaint. J. W. Ross. Phair, Texas, Nov. 11, 1887. 300 LBS. OF FALL HONEY. I wintered my bees in the cellar. They came out in the spring heavy in honey and bees. Only one was queenless which 1 lost. They bred up early on the honey they had. Fruit, white clover, and bass- wood bloom were nearly failures with me. The first week in July I examined them and found them nearly destitute of honey or brood. I bought 140 lbs. of brown sugar, made a light syrup, and mixed it with some three gallons of dark extract- ed honey, and fed this to stimulate them to breed up. The last week in August 1 went through each colony, on Mr. Doolittle's plan. I found them to contain from 1 to 30 lbs. of honey, and plenty of sealed brood. I bought 430 lbs. of granulated sugar, made it into a heavy syrup, and fed them to make each colony contain 35 lbs. of syrup and honey. I finished this I'eeding for winter the last week in August. About this time my bees began bringing in some honey from buckwheat and other fall bloom. I received about 300 lbs. of very good fall honey. ONE STALK OF THE .lAPANESE BUCKWHEAT YIELDED l;i7r) GRAINS. The 10-cent package of Japanese buckwheat you sent me did very well, considering the hot dry weather. I harvested one peck of nice plump seed from it. One stalk I shelled by itself. It yielded 1375 grains W. Hill. Prophetstown, 111., Dec. 5, 1887. 0aR QaEpi0N-B0?^, With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. All queries sent in tor this department should be briefly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked, " For Our Question-Box." Question No. 'ih.—Are sections open on all sides preferable to those open at the top and bottom onlyf Yes. No. D.\DANT & Son. Geo. Grim.vi. So far as my experience has gone, I think not. C. C. Miller. I think not, but am open on all sides to convic- tion. E. E. Hasty. I should think they were, but I have had no ex- perience with such. A. B. Mason. I have never used sections opening at the sides, and probably ne%'er shall. W. Z. Hutchinson. I have never used them, but I think they would do well when separators are not used. Paul L. Viallon. I use those open at top and bottom only. Many think those open on all sides preferable. G. M. DOOLITTLE. I never used any, but I think not; unless tiering up, I should prefer them open only at the bottom. Mrs. L. Harrison. I have had no experience with sections open on all sides, but am much interested in the subject. O. O. POrPLETON. No. I tried a few, and never want any more. The objections to them far outweigh the advan- tages. J. A. Green. I have used sections open all around hut little. I saw no special advantage. Perhaps with more experience I should think differently. A. J. Cook. I think not; although I have not experimented in that line, I am pleased to go on record as saying that I now believe that open-side sections will nev- er be used to any practical extent. James Heddon. Sections open on all sides are primitive. They witnessed our first attempts, thirty years ago. Sections open on top and bottom, with their sides extending, for the protection of the honey in tran- sit, are late and valuable improvements. Chas. F. Muth. Dadant c^ Son say yes ; but George Grimm says no. Now, the Dadants have, without question, made some experiments in regard to this matter, and very likely some pretty thorough ones ; and we urgently request them to tell us ail about it. It is certainly an important matter. We should also like to have friend Grimm give us his reasons for saying no. Question No. 'Hi.— What width of section is best to use when separators are dispensed with? m or I's. Perhaps I'/i inch. Seven to the foot. Dadant & Son. C. C. Miller. W. Z. Hutchinson, 26 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. I am no authority on comb honey. R. Wilkin. Seven to the foot, 1?^ inches scant. James A. Green. Those of about seven to the foot. Mrs. L. Harrison. 1 do not know, for I always use separators. Dr. a. B. Mason. I think mine are a little less than two inches. Geo. Grimm. Not over 1?4 inches, and probably 'g or ^4 inch less would be better. O. O. Poppleton. I don't think it advisable to dispense with sep- arators. I prefer two inches in width, with sep- arators. G. M. DOOLITTLE. I have never had perfectly satisfactory success without separators, with any width. Without sep- arators I should prefer seven to the foot. A. J. Cook. I got the best result with seel ions IV2 in. wide, although the 1% or 7 to the foot did well; but none will do as well as when the separators are used, and for that purpose the I's is the best, giv- ing more space to the bees. P. L. Viallon. When left to themselves, bees build their combs about 1% inches thick. The best width of sections to be used without separators would be, therefore, 1% to 1% inches. We get straighter combs and more honey by favoring the natural inclination of the bees. C. F. Muth. Seven to the foot has many voices in its favor, I believe; but unless you know you can succeed without separators, let that whole job out. More- over, the steady thinning-down of our combs looks just a trifle to me like a desire to sell less than a pound for a pound. E. E. Hasty. I use and prefer sections one seventh of a foot in width. 1 coined the term " seven to the foot " some years ago. Although it seems to be theoret- ically false, after much experimenting I have found it practically true that this width is the best to use, both with and without separators. James Heudon. It would seem from the above, that the majority are rather in favor of something pretty nearly seven to the foot, especially if no separators are to be used. Our orders during the past year or two have a pretty strong bearing on this very subject ; and 1 should say that, out of orders for about a million sections, as many as nine-tenths have been for a width of 1[|. Perhaps this is greatly owing to the fact that they were first started of this width, and that so many of the friends have so many of their appliances exactly suited to them. It is in- deed very important that we decide what width is best ; that is, if something a little narrower than 1|| is better. Question No. 27.— -Do you prefer the dovetailed four-piece section, or the one-piece V-groove? The four-piece. The dovetailed. The four-piece. I use nailed sections. The one-piece V-groove I much prefer the one-piece V-groove. Db. A. B. Mason W. Z. Hutchinson. Mrs. L. Harrison. Dadant & Son. G. M. Doolittle. E. France. One-piece V-groove. C. C. Miller. After trying both thoroughly, I very much pre- fer all dovetail four-piece. James Heddon. I am not very particular; but if as nice I think, the one-piece suits me rather the best. A. J. Cook. The one-piece V-groove, even if it costs double the amount of the four-piece section. Paul L. Viallon. Neither. I much prefer what is called the two- piece section, such as G. B. Lewis manufactures. O. O. Poppleton. My order of preference on sections is, first, the nailed section; second, the one-piece: and, last, the four-piece dovetailed. E. E. Hasty. Sides and bottom in one piece, with top separate, and dovetailed in. The section is firm, and you can see at a glance which is top or bottom. Geo. Grimm. The one-piece V-groove. In some of iny cases I use a two-piece section which has nearly all the ad- vantages of the tour-piece, and is more convenient. The one-piece section, as made, is not well adapted to use without separators. James A. Green. The four-piece sections are of the primitive order. The fact of their being dovetailed makes them too limber. They are held in shape by the strength of the honey. The V-groove one-piece sections merit the preference every time. They are substantial and a good protection for the honey, as it should be. Besides this, three or four can be put up to one of the former. Chas. F. Muth. The above report is really a curiosity. Our friend Viallon says one-piece, even if they cost double the amount ; and our old veter- an, Muth, calls the four-piece primitive ; C. C. Miller and Dr. Mason also say one- piece ; then follow Heddon, Hutchinson, Mrs. Harrison, Dadant & Son, all in favor of the four-piece. Surely, when doctors disagree, who shall decide ? We might give the above as an illustration of the dif- ference of opinion ; but it can .not be that. I am rather inclined to think that some of the brethren have been disgusted with poor workmanship. If a man should have some poorly made four-piece sections, and next time get some nicely made one-piece ones, he might fail to consider the difference in workmanship: or, if you choose, just the other way. t know a good many of the friends stick to the four-piece sections, be- cause they say the one-piece are liable to break ; but my experience is in favor of the one-piece for this very reason. Some claim, also, that the four-piece, when pressed up square, will stay exactly square*; whereas the one-piece will not ; therefore the four- piece are better adapted to hives of such construction, if the hive itself or the case itself does not hold the section square. It seems to me there is something wrong, friends, when men of large experience de- cide so differently in regard to a plain, simple matter like this. In regard to de- mand and supply. I might say we sell three times as many one-piece sections as we do of the four-piece ones ; but I know there are other manufacturers whose orders run just the other way. Perhaps, however, they do not make any thing like the quanti- ty that we do. 1888 GLEANINGS TN BEE CULTURE. 27 Great peace have they which Invo thy law, and nothing shall offend them.— Psai.m 119: 165. T HAVE before mentioned, that, when M called to leave home, I did not want to M go. I preferred to stay at home and look ■^ after our affairs in a way, as it seemed to me, every prudent man should do. But another voice seemed to say that I had duties besides home matters ; that my fel- low-men wanted me, and had a right to what assistance I could give them. Therefore I went away, even though it were somewhat under protest. I do believe, as I have often told you, the thought conveyed in our text, that they have great peace who love the law of God. Somewhat contrary to my expec- tations, however, I did not "feel bfessed in doing my duty so much as I have at other times when Imake sacrifices for the sake of others, and when 1 take up disagreeable tasks that 1 know I ought to do. I have learned by experience to expect, sooner or later, a sort of reward. This reward is a kind of peace and quiet happiness that comes into my heart now and then while I am busy trying to obey God's commands. Well, I longed for the time to come to start homeward ; and the nearer I got to home, the more anxious I felt to get there quickly. Our branch road that strikes off at Elyria does not always connect with the Lake Shore. I tried to get tlie conductor to tele- graph ahead to have them wait a little for me ; but he either did not know any thing about our branch road or did not care any thing about it. In the morning no one was around but the porter, and he assured me very positively that they always found the train waitiugfor them at the crossing. He was a good deal more positive after I gave him 25 cents for blacking my boots and brushing me off. He placed his stool at the side of the steps for me to get down, and bade me good-by with much style and cere- mony, but forgot to mention the fact that my train had been gone about Hfteen min- utes. I told the depot agent that I must get to Medina. He said I would have to wait until night. I told him J thought I would not. He directed me to the telegraph ope- rator, to see if I could get a permit to go on any of the coal or freight trains; but he added that they had shut down on every- body, and did not make any exceptions. The operator wired them at headquarters, but they replied they could not do any thing for me. The nearest livery -stable was about a mile away, and I started to go there on foot ; but the operator suggested that he could telephone them. A great many times I have scolded people because they don't take advantage of tlie facilities afforded them ; but there 1 was, ready to walk two miles, when the telephone was right in plain sight. The livery man answered that it would cost $2.00 to take me to Grafton, or $6.G0 to get me to Medina. The operator answered back, " You are mistaken ; Mr. Root does not want to buy your horses and buggy — he simply wants to be carried to Medina." It did not take me long to decide that 1 would not pay S2.00 for being carried eight miles, nor $6.00 for being carried twenty- four miles. The bystanders suggested that I would then have to wait till night. ''No, my friends, I shall not have to wait till night.'" "Well, you can not ride on the coal or freight trains, and you say you won't pay the livery man his price. How are you go- ing to help yourself ? '' " How am I going to help myself V Why, thisivuy.^' And without wasting anymore words "I started off along the track on foot. A blinding snowstorm had just set in, and the crowd had a big laugh at my expense. I presume that some of them decided in their own minds, stronger than they ever did be- foTe, that A. I. Root was a sort of crazy fanatic. What do you think about it, dear friends ? I had not had any breakfast yet ; but I was so impatient to get home that I did not want any breakfast. I felt well and strong. I had been shut up in the crowded city so long that I felt almost wild to get out into the country and breathe the country air, and use my feet. Do you love to walk'V I pity you if you don't. 1 felt, as I started out that morning, the same inspiration I used to feel in walking down to Abbyville to that Sunday-school. I presume the neighbors (perhaps loafers would be a better name, but I prefer to regard them as neigh- bors all the same) who saw me start off in the snowstorm concluded that my strengtli would give out long before 1 reached Graf- ton, eight miles away ; but I didn't think it would. In fact, I hadn't any very definite plan as to how I should get home ; but I en- joyed moving in the direction of home, even if nothing but the trusty feet that God gave me were available for the time. The storm blew right in my face, but that was ever so much better than sitting in the depot, or trying to kill time in waiting for a train. I don't believe I would have consented to stay all day in Elyria, even if I could have earned ten dollars by so doing. Why, I was earning a dollar an horir 'a^ it was, and en- joying myself at the same time. The livery man wanted $2.00 to take me to Grafton, and I knew I could easily walk the eight miles in two hours. In fact, I felt tlien as if it would be a privilege to walk the whole twenty-four miles ; but that would take valuable time, and I had no right to over- task the strengtli that God had given me of late, in any such foolishness. Half a mile further, and I met a lot of railroad hands going to the depot because of the storm. \Vhen they found I was going to foot it to Grafton they too laughed, and regarded me as partly crazy, I suppose. You see, I was dressed up pretty well for a country chap who is in the habit of being in the mud and dirt most of the time, and that is why they thought it singular. Who would not enjoy walking, if lie knew lie was earning a dollar an hour fordoing it V And yet I am com- pelled to believe that a great many people waste money that has been earned by hard toil, that they might save by going oh foot. It is true, railroads carry us for three cents a mile ; but if I were a poor man, and out 28 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan, of employment, I would rather earn 60 cents a (lay by walking 20 miles, than to do noth- ing. ' The world might regard a man crazy who would walk 20 miles to save HO cents ; but I think we would better have crazy men than so many tramps and paupers. The cable cars in Clncago will cary you ten miles for a nickel— that is, half a cent a mile ; but I believe the livery men, in most of our cities at least, want about 25 cents for every mile they carry anybody ; and my experi- ence is, that they will seldom hitch up a horse to go anywhere, short of a dollar and a half. Isn't there a chMuce for those who are out of employment to make something by carrying people V I suppose that livery men, of course, have to have good prices to make up for time when tliey are idle, and don't have any thing to do. They must also have prices to cover the ecpense of tele- phones and other modern c mveniences in their line ; but I do believe they would have fewer idle days if they were more moderate in their charges, or base their prices accord- ing to circumstances. This train of thought was interrupted all at once by a recollection that made me start. While at the telephone office, why didn't I telephone to have Meg and the buggy meet me at Grafton V Meg is spoiling for exercise, and here am I going on foot. Had I had my wit s ;r )out me, and tel- ephoned home before I stiuLed on foot, she could easily have made the 16 miles to Grafton while I am"making nd just so it is the early adviitisiiii,' that lirinirs the customers. The following have sent us llnir inicc lists for 1S8S: E. H. Cook Anilov.M-, ct.: a -il-iKiK',- club list of leading news- p!il)eis anil niai.'azincs for bcc-kcipcrs. postmasters, and agents. F. A. Salisbury, Syracuse, N. Y.; a 28-page price list of apiari- an supplies. A. F. Stautfer, Sterling. 111.; a large-size 16-page circular of every thing needful for the apiary. George E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; a 10-page price list of sup- plies. Aaron Hunt, Gordon, Darke Co., Ohio; a 28-page catalogue of apiarian supplies, and Guide to Bee-keeping. Considerable valuable iiifurniation is given under this latter department. W. D. Sopcr, Jackson, Mich.; an advertising card of supplies. The f.dluwiiig have been printed at this office: E. T. Flanagan. Hc-IIcville, Illinois; a 12-page price list of api- arian s\i|)))lics and caiii. H. G. I' r;inic. Xortli Manchester, Indiana; a i-page list of nu- clei, fniccns, .-ind Ihc^j. J. M. .Iinl;in~. \v. I n in|.lca , Alabama; a .')0 - page " Treatise on Bees and Hon, % hiii, :i . I. ■^.npiivc Price List" of everything needful for iIm- :i|ii,ir\. It (unlains a large amount of valua- ble readini.;-nialt( r on ln'i---, licsitrncd to in^frucf beginners and others who have Utile or no kno\vlc>(lL.'c of tin- improved meth- ods. Friend .b-nkins keeps nearly all t\u' sn})|iliis wc adver- tise, and. with few exceptions, at liur l)rli'.s. Oiir fiiends in the Southern States can, as a rule, do better by purchasing of him than of us, on account of freight. His" circular can be obtained of the address as above. We should be glad tii send samples and jirices of our price- list work to those intending to get out circulars for the ensu- ing year. Remember, we have the most complete stock of api- cultural engravings to select from. CONVENTION NOTICES. The Nebraska bee-keepers will meet in Lincoln, Neb., on Jan. 11, 1888, for their annual meeting. Humboldt, Neb., Nov. 11, 1887. Henby Patterson, Sec. The annual convention of the Vermont Bee-keepers' Associa- tion is to be held at the VanNess House, Burlington, Vt., Janu- ary 18 and 19, 1888. Piogrammes will be sent later. Shoreham, Vt. R. H. Holmes, Sec'y. The State Bee-keepers' Association of New York will meet at Utica, Jan. 17, 18, and 19, 1888. Full particulars later. Pine Plains, N. Y, G. H. Knickerbocker, See'y. The Susquehanna County Bee-Keepers' Association will meet at New Milford, on Jan. 7. 1888. Subjects for discussion: The best way to prevent swarming; also, Is it advisable to Italian- ize? All bee-keepers are cordially invited. H. M. Seeley, Sec, Harford, Pa. The Cortland Union Bee-keepers' Association will hold its an- nual meeting at Cortland, on Tuesday. Jan. 10, 1888, for the elec- tion of officers, and to transact such business as may come be- fore the meeting. All bee-keepers are invited. R, L. Weaver, Sec'y. The Xorfhcastcrn Ohio, Northern Pennsylvania, and Western New York liic-ki-ciiiis- A-Mpciation will hold its ninth annual convention in the iiarlur of the Coninicri'ial llonsc. Meadville, Pa., on Wednesday and Thuisday, Jan. 2.'.t!i and 26th, 1888. Re- duced hotel rates have been secured for those attending the convention, C. H. CooN, Sec'y. The annual meeting of the Northwestern Illinois and South- western Wisconsin Bee-keepers' Association will be held in G. A. R. Hall, corner State and North Main Streets, Rockford, Ill- Jan. 17 and 18. 1888. Dr. Miller will be present, and a good pro- gramme is prepared. D. A. Fuller, Sec y. The Nebraska State Bee-keepers' Association will hold its next meeting at Lincoln, Neb,, on the 11th day of January, 1888. The following to]ii(s will he discussed: How doi-s bi'i-kccpint: |ia\ . ivunpared with other pursuits? How can licfiinicrs be so taught as not to ruin the market for those mole cxperieiiceil ? Sujieriority and excellency in the production of honey, and marketing o"f same; by Mrs. J. N. Heater, of Columbus, Neb. What are the most essential points in locating an apiary? Bee-pasturage, and the diseases of bees; by E. Kretcnmer, Coburg, Iowa. Spring management of bees; by E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City. Bee and honey plants; by Prof. Bessey, of the State Uni- versity, Lincoln. There will be a question-box. R. R. RYAN, Sec'y. Bradshaw, Neb. The Ohio State Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next session Jan. 10th and 11th, Tuesday and Wednesday, atlColum- bus, in the United States Hotel, corner High and Town Sts. Kates ai-c $1..'>0 each, donl)le, or $2.00 per day single. Let us have a rousing and interesting meeting. We have a Lang- stroth.a :\liller, :i Tinker, a Root, a Boar(liu:in, a Muth. and scores of others of national reputation. The convention will be held but two days, so it will be necessar.v to get to Ccdumbus the evening before, so that we may open up the first day with a good attendance, and get the full benefit of the two days. Blutrton, O. Frank A. Eaton, Sec'y. PROGRAMME. First day, Tuesday, Jan. 10. Called to order at 9 a.m. Reading the minutes of last meeting. Receiving members and collecting dues. Reports of Secretary and Treasurer, and Standing Connnittee. Bee Conventions—How to make them a success, and their value to bee-keepers. By A. I. Root. Discussion— Sectional brood-eharabers and their advantages. Led by Dr. G. L. Tinker. Reversing, and has it come to stay! Paper by C. M. Kings- bury. afternoon session, 1 O'CLOCK. Discussion— Bee-keeping in connection with other pursuits. Led by Frank A. Eaton. Bee-keeping as an occupation for women. Essay by Mrs. Jen- nie Culp. Bee-keeping as an exclusive pursuit. Paper read by Dr. C, C. Miller. General discussion by membeis present. Resolved, That bee- keeping as a business is more profitable tlian farming. EVENING .SESSION, 7 O'CLOCK. Wood versus tin .separators: is it profitable to dispense with either? By Dr. H. Besse. The T super, and other surplus arrangements in connection with bee-spaces. By E, R. Root. Opening of the Question-Box. By S. R. Morris. SECOND day, ,7.\NtrARY 11, 9 A.M. Extracted hone3- : its production, and the best method of mar- keting if. liy Dr. A. B. M:ison. The c'ominission man, and his relation to the honey-producer, as att'ccting thi' sale and price of honey. Paper by C. F. Muth. AFTERNOON SESSION. Tiering uri: its advantages. J. W. Newlove. Freezing bees. C.E.Jones. Indoor versus outdoor wintering, and the advantages of the former. By H, R. Boardman. Election of officers for the ensuing yeai'. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 83 Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our usual rates. All ad's intended for this department must not exced .5 lines, and you must say you want your ad. in this de- partment, or we will not be responsible for any error. You can have the notice as many lines as you please; but all over Ave lines will cost you according to our regular rates. Of course, this department is intended only for bona-flde ex- changes. WANTED.— To excbanpe Wheeler & Wilson sew- ing-machines (new) for honev. bees, or sup- plies. J. A. Green, Dayton, HI. 20tfdb WILL print your letter-heads, price list, envel- opes, honey- labels, etc., in exchange for S. hives, foundation, and l>ee-supplies. Id Grant Scofield, Ridgewaj-, Orleans Co., N. Y. WANTED. — An expert in bee-keeping for the summer of 1888. Address FiLMORE Cole, Lima, Ohio. "IITANTED — To exchange n n^w 10-inch Root foun- VV datiOQ mill, for 200 Ihs. of No. 1 clover or linden extracted honey. Address Id E. F. BusiCK, Church Creek, Dor. Co., Md. WANTED.— A foot-power saw and a fdn machine, one or both, in exchange for bees. Write for references, etc., describing what you have. Dr. Geo. S. Bronson, St. Albans, Vt. WANTED.— An experienced bee-keeper requires a position. Southern States preferred. Id H. FiTZ Hart, Bayou Goula, La. WANTED.— To exchange one or two Barnes Foot- power saws, one new, and the other as good as new. for honey, wax, alsike clover, or buckwheat. Make offers. Address J. Nvsewander, 34tfdb Des Moines, Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange 2.'»0 colonies of bees, for horses, mules, wagons, buggies, and 4 h. p. en- gine, or any thing useful on a plantation. 21tfd Anthony Opp, Helena, Phillips Co., Ark. WANTED.— To exchange bees in Langstroth or Simplicity hives, for disk-harrow and hand seed-drill, also I want seed-catalogues. ''^Address W. H. Putnam, River "Palls, Wis. W ANTED.— To exchange Ohio black-cap plants and Cuthberts, for sections or beeswax. James Hallenbeck, Allamont, Alb. Co., N. Y. 24-2db PEBDQOflitTEIlS I) W WEST FOE TEE MANUFACTUEE AND SALE OF Bee-Keepers' Supplies. CHAFF AND SIMPLICITY HIVES FURNISHED AT A GREAT REDUCTION IN PRICE. Nice Sections and Foundation, Specialties. A full line of Supplies always on hand. Write for our new Price List. Cash paid for Beeswax. lOtfd A. F. Stauffer, Sterling, III. oo Italian qu'jens, bee-hives, and supplies. We sell goods very low. Send for price list. B. J. MILLER & CO. NAPPANEE, IND. DADANT'S FOUNDATION FACTORY, Whole- sale and retail. See advertisement in another column. 3btfd t\r ^ FULL REPORT OF THE IKn CHICAGO CONVENT JON, # .lla i'l '^ pamphlet of -Ki pages, lor 2.") cents. ^VUl Address THOS. G NEWMAN & SON, 925' West Madison St., Chicago, III. Buys our HAISY HARNESS, worth at retail .Sciir Id e.v;niiiiic ;ind i etnrii at o .p. Cat:ili.t,'iie li i e. ( HU'AdU HARNESS iO. rVliulesale Mlg., 375 Wabash Ave., Chicago, IlL $25 APIARY FOR SALE. I am offering for sale one of the best locations for beekeeping, in the famous SHENANDOAH VALLEY. Ten acres of ground, splendid house, stable and outbuildings, all new; also a carp-pond of about one acre; never-failing spring of excellent water; plenty of fruit, 3 miles from Martinsburg, W. Va. Write for further particulars. Paul Peine. Martinsburg, W. Va. 23-24-1 d. aNTIL April First.— Frames only. We will cut to order, regular or odd size brood-frames for *1.50 per 100; 500 $6.25; 1000, «10,00; 1(1,000. .fflo.OO. When ordering, send sample frame in flat, if possi- ble. All orders shipped promptly. Freight prepaid on all orders of consequence to your nearest large city. Remit by P. O. order on Salem, Mass. Middleton, Mass. J. B. Thomas & Co. Names of responsible parties will be inserted in any of the following departments, at a uniform price of 20 cents each insertion, or $2.00 per annum, when given once a month, or $4.00 per year if given in every Issue. Untested Queens FOR $1.00 FROM JULY 1ST TILL NOV. 1ST. Names insertedin this department the first time with- out cliarge. After, 20c each insertion, or $2.00 per year . Those whose names appear below agree to furnish Italian queens for $1.00 each, under the following conditions : No guarantee is to be assumed of purity, or anything of the kind, only that the queen be rear- ed from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to lay when they were shipped. They also agree to return the money at any time when customers he- come impatientof such clelay as may be unavoidable. Bear in mind, that he who sends the best queens, put up most neatly and most securely, will probably receive the most orders. Special rates for warrant- ed and tested queens, furnished on application to any of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen-mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and we will send you another. Probably none will be sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If wanted sooner, or later, see rates in price list. *A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio. *H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. Itt *Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La. 19tfd *S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. ]9t.fd *D. G. Edmiston, Adrian, Len. Co., Mich. 19tfd *Jos. Byrne, Ward's Creek, East Baton Rouge ]9tfd Par., La. *E. Burke, Vincennes, Knox Co., Ind. 5-3 C. C. Vaughn, Columbia, Tenn. 21tfd J. M. Jenkins. Wetumpka, Ala. 3-1 H. G. Frame, N. Manchester, Wab. Co., Ind. 1-24 Hive Manufacturers. Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices named, as those described on our circular. A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio. P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. 21tfd C. W. Costellow, Waterboro, York Co., Me. 1-23 R. B. Leahy, HigginsvillcLaf. Co., Mo. 21lfd J. M. Jenkins, Wetumpka, Ala. 3-1 F. A. Snell, Milledgeville, Carroll Co., 111. 4-5 34 GLEANINGS IIS BEE CULTURE. Jan. 10 Per Cent Off IMPORTED OUEENS. sections until March 1st. Send for free Price *i On sections until March 1st. Send for free Price List of every thing- needed in the ai)iary. Sample section on application. Alsike clover seed cheap. Itfd M. H. HUNT. Bell Branch, Wayne Co., Mich., near Detroit. In May and June, each $2.00 In July and August, each 1.80 In September and October, each - - - 1.40 Money must be sent in advance. No guarantee on shipments bj- mail. Queens sent by express (8 at least), which die in transit, will be replaced if re- turned in a letter. 1-lld CHAS. BFANCONCINI, Bologna^ Italy. Binghar. Is Hethorington's Honey-knife. Old reliable Bingham Bee-Smokers and Bingham & Hetherington Honey-knives. They last 8 years; never clog up or go out. Send card for free cii-cular, descriptive of the best and cheapest tools to use, to BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON, Abronia, Mich. Itfd FOR SALE AT A GREAT BARGAIN. I offer for sale in the village of Caroline, Wis., the following property: One lot, 2(i4 feet deep, by 82V4 feet front, with a good frame house and a good frame store-building, 24x48 feet, two stories high, on Main St. The above-named property is in flrst- class order, and is a bargain for $1200. Id R. H. SCHMIDT, Caroline, Shawano Co., Wis. GREAT REDUCTION OF 16 2-3 PER CENT IN PRICES OF GALVANIZED WIRE NETTING, FOR POULTRY INCLOSURES, ETC., And Freight Charges Paid on 10-Bale Lots or IVIore. of netting. The posts to hold it should not be more than 10 feet apart, and they should be set in the ground at least 2 ft. for a permanent fence. In put- ting it on the posts, draw the top of the selvage tight, and fasten securely with the staples, and aft- erward ;draw the bottom down and fasten that. You can put a board a foot wide along the bottom, if you choose. This will prevent small chickens from getting through, and makes the fence one foot higher. If \ on want to make division fences, so as to keep different breeds from the same yard, it is better to have a board at the bottom at least one foot wide, so the fowls can not be gossiping through the wire, and pecking at one another. You will notice that one roll makes a yard nearly 40 feet square, ^d this is plenty large enough for 20 or 30 fowls. TABLE OF PRICES. This netting is made with 2, li4, IJ4, 1, and % in. mesh, of different sized wire, and from 6 inches to 6 feet wide, and is put up in bales l.')0 feet long. That most used for poultry fences is 2-inch mesh. No. 19 wire, 4 feet wide. 150 feet long. This makes 000 sq. feet in a bale. Our former price has been one cent per sq. ft. in bale lots, or $6.00 per roll. We now offer it as follows: TWO-INCH MESH, NO. 19 WIRE, ANY WIDTH. Less than a full bale, or any fraction of a bale, le per sq. ft. One bale, at 83>^ cts. per 100 sq. ft., or $5.00 per roll, 4 ft. wide. 2 to 5 " " 80 ' " 4.80 5 to 10 " •■ ny, ' 4.65 •' 10 to 20 •' '-75' " ' " •• 4.50 You will notice that this last price is ?i cts. per sq. foot. Besides this, on all shipments from New York, of 10 bales oi' over, we will pay the freight to Jacksonville. Fla., or Cleveland, Ohio, or to any other place where freight is no more than to these places. We can ship from New York, Chicago, Cleveland, or from here, with other goods. We keep in stock only the 2-in., No. 19 wire. 4 ft. wide, and all other widths, weights, etc., will have to go from one of the three other places mentioned. Three-fourths-inch galvanized staples, for putting up the netting, 20 cts. per lb. A 16-page illustrated and descriptive catalogue, treating of netting of different-sized mesh and its uses, mailed free on application. Immense quantities of this netting are used an- nually for constructing fences to inclose poultry. It is popular for this, because it is so well adapted, and nothing else makes so good a fence. A FEW OF ITS MANY ADVANTAGES. It is the cheapest, costing less than 75 cts. per rod for posts, staples, and all. It will last a liietimc, and never needs repairing, because it can't get out of order. Being galvanized after it is woven. It will never rust. If you ever go to 42 Cliff St., New York, you can see a piece that has been in the weather over 25 years, and is just as good as the day it was made. It is easily put up and taken down. Ernest has a roll fastened to light stakes, which he has taken down and set up again in a ditforcnt location in 15 minutes, when the ground was soft. It can not be blown down, as the wind goes right through it. On this account you don't need very heavy posts where the fence is u.sed for poultry only. It docs not keep out the light and liosh air, so needful to poultry. It is neat and ornamental, and alvvays looks well if properly put up. It is so Invisible that fowls can not see the top, and will not tly over. You can see inside as well as if there were no fence at all. HOW TO PUT IT UP. About one pound of staples is needed for a roll -A.- I- nC^OT, 'S^G<3L±n.Sk,, Olxio. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 75 Contents of this Number. Aster Honey Candying 102 Bees Stiufeniig Black lO.") Bees on Asters 99 Bees Near Railways 105 Bees, Disturbing, Not Fatal. 102 Bees, Kanfre of 101 Bee-bait Destructive 99 Bee-keeping, Bright Side... 77 Brood-chamber, Sectional.. 88 Buckwheat. Two Crops 102 Carpenter Bees 82 Chapman Honey-plant 90 Cider-mills 10.") Colonies per Square Mile ... 79 Cyclones and Electricity. . .100 Drones 81 Editorial Ill Evaporating Nectar 78 Extracted. Changing(y.B.).106 Fanning Honey in Hive 99 Foul Brood, Spontaneous... 84 Frames, Wiring S3 Heddun ni\e. Tinker on ... 88 Hon- iMi sill y and Bees 102 H,.iU'V K.xjicll.'d ..n Wing... 105 Honey li-(im 100 Nuclei 99 Honey, Shipping by Exp 83 Honey, Ext. v. Comb (i^.B) 105 Honev, Price of (Q.B) lOli Jelly-tumblers 99 Mice in Combs 101 Ministers and Tobacco 101 Moths— Old Humbug 101 Newspapers and Chaff 104 N. ites nnd (,)\ieries 101 our Own A|iiary 109 Past \u:it;i'. Artificial lOJ I'v.ivineon Sandv Soil 101 r.iilcn ill .lanuui'y 10;i (jiiiiTii-ceils. Nunu'roiis 102 i.uieins. Frcding 100 (.iiicsiion i'.ox 105 Ki'liorts IMseouraging 101 Kipiats Kiirouraging lOS .Salt in Making Foundation.. 109 Secor's Poem 100 Sections, One-side 80 Sections, Those, Again 79 Sections, losing Untilled 100 SiiiipsDn riant,Unfavor'ble.l01 Tinkei's Kssay 88 Ti.mato.'s al 21 Cts 102 Tr,nisi)laiitiiig-tube, Old.... 84 Vciiliialioii .>f Small Rooms 85 Viiililatiii^;, by Boardinan.. 90 WilVsSliaiv 80 ■Wintering Indoors 89 Wintering, Boardman's 89 Workers, Fertile 102 Xylocopa 82 KilD WORDS FROM OUR GUSTOISRS. I am well pleased with the ABC book and Glean- ings. J should not like to bo without them. Powhatan, Ark., Dec., 1887. ■ R. H. Guthrie. The maple syruii was received in p:ood order. It is the tlnest I ever saw. D. B. Manley. Danbury, Conn., Jan. 2, 1888. I can say truly, that I have found Gleanings a very good investment indeed— one that I should very much dislike to do without. W. H. Ritteb. North Springtield, Mo , Dec. 36, 1887. I appreciate Gleaning.s very highly, therefore I can not dispense with it. Please send it for anoth- er year. D. N. Cummer. Florence, Out., Can., Dec. 38, 1887. I have taken your journal for several years, and I should not like to do without it. I got ten cents' worth of Japanese buckwheat from you last spring. I sowed it, and got 33 lbs. of seed from it. Montville, O., Jan. 3, 1888. R. L. Rhodes. The goods I found attlie station yesterday. The sugar was very fine, and ihe molasses the nicest I ever tasted. I should like a dozen more cans if they could be atl'orded, so that 1 could sell them at abnut what you char^ied there. F. M. Norwood. Whiting, la., Dec. 13, 1887. We lake several papers and two bee-journals. I must say, that we like them all; but Gleanings is always the tirst sought by all the family, and it is a most welcome visitor. We all are much interested in youi- Home talks. May the good Lord spare you for many years to continue your good works, is our humble prayer. R.J.Mathews. Riverton, Miss., Nov. 14, 1887. OUR FLOUR-RECEPTACLE. I received the Hour-receptacle and books all right. and they are all and more than I expected. I think the tiour-reeeptacle is .something that every house- keeper ought to have. I am delighted with the book, " First Steps for Little Feet." Mrs. E. C. Harper. lantha. Mo., Dec. 9, 1887. THE wheelbarrow FINE INDEED. The bee-hive material is fine indeed, every thing so smooth and nice, fitting together nicely; also the counter goods. I especially like that clock you sent for only *1.50, and that hack-saw is a fine tool. The wheelbarrow is the finest and neatest I ever saw; in fact, I am well pleased with every thing I got from you. Please accept my thanks for your square and upright dealings with your customers. San Benito, Cal., Jan. .5, 1887. A. Borgman, "IT is so BECAUSE MR. ROOT SAID SO." For amount inclosed please send me a telescope mentioned in last supplement to Gleanings. Send also a pair of No. 9 shears. I have bought two pairs of other parties, which were said to be good steel, warranted to do good work, but they proved to be iron, washed over with something to make them look pretty. 1 thought I would not invest again, Imt sonn^how we all have confidence in A. I. Root. My husband says. " If Mr. Root says a thing is so, it is so." I think so too. Now, why do stran- gers trust you soV I often say that you are doing as much good in the world as any minister of the gospel. I hope your life will lie spared for many years; and when you are called to go up higher, I know you will find many stars in your crown. Fanny E. Sanburn. East Thetford, Vt., Dec. 19, 1887. THE OLD HEN AND CHICKENS. I have just been reading in Gleanings about that hen and her chickens. 1 did not know so much could be said about so little a subject when you have so much business to see to. You must have more patience than I have, but it seems you can seethe grace of f!od in an old heri and chickens, even if she raises hob with your fine flowers and nice things that you give so much care to. [am one of those m^fen who get out ol' patience with my- self and every thing around me; and when 1 road your last Gleanings I read some things that con- vinced me that we manj' times make ourselves more trouble by not looking things in their face as you do. and say every thing is all right if we only thinlv so. Ml'. Root, give us some more of your happy thoughts: I think the Lord will translatp you by and by, or. at least, I hope so; but I trust not until you have lived to a ripe old age and have had your fill. I. F. Plummer. Augusta, Me. ONE f)F THE .lUVENILES TAKES UNCLE AMOS TO TASK. Inclosed please find $1.00 for Gleanings the com- ing \, ear. 1 very much enjoy it? visits, and I would not willingly forego them, even if I did not have halt' ji dozen stands of bees as an excuse for sub- scribing for a bee-paper. My Ernest, who loves a joke, wants to know if I or any one else should send a postal card with "stop it," and not add another word, M)/wse paper would you stopV Mrs. M. E. Brown. Athens, Clarke Co., Ga., Dee. 31, 1887. [My good friend, will you please tell Ernest that we would look on the face of the postal card to see where it came from; then we would look on. the subscription-list, and see if we have subscribers there: and finally, by means of the Postal Guide and Bradstreet's commercial reports, and of our great big index-book to our ledgers, which book cost .175 (10, besides our files of ever so many thou- sands of letters, we should probably in time find out who the man was, for we hitve such v.-brk every few days when somebody forgets to sign his name. Ernest is all right, however, fitter all. 1 should have said. " Stop it," and then sign your name.l THE HOME PAPERS TO ONE WHO HAD BEEN ON A BED OF PAIN FIVE YEARS. Gleanings found us mourning for the loss of a dear son. He died Sept. 33. He had been sick al- most five years— had not been on a chair, nor turn- ed over in bed, in four years. He was drawn all out of shape with inflammatory rheumatism, and was blind. You would like to know how much good your Home talks did him. He would say, as soon as the papers came, " Now, ma, sit down and rest you and read what Mr. Root has to say to us." There was nothing that did him so much "good. He was always cheerful and happy. When I read what you said about dying, he said, "That is just as I i'eel about dying. I never have seen the time when 1 wanted to die, after all I have suffered." But God. in his goodness, has taken him from this world of pain and suffering, to a better world, I trust. Al- though he never united with any church, I trust he is safe in the arms of Jesus. 1 hope and pray that God will spare you to a good old age, so vou can carry on your good work. Mrs. A. M. Murphy. White Creek, N. Y., Oct. 10, 1887. 76 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. pe^EY C0MJIN. CITY MARKETS. Kansas City.— Honej/.— We quote choice white 1- Ib. sections, 18@30c; dark, 1 lb., 16Cnl8. White, 2-lb., 18c; dark, 16. E.xtracted, in cans, white, 9c: in bbls.. 8c. California, 2-lb. sections, 18c; extracted, in 6U-lb. cases, 8(f> 9c. Beeswax, 18(5i20c. Supply of honey is larger than the demand, and sales are slow; the trouble seems to be, that prices are too high. Clemons, Ci oon & Co., Jan. 24. Kansas City, Mo. Chicago.— Honei/.— Sales so far this month have been very light. It may bo that the extreme cold weather is the chief cause, as people do not get out to do shopping. Prices are lending downward, as offerings are large. Choice grades of white comb, in 1-lb. sections, 18c; otf grades, lower, 14@15c. Ex- tracted, 7@8c. Beeswax. '£i. R. A. Burnett, Jan. 21. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. •New York.- Honey.- The market for comb honey quiet. We quote as follows; Fancy white, 1-lb. sec- tions, 16@.19; 2-lbs. 14(?il6; buckwheat. 2-lb. sections, Vmil; 1-lb., 11@.13. Off grades, 1 and 2c per lb. less. Extracted, white, 8®9. Beeswax, 22(523. MCCAUL & HiLDKETH BROS., Jan. 19. 28 & 30 West Broadway, N. Y. Cleveland.— li(j)i€j/.— Honey is very dull at 18c for the best lib. sections. Market is overstocked fgr this season of the year, and we think that, in order to work off the large surplus there seems to be in our marked, there must be a still further decline in prices. A. C. Kendel, Jan. 21. Cleveland. Ohio. Kansas City.— Honej/.— The demand for honey is light; 1-lb. sections, white, 18(§)30c; 1-lb., dark, IW- 16; 2-lb., white, 17@18; 3-lb.. dark, 14@l.'i; extracted, white, 7@8; dark, ,5(g»6. Hamblin & Bearss, Jan. 23. 514 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. New York.— Honey.— The market continues dull and is rather unsettled on white comb honey, of which there is a fair stock. Buckwheat comb, however, is somewhat scarce and in fair demand. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co., Jan. 24. 122 Water St., N. Y. Columbus. — Honey.- Market is very quiet; no changes to make since last report. Choice comb in 1-ib. sections, 17@18c; extracted, 10@12, and very little demand. Beeswax. 22((/.2.5. Earle Clickenger, Jan. 23. 117 South 4th St., Columbus, Ohio. Philadelphia.— Honey.— Demand for comb hon- ey now is about at a standstill— only a light re- quest for extracted at 10@1.5c per lb. Pancoast & Griffiths, Jan. 2;}. 122 Dock St., Philadelphia, Pa. Cincinnati.— Honey.— The market is bare of ex- citement, with a fair demand for choice comb hon- ey, and for best qualities of extracted in square glass jars. There is a good supply of all kinds. Comb honey brings 16@20c in the jobbing way; ex- tracted honey, 4(5.8 on arrival. There is a good demand for Beeswax, which brings 30@32c for good to choice yellow on arrival. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Jan. 24. Cincinnati, O. Albany.— Honey.— Market is quiet, and firm for buckwheat and choice clover comb honey; but me- dium grades are close, and go slow at prices asked. Little more movement in extracted. Consignments solicited. H. R. Wright, Jan. 21. 328 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Detroit.— Hon«y.— Best white comb honey, in one-pound sections, continues to be quoted at 18(5j20c'8. Extracted, 10(0(11. Beeswax, 22@ZSc. Bell Branch, Mich., Jan. 23. M. H. Hunt. ('HicAGO.— Honey.- The demand is rather light, and prices are barely steady; offerings liberal. We quote: White clover, small pkgs, 1-lb. sections, 16(g;18; same in larger pkgs, 2-lb. sections, LJ@il.5; Dark, 10(5il2. G. Lasher & Son. Jan. 23. Chicago, HI. St. Louis.— Honey.— Choice comb, 18@20; strained, in barrels, 6@7i4; extracted, in barrels, .5V^(^8. Cans, 8@10. Beeswax, 19'/4(®20. Jan. 23. D. G. Tutt & Co., 206 N. Commercial St., St. Louis, Mo. Boston.— Hojiey.— Honey is slow. Sales at 16@17 for 1-lb. sections. H@lb for 2-lb. sections. Extract- ed. 8@9. Beeswax, 25. Blake & Ripley, Jan. 13. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. For Sale.— About 1 bbl. of red-clover honey; Yz- bbl. of alsike and basswood mixed. Price 7 to 8c. Sample on application. John F. Dipman. Fremont, Sandusky Co., Ohio. iVE HANDLE THE BEST SUPPLIES or ILL MAXlFAiTl liEBS. We also make the best smoker on the market. All dealers should handle It. Send for wholesale list. It should be in every apiary; let every bee- keeper send for my illustrated catalogue, free. All implements used in an apiary, sold at reasonable rates. Beeswax bought at Gleanings quotations. 3i0db W. E. CLARK, Oriskany, N.Y. Wanted.— The bee-keepers in vicinity of N. Y. City, to buy the Van Deusseii Hlve- Olanip from me ([ keep a stock on hand), at regu- lar manufacturer's prices. T. O. PEET, 3d 37 Park Row, N. Y. City. STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, BLACK- BERRIES, CURRANTS, AND GRAPES. Plants at one-half the usual price. All stock war- ranted. Good references. I can ship plants 3000 miles, so as to reach you in good shape. Give me a trial order. Send postal card and get prices. EZRA G. SMITH, 3-.5d 3Ianche8ter, Ontario Co., N. Y. HEADQUARTERS For Cards and Sta- tionery for Bee-l£eep- erm and Otliers. Besides our beautiful eight-color chromo card, we have other neat designs, also a tine selection of fancy address cards, for old and young, for business and amusement. Also two and three letter mono- grams, all at low prices. See Here, .50 fancy print- ed cards, 15 cts. ; 300 envelopes, 300 letter-heads, printed, $1. Package 25 assorted cards, 10 cts. Neat box of cards and honey candies, 15 cts. Circulars free. Address J. H. Martin, Hartford, N. Y. 20ttjlb WRITE TO JOHN CALLAM & CO., LUMBER DEALERS, KENTON, OHIO, —for prices on— BEE-HIVES, SECTIONS, And General Supplies for Bee-keepers New Factoty. Low Prices. Oooil Work. 3-14 db . These sections are notable on two accounts. One is the in- variable accu- racy of the workraans h i p. The other, the ry low jier- centage of breakage in folding. Not unfrequently a thousand have been folded ^.**^ without any breakage, and that, too, without dampening. Send for reduced prices and estimates on large lots. Ad- drees as in cut. 243d . J Vol. XVI. FEB. 1, 1H88. No. 3. TERMS: »1.00 Per ANNUM, DfADVANCKil T? (i+ rihl 1 oh 0 rl i-n 1^7^ f Clubs to different postoffices, not less 2Copiesfor$1.90; 3for«2.76;5forM.OO; -C^Ot'Ct'C't't'O/fc't/tl/ Lrt/ J. O / eJ . | than 90cts. each. Se_nt postpaid, in the 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num ber. 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be f made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to ONE posTOFFiCE. J PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY A. I. ROOT. MEDINA, OHIO. J U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- I tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 cts. per year extra. To all countries I. NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. SOMETHING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF BEE-KEEPING. VALUE OF THE WlT.r,()W-HERB DURING A SEASON OF DROUGHT AND FIRES. fNCE or twice I have given in Gleanings a glimpse of the darker side of our bee-keep- ing experience. Because of this, it seems but fair to report our success, in a small way. during the past season. But to guard against mistaken inferences. 1 wish to preface the story by the statement that the average per colony for this season is our very best— the best we have to show for fifteen years of bee-keeping. Our bees had wintered well. We had sold three colonies, and on June 1st, when the season usual- ly begins with us, we had 22 in perfect condition. At this date we were (juite prepared for a poor bar vest. The month of May had been very dry, and fires had spread through the woods and swamps in all directions. There was no promise of white clo- ver; it had been ruined by the drouth. But a small proportion of the red-raspberry bushes had es- caped the fires. We did not think of basswood; too many years had jjassed since a drop of surplus had been gathered from this source. Willow-herb was our only hope, yet we questioned if the j'oung plants had not been injured by drouth and fire. That a new growth might spring up in the track of these recent fires, and blossom in time for a honey harvest, did not occur to us as possible. But, "it is the unexpected which always hap- pens." A little rain the first week of June, saved some plants and started into life the seeds of thou- sands more in the beds which the fires had made ready. This we did not discover at once. We only took note of the fact, that after the rain the bees found a limited supply of raspberry honey. That there was not enough for daily use, was proven by the steady disappearance of the old honey, with which we were earful to keep all colonies well sup- plied. Still, brood-rearing was not checked nor swarming postponed. But never was the swarm- ing more wisely managed. There was only just enough of it; once over, it was over for the season. Seldom have our swarms needed so little supervi- sion. With hardly an exception, they decided that these were not days for extravagant provision for future swarming, and very little drone comb did they put in their brood-frames. This was some compensation for the general reluctance to enter the sections. Only a few of the more enterprising colonit^s seemed to find any surplus, and were tempted by full sections of comb into storing a few pounds above their brood. About the fourth of July, to our surprise no less than our delight, the unmistakable, minty flavor of basswood was detected, and at the same time near- ly every colony was found at work in sections. The flow was very moderate for basswood— not at all like what we used to have ten years ago. It lasted but two weeks. When it ceased, w^ork in sections slackened but did not stop. Willow-herb —which is usually af, its best during the last of July— was now yielding a small daily surplus. Hoping to get all incomplete work finished, hop- ing nothing more than this, we severely contract- ed the surplus apartment in most of our colonies; 78 GLEANIN(JS IN BEE CULTURE. Fkb. a proceeding' which, soon after the first of Aug'ust, we were obliged to reverse as speedily as possible. For though the drouth had now become severe, thodg'b the heat was intense, and the air again heavy with smoke, the honcy-fiow grew better as August advanced, being very {rood about the mid- dle of the month and lasting quite through it. At first we could not account for this unusual pro- longration of the season. But exploration of the woods revealed the mystery. Where the fires had run through late in May, the willow-herb was found in bloom, more fresh and vigorous than it had been in more open places a month earlier. Ev- idently the shade had been some protection from drouth. The post of duty in those days was not always the bee-yard. Fires were constantly burning, through August, and much of the time were close at hand. One memorable day, as Mary, our girl, took in the view of twenty-five men working fiercely in a cloud of smoke, trying to beat out the flames which a brisk breeze was sweeping across the meadow to- ward the bee-yard and house, she exclaimed, "Oh I shant I get water and pour over the bee-hives, and try to save the bees, at least ? " I confess that just then I had lost all hopes of saving any thing. The vain attempts we had made to check the flames, before help came, had left no strength for further efforts. That the men were being steadily beaten back by the heat and smoke was manifest. But, the next moment, two men, with a powerful team and a plow, entered the field on a run. The plow went into the ground- one man held the handles, while the other guided and urged on the horses— and a furrow was rapidly swept round some distance in advance of the long line of fire. We waited breathlessly, but with hope revived, to see the men, beaten back to the furrow, make here a final and successful stand. Several acres of blackened meadow and several rods of burned fence, was the slight reminder left us of what might have been, but for the timelj' assistance of the railroad men, a serious calamity. Richard had been called away on business that forenoon, leaving Nellie and me to watch the fires, from which, however, no immediate danger was anticipated. }5ut the smell of burning stubble— for the fire had crossed a wheat-fleld before entering the meadow— reached us in the bee-yard a little too late to enable us to succeed in our first vain at- tempt to wipe out the flames with wet brooms. There was a short flow of fall honey, chiefly aster, in September— previously to which we had had rain. But a few pounds of this was stoi-ed in sec- tions. The summing up— which I have been quite too long in reaching— is this: From twenty-two colo- nies (spring count) we obtained 3:i3iJ lbs. comb hon- ey in sections, and 37.5 lbs. extracted. With re- spect to the extracted, the bees have not received due credit, sister says; for, when prepared for win- ter, eight or ten colonics were left with combs un- disturbed, and therefore in possession of more honey than was needful or judicious. We increas- ed from twenty-two colonies to forty. Jan. 3, 1888. Cyula Linswik. Thanks, friend Cyula, for your valuable report. I am very glad indeed you took the pains to find out where the honey came irom ; and it seems from your report, that it would pay well to move bees to localities where tires have passed over, as you mention. If I am correctly informed, the willow-herb seems closely allied to fireweed ; and tires, as you describe, are just the thing to pre- pare the ground for this weed to flourish, and produce honey. You have, however, given us avaluable hint in regard to savingour prop- erty from fire under similar circumstances. If I remember correctly, the honey from willow-herb ranks fairly with clover and basswood. I do not suppose tliat it would pay any bee-keeper to try to raise it; but where it comes up spontaneously, under such circumstances as you mention, it would surely pay to move bees into such localities. I shall long remember the beautiful Michi- gan forests ; and I remember, too. dear friend , my visit to you years ago. If the eight or ten colonies you mention are loaded with honey to the extent of some that I saw in your yard, no wonder you say they have more honey than is needful or judicious. EVAPORATING NECTAB. atso something from friend dooi.ittle that isn't nectar. fKIEND ROOT:— When I read your report of thi' Chicago Convention, found on pages 908 and 909, regarding " Why bees can store hon- ey faster when furnished with foundation than when furnished with empty comb," I said, "Another craze among bee-keepers." This craze commenced a year or two ago by some one saying that honey stored in unttnished sections, left over from the year previous, was not nearly so good as that stored in comb built the same year from foundation. Almost immediately plenty of bee-keepers are found, who, «sumed the size of a thimble. He said, so far as he had ever gone in that direction, which was as small as half-pound sections, he saw no decrease in the amount stored. Mr. W. H. Shirley experimented with f^-pound sec- tions, and found no lessening of surplus honey per colonj'. You will remember how the pound section was objected to as being so small as to divide the surplus cases into too smnll apartments; but re- peated experiments proved that scare to be only fallacy. I found I cfnild get more surplus honey in ])ound sections, because I could better practice the tiering syst'em, not requiring the bees to go so far from the brood-chamber to make their beginning in the top of the sections. I do not know just how we would go at it to make the four-piece dovetailed sections open on all sides, and we are radically op- posed to one-piece sections, unless you can make the openings at top and bottom go clear through to the extreme sides. I believe it was myself who first suggested round- ing that naughty corner that was previously left on the upper and lower piece of all one-piece sec- tions. Well, it is better rounded than square, but it now leaves an acute angle for bees to fill with glue. The quotation given by friend Dadant, on page 45, at the top of left-hand column, we have seen, and saw the same ideas years ago; but, nev- ertheless, the facts still remain that we want the hives of such size and shape as will give the most honey in the neatest and most attractive form, with the least labor; and I don't believe for a moment that opening the sides of the sections will result in one ounce more of honey. I am ' sorry if friend Dadant can not get as much honey in pound sec- tions as in larger ones, and very glad that we can, and more too, because, as your readers all well know, they are just what the market demands most of the time; and the variation from this is half-pound sections. W^e experimented quite large- ly, at repeated intervals, with half-pound vs. pound sections, all of which we made the same height, and we got every bit as much honey in half-pound as in pound sections; and there is nothing in bee culture of which we feel surer, than that we can always do it; that opening the sides of the sections would aid us in no way whatever, and be a serious drawback as above stated. The quotation already referred to from Oliver Foster certainly favors flat brood- chambers, and you will remember how, for year after year, the same cry that we now hear from Mr. Dadant was set up against shallow brood-cham- bers. But experience overcomes all theory. Please place me on record as saying that I be- lieve there are not one-fiftieth as many open-side as closed-side sections now in use, although they have been before the public several years; and further, that ten years from to-day there will be no greater proportion of them than there is now. James Heddon. Dowagiac, Mich.. .Ian. 31, 1888. I am very much obliged indeed, old friend, to you for having made such an excellent argument for your side of the question ; but, if I mistake not, the Dadants, and quite a good many other honey-raisers, will make a pretty stoiit claim for the other side of the question. Is it not a little strange, that not more people have gone into the business of supplying half-pound sections, if it is true, as yoii say. we can get just as much honey in that way? In fact, we have had so few half-pound sections in the market that there 1888 gLeaKiKgs in See OuLtuue. 81 never yet has been a price put on them scarcely. When we bought the nice lot of honey of our neighbor Chase, last tall, we had one case of half-pound sections. The regular one-pound sections sold promptly ; but folks had never seen the half-pound, didn't know what to make of them, and would not buy them ; and I am afraid our folks did not make very much effort to make them move off. You say the one- piece section, as made now, makes an acute angle for the bees to till. Well, friend H., there need not be any acute angle there at all. The cutter-heads can be made to leave the end of the slot, where two sections are pushed up tight together, in the form of a half-circle, just as well as not. We have started out to liave them done so a great many times ; but some way or other we have not quite got to it. PEKSIMMONS. SOMETHING ABOUT THE JAPANESE PERSIMMON. T|p FTER my remarks in regard to per- ^^Mk Simmons a few months ago, quite a j^f number of the friends in the South ■^^ sent me samples of the native fruit, for which I tender the thanks, not only of myself, but Iluber, Caddie, Connie, mamma, and, in short, about all the rest of the Root village. They were exhibited at the noon service, and we had enough of them so we could offer some of them to each one of the friends at the factory. But the best part of it was the one whicli friend Miller sent us. It was a Japanese persim- mon as large as a good-sized peach, but more delicious than any peach 1 ever tasted in my life, I believe. Perhaps if 1 had seen lots of persimmons, and had never seen more than one peach, I might change my mind. But I tell you, friends, if you never tasted a Japanese persimmon, a treat awaits you. They are not like a peach, nor, in fact, like any other fruit you ever tasted in your life, but they are just beautiful. Below are the remarks in regard to it : Mr. A. I. Root:— I send you by mail one Japan- ese persimmon and a few of our native liind. The Japanese was sent to my father, from the son of a correspondent of father's in Louisiana, by the name of Mr. Stone. The specimen I send you is one of four received, and is only the third largest in size. The largest one measured over ten inches in circumference. We are told they commence to bear when the trees are two years old, and that small trees, only a few feet high, bear fifty to sixty of these fine large persimmons. The large select ones sell at 10 cents each, or three for 25 cents, and the smaller ones for5cts. each in Shreveport, La. The others that I send you are just picked from a tree in our front yard. It came up there from seed, but proved to be barren. Father grafted it with a variety sent him by a friend in St. Thomas, Mo.; a few years later it commenced bearing, and has continued to do so every year since then. It is, therefore, a native of this State, and is somewhat larger than the average, though the specimens I send you are partly drj' and therefore not full size. A great many people think the persimmon a fruit worthy of very little attention, as they grow wild in abundance; but I tell you, this year, when ap- ples have been almost a failure, they are very nice. Part of the tree still hangs quite full, and the little spotted woodpeckers come around now and then. Bluffton, Mo., Dec. 5, 1887. S. E. MlLbEU. Since the above was written, I have made inquiries of our nurserymen, and find that the Japanese persimmon will not stand the climate in our locality, but that they are successfullv raised in different parts of the South. FOR THE JUVENILES. BKOWNIE. fAPA brought in a little brown pullet, saying, "Here is a chicken that is blind; it is funny to see her running her bill over the gi-ound, and can not find a kernel of corn. I think the very best thing that I can do would be to chop her bead off." Mamma says, "Oh, no! give it to me." So mam- ma sat down and fed biddy some bread and meat. She had to open her bill and put it in; but biddy was balky, pulling back all the while. Then she put her bill into some water. How glad she was! She drank herself, though sometimes she put her head on the outside of the cup. Papa said, " Oil her eyes." Mamma said, " Mrs. Chaddock cured sore eyes with honey, and we will try that first." So honey was put into Brownie's eyes, which were closed en- tirely. In a short time one of her eyes was cracked open a little mite, and she could feed herself. Next day, when the door was open she went off to the other chickens. I'm sorry to tell this of them; but they picked poor Brownie, and papa brought her in again and put her back into her basket, behind the kitchen stove. More honey was put into her eyes, and in a daj' or two one eye was wide open, and she got into mischief, leaving her basket and flying upon the table and on to the top of the water-bucket. So mamma let her out to go with the other chickens, and in a few days she was as well as any of them. Honey cured Brownie's eyes, and saved her life. Now, children, if any of your pets have sore eyes. try honey; or if you have them yourself, or If you have a cold, eat honey first, last, and all the time. Peoria, 111. Mrs. L. Harrison. It is a very good point you make, my good friend, that honey is Nature's remedy for some kinds of sore eyes. DRONES. at what AGE ARE DRONE-BEES DISPOSED TO MATE? aN page 662 of Gleanings for 188.5 I published some observations showing that, under con- ditions apparently quite favorable, a drone crept out of its cell in about 24 days and 8S4 hours after the queen had laid an egg there. After nearly two years of prostration from severe head trouble, grateful to Him who has restored my health, and with kind greetings to the bee-keeping fraternity, I continue the record of observations then made: August 13, 1885.— Drones fully two days old can make only short, flying leaps. August U.— When three days old, if tossed up into 82 aLtJAJ^lNGS IN BEE CtlLTUItE. t^EB. the air they fly well. One of this age, kept out ot the hive half an hour, eagerly licked up some thin honey. August 2".— 1 gave some (hones just hatched in a good colony, to a strong nucleus. August 30.— At 3 p. M., with the thermometer in- dicating 80°, four drones took wing. One coming jpst outside, discharged a whitish, crcara-like mass, quite unlike the fa-ces of the common bee, which was eagerly licked up by the workers! Another, caught before it took wing, discharged a clot of somewhat yellower, color. Evidently drones can not retain their ffpccs as long as workers. Some t)rovision would therefore seem to be needed against a colony taking harm, when the cleansing flight of the drones is unreasonably delayed. As no drone was gone more than five minutes, none had left to mate. September 1 and 2.— The weather was unfavorable, and a few drones only took wing, but not to mate. . September 3.— The temperature was 76° at 3 p. m., and the weather fair, with a gentle breeze. Of the many drones that flew, some returned in less than five. minutes, most in ten minutes, and a few in fifteen minutes. T think that not one sought to mate, for a drone, unsuccessful in finding a queen, will not come home until his honey-sac is nearly empty— which usually happens in about half an hour. From all the observations made at this time, I conclude that drones can not be relied upon for sexual duty until they are at least eight days old, and that most of them are not serviceable quite so young. The drone having no special oflice inside the hive, it is wisel3' ordered that it should seek to mate at about half t he age a worker seeks for out- side duties. . September 15.— The temperature was 60° to 76°, and the weather was clovidless. At 1 p. m., drones were in full flight. I i)ut a Jones perforated-zinc guard on that strong nuclues, to be able more easily to catch the returning drones. The most of them evidently flew to, mate; the last two were gone 51 minutes. I caught them all; they filled two large queen-cages. After most of them had been con- fined over half an hour, 1 placed the open cages more than a foot from the liive-entrance. To my surprise, many -of them, unable to take wing, crawled to "the flight-hole," a truly woe-begone set of beggars, impatient— nay, importunate, to be fed; and the workers were all eagerness to supply their wants! One, too far gone to crawl or even to beg, on- having. his proboscis wetted with thin syrup, though at first barely able to take it, soon grew strong enough to fly. From numerous experi- ments made at this time, it seems that, if drones are ket)t from feeding on!.vhalf an hour after re- turning from a wedding- trip, they become too weak to fly. Catching, on the same day, some drones which were being worried by a strong colony, their honey- sacs were found to be well filled. It is easy to see how soon a drone must succumb, if the bees merely prevent it from eating. J believe that more perish in this way thau by any actual violence done them by the workers. I hope to be able to continue this subject in a future number. Rev. L. L. Langstroth. Dayton, 0.,Jan. 10, 1888. Friend L.. we are very glad indeed to find thai you are able to ajjpear among us once more. Some years ago I made quite a good many experiments witli drones; and my conclusions were mainly just about as yours are. They are pooi' helpless creatures, not able to live even -4 hours without the help of the worker-bees. In fact. I am inclined to think that a drone would starve to death, even when placed right on a head of clover, al- though the clover were yielding honey at its best. A small feed of iresh honey will re- vive a feeble and fainting drone in an amaz- ingly short space of time. The children often discover this when they have drones to play with. Unless they are fed pretty often, or returned to the hive, they are very soon " no good." XYLOCOPA, OK CARPENTER BEES. PROF. COOK TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT THESE (^UHIOUS INSECTS. It. W. A. HEMPHILL, Elsberry, Mo., sends what he calls " a hive of bumble-bees of the genus Bnmhus." He says: "This respecta- ble little colony, composed of si.v bees, has been hibernating in this small hole, bored by the bees, in a board nailed to one of my out- buildings thus much of the winter. They have no stores, and without doubt havf! been quietlj' sleep- ing since winter commenced. When brought into a warm room they became lively." These are not bumble-bees, as Mr. H. supposed; but the resemblance is so close that it is not strange that he thought they were. These belong to the ge- nus Xylocopa and not Bombus. From their boring habits they are called " carpenter bees." I describe their habits briefly in my Manual. They are the largest of bees, and less hairy than are bumble- bees. The cells of their wings are quite difterent from the same in bumble-bees. These are Simply males and females, while bumble-bees are like our hive-bees— males, (jueens, and workers. These bore holes in wood for their nests, while bumble-bees build their cells in some hole in the earth, under a boiird or clod— possibly in a deserted mouse-nest. Bumble-bees have the hind leg with pollen-baskets, pollen-combs, and wax-jaws, like our honey-bees, while xylocopa has none of these. The jaws of bombus are divided bj' grooves into three cusps, so they are trilobed, while the jaws of xylocopa have two cusps or are bilobed. These are the most ob- vious differences, and will enable any one to distin- guish these bees, the one from the other. These bees have been in a warm room since they arrived this morning; and although they closely fill the tunnel, or hole, in the block, which is as neat and smooth as if bored with a bit, thej- are hum- ming quite merrily. This is interesting. Landois showed, some years ago, bj' most admirable experi- ments, that bees and some other insects make noises in three ways: Vibrations of the wings- buzzing; vibration of the abdominal segments; and b.v their thoracic spiracles, the breathing-mouths, which are situated just back of the base of the wings. This last is a true voice, and is the hum. Landois found that bumble-bees whose wings have been cut or glued would still hum; hence we see why these carpenter bees in the small bore, or the bumble-bee held in a close flower, will still hum. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., Jan., 1888. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. m WIRING FRAMES. HOW SHALL, IT BE DONE? TF I remember rightly, some of the bee-friends M objected to Hutchinson's plan of using strips ^l of foundation in the brood-frames only, on the ■*■ ground that the combs, when built, are not firm enough for extracting or shipping. If you will allow me the space, I will describe my experi- ments in striving to overcome the difficulty. In the first place, I used nothing but the narrow starter, as advised by Mr. Hutchinson. I succeeded very well as far as worker comb was concerned. But a few of the combs thus built broke down during the hot- test part of the season, while combs built as I am about to describe did not. I tried extracting from some of them, and, by being very careful, I suc- ceeded fairly well. But siace cold weather came, a few which contained honey (that wei-e stored away) have become badly cracked. This would probably not have occurred had they been stored in a warm- er room. As a second experiment, I used a bar of folded tin in the same manner as in wired frames, driving a 3i-inch wire nail through the top and the bottom bar into the closer fold of the tin. By this means I succeeded in getting better and firmer combs. They stand extracting well. At the suggestion of neigh- bor Hilton I also used two and three bars of tin. I had the best success with two. He and I also tried empty wired frames (starters, one inch wide). I used fully wired frames and bar of folded tin. Dur- ing the honey-tlow, the bees built right down over the wire; and if the hive was level, the combs were true with the frame. Were I to choose between combs built in this way and those made from foun- dation in frames with only two wires, 1 should choose the former, provided that things are so manipulated as to secure mostly worker comb. I should be glad to hear how others have succeeded along this line. In wiring frames of foundation I have tried al- most every conceivable method, and have settled down to three wires running lengthwise the frame (instead of the six perpendicular ones which you use), and the diagonal wires and bar of folded tin. ANOTUEIl PLAN FOR WIKlNfJ KKAMKS. The bees place an abundance of wax around the lolded tin, fastening the wires to it securely, thus making them practically only H^n in. long. I can wire faster this way, and get as good strong combs, as by your method. I fill the frames full of founda- tion. Perhaps in the past this subject has been gone over; but I should be glad to know just why you decided to use wire as you do. Fremont, Mich. William E. Gould. Friend G., we have had several reports in regard to bees filling wired frames where natural combs were to be built in the frame, and T believe, as you say, it works all right. We have never tried wired frames with two horizontal wires, in the place of our perpen- dicular ones. It has, however, always seem- ed to me there would be more danger of sag- gingof the bottom-bar ; but I presume likely your diagonal wires are amply sufficient. SHIPPING HONEY BY FREIGHT OR BY EXPRESS. ABE EXPRESS COMPANIES CAREFUL, AND ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR HONEY WHEN IT GETS SMASHED UP BY EXPRESS? EDITOR GLEANINGS:— I inclose you some re- ports from commission men on shipping hon- ey. It looks to me as though the express companies were getting careless. New Milford, Pa. F. W. Dean. F. Tr.Dea/t:— Your 13 boxes came to hand to-day, badly smashed, and honey leaking badly. I have put in a claim against the express company for damage, and will do the best I can for you. Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 19, 1887. F. S. Gibson. F. ir. Dean:— The honey trade is very dull. The supply on hand is large for the season, owing to continued mild weather. Strictly choice white clover, one-pound combs, have a limited demand at 16 to 17 cts., any thing else dragging at 12 to 1.5. The worst feature in the trade is the almost impossibili- ty of getting here either by freight or express, in good order. Nearly every case received by us this season has been more or less bi-oken and leaking. We would, in all candor, advise you to sell at home, avoiding the risk of transportation. If we could be certain of its arrival here in good condition we would offer you some inducements to ship, but can not under the present arrangement of handling in transit, both by express or railroad freight. New York, Dec. 1.5, 1887. P. Merseles & Co. While at the Chicago Convention this matter of shipping honey by freight or ex- press was discussed, and a rising vote was called for. I believe that less than one in ten recommended shipping honey by express. In fact, I don't know but every one who voted on the question had had bad luck in some way or other in undertaking to send honey by" express. All were in favor of ship- ping "honey by freight, and at the same time we pay express companies a much higher price for the sake of being careful. It is true, honey is fragile and risky, but not as much so as many things the express compa- nies do carry. For instance, they carry looking-glasses, and pay for them if they are broken. VVhy shouldn't they undertake hon- ey if we pay them the same price they are paid for carrying looking-glasses V 1 have just submitted the matter to our agent of the American Express Co. here in Medina, and he says the matter shall certainly have attention. lie says he is quite sure the American Express Co. does not propose to let a large trade slip through its fingers in that way, and he says there can certainly be no reason in the world why tl:e men employ- ed by tlie express company can not take as much pains in handling honey as handlers of freight, or '' baggage-smashers,'' as they are sometimes called, do. On the way home from Chicago I found a bee-man on our train: and when I asked him his occupation (you see I am a natural born Yankee) he re- plied, with a smile, that he was one of that obnoxious class commonly known as '' bag- gage-smashers." lie gave me a good many excellent points in regard to shipping hon- 84 ULeANJXUS in lii^E CULTURE. t'EiJ. ey, of value to both consignee and consign- or. These points I propose to take up at some future time. AN OLD TRANSPLANTING-TUBE. ROBIN REDBREAST AND THE CUT-WORM. fRIEND ROOT:— About forty-five years ago, in Greenfleia, Mass., I used very successfully a transphmting-tube invented by Hooker Leavitt, Esq., then clerk of the courts, and well known for his skill in gardening and horticulture. It was made of tin, with the top edge turned over so that it could be more easily pushed into the ground. It was conical in shape, being wider at the top than bottom, the better to hold In the earth when a plant was taken up. The up- right edges of the cone were not close fitting, but could be sprung together and kept in place by a wire rod. It was used as follows: A hole being made to receive the tube with its plant, the earth was gathered loosely around it; and the wire being pulled out, the tube would spring apart enough for easy removal, without injuring the tender roots of the plants. Your remarks upon the letter of Mr. O. I. Miller brought to my mind this old device, and with it the remembrance of the happy hours I used to give to the care of ray hotbed and garden. What Mr. Miller said about the cut-worm, reminds me to speak a good word for our friendly robin redbreast. If any one will get up at break of day, when the cut-worms are doing their worst in our gardens and corn-fields, he will find the robin up too, and hunt- ing for them while many are yet on the surface of the ground. He may be seen to cram his mouth so full, that now and then one will drop out before he can carry his prey to his young. As the cut-worm finds what it destroys by traveling over the top of the soil, I protected my plants by inclosing them in a cone made of old w riting-paper, the smaller end of the cone being pushed about an inch into the ground to hold it in place. Simply covering the plants before sunset with old flower-pots, pans, etc., to be removed after sunrise, is also found to answer a good purpose. The cleanci- a garden is kept while the cut-worm works, unless some special devices are used to cur- tail its ravages, the worse. Having no weeds to prey upon, and not being willing to starve, this verita- ble pest has all the less trouble in finding and de- stroying the fruits of our patient industry. For this reason, when the hoe was almost our sole de- pendence for keeping down the weeds, I set mere looks at defiance, and allowed the weeds to have their will during the season of the cut-worm, only taking care that they did not encroach upon the plants 80 as to hinder their growth. It was a much easier task to destroy these weeds than to make the extensive replantings which their temporary en- durance prevented. Even now I almost shudder at the recollection of ruining visits paid to my garden, when the wily worm was my master, and when my choice cauli- flower, cabbage, cucumber, melon, and tomato plants hung their drooping heads, or, cut in twain, lay upon the ground. L. L. Langstroth. Dayton, O., Jan. .5, 1888. Many thanks, friend L., for the impor- tant facts you give us. It well illustrates the old adage, that there is nothing new under the sun. I do think, however, that my plain tins are much cheaper and sim- pler than those that have to be unhooked to get the plant out. I am glad, too, to see you defend robin redbreast. We shall take more pains hereafter, to encourage them in building nests. The evergreens that sur- rouixi our apiary are so full of robins' nests that I have been afraid they would make a serious inroad on our strawberries and raspberries; but if ihey catch the cut- worms, I tliiuk we can afford to have some- body get up early and keep them off the berries until the pickers come on the ground. FOUL BROOD. DOES IT EVER START IN AN APIARY WHEN NOT introduced V HAT causes foul brood to start in an apiary, when not introduced from another that has it? M. A. Kelley. Milton, W. Va., Dec. 31, 1887. Friend K., I am sure I am right when I tell you that foul brood never starts in an apiary unless there has already been some of it in the vicinity, or some honey in some shape or other has by some means brought it into the locality, and the bees have been permitted to get a taste of it. Foul brood can no more originate itself than can a hill of corn originate itself. Chilled brood, suffocated brood, or dead brood, can in no wise or manner originate foul brood. I have conversed in regard to the matter with our l)est professors of entomology, and with scientific men familiar with all the problems of spontaneous generation and vegetable life. There is no such thing as any plant or animal starting up without a seed or germ. Varieties may grow and develop, and new species may be originated by natu- ral or artificial selection ; but no plant starts up unless the seed was planted by nature or by man. Sometimes it is a little difficult to tell just where the disease did come from ; but let an expert look the matter over, and I think he will tell you generally wliere it was contracted. At the recent convention at Utica, a young man mentioned a colony of bees that died in the cellar, without any apparent cause. As he stated it, no one could tell why they should die. 1, however, went home with him, and went into the cellar. In just one minute_ I showed him where the bees were wintered in frames. The cluster of large, and his cellar was rather cold — be- tween 80 and 40^. They consumed all their stores up to one frame completely filled with comb, without a single passage through it— probably built from a sheet of foundation. Well, the bees were clustered on one side of the comb, and had consumed every drop of honey, while the opposite side of the comb was filled with nice solid stores of clover honey. The bees could not get through the comb, and the cellar was so cold they could not go around to the other side, and hence they starved to death. A hole cut through trouble lay. His pretty large deep bees was not very GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 85 that comb, with a penknife, which could have been done in less than a minute, would have saved the colony. He said he had noticed by some of the journals, that such winter entrances are not necessary ; but the writer who said that, probably referred to L. frames, or something still shallower, whereas his combs were nearly a foot deep ; and as they were made on foundation, there was not a hole left for a bee to creep through. When the matter was presented to the con- vention, although we asked a good many questions no one present could tell why the bees should die. But a moment's glimpse made it as plain as day. JSow, I think it will often prove to be like this where foul brood starts out apparently of itself. THE VENTILATION OF SMALL BUILD- INGS. DR. MII-LKR SCOLDS SOMEWHAT ABOUT THE EX- ISTING STATE OF AFFAIRS. 'ILL you bear a word more on this subject? 1 remember once hearing a man at an edu- cational meeting say, " What would you think, if you were seated at a dinner-table, and a cup of water were handed to a guest, who took the water in his mouth, then eject- ed it back into the cup and passed it to his neigh- bor, who did the same thing, and so on, till it made the round of the table? And yet, very much the same thing is constantly being done in our churches, schoolhouses, and dwellings. The air is loaded with the filthy exhalations of hundreds of lungs, some of them far gone toward decay, and yet you are forced to breathe it over and over again." I thought it disgusting talk, but was obliged to confess that the man had truth on his side. Friend Hoot, the next time you go to church 1 wish you would watch the sexton. During the ser- vice it is likely some of the windows have been opened more or less for purposes of ventilation, —no, hardly that, for very few people think of ven- tilation for its own sake, but because the room was getting too warm. Now, just the minute service is over, watch that sexton. He'll shut every last one of those windows as tight as he can make them. His idea seems to be that the room is filled with a sort of sanctified air, to preserve which requires his most active energies. The same thing occurs in schoolrooms. Go into one of the little country schoolhouses, venerable with years of service, some hot day in summer, when it has been unused for weeks, and kept tight- ly closed. It just tttitihs, Q'here's no other word for it. What can possibly give it such an all-per- vading, enduring perfume? I'll tell you. For manj- years, during several months of each year, day after day, that room has been filled with air, foul with the exhalations from many lungs, also from the skins of dirty little urchins, some of whom have been scarcely washeii since the week of their birth. As soon as the day's session is over, this air is bottled up tight, so that the heat of the I'oom may not be lost. The dead and decaying par- ticles of matter, not unmixed with the seeds of scrofula and consumption, that have been thrown off from the skin and lungs, settle in the walls and furniture, to be breathed over again and added to, the next time the room is heated up., The poor ig- norant teacher (and on this point nearly all Our teachers are densely ignorant) thinks ventilation a matter of secondary importance, if she can only keep her cheLige warm enough. But I would rath- er have her attempt to freeze my children than to poison them. They can do something to resist the freezing process by squirming about in their seats and having a good romp at recess; but against the slow but sure poisoning by foul air which they must breathe, they are perfectly helpless. Well, what is to be done? I can tell some things that can be done. At recess, let every window l>e open at top and bottom; let the door be opened too, if there is aa outside door. The air of the room being heated, the cold air wilt rush in at the bottom of the windows, and the bad air out at the top, un- less there is wind enough to blow right through the room. In a very few minutes the air of the room is pure and sweet, when the windows can be closed, and, with a good fire, the room will soon be com- fortable, and it i» much easier to keep warm in pure than in foul air. Stick a pin there. " But that will take moi-e fuel." Of course, it will; but do you want to save fuel at the expense of your child's health and perhaps its life ? " But the children who are sitting in their seats will take cold with the windows open." They have no business sitting in their seats at recess. If they can not be outdoors on account of stormy weather, they should be set to marching about the room, and I'll risk their taking cold. Let the room be aired out the same way im- mediately upon dismissing school, both forenoon and afternoon; and if the day is still, some pro- vision should probably be made for the entrance of pure air during the sessions.- Instruct the sexton of your church so that he will thoroughly air out the room the minute the audience leaves the room, no matter if it does de- lay him a few minutes; for at that time the misera- ble air is anxious to get outdoors. See to it that, in some way, fhere is a chance for the ingre.s8 of pure air during the services, and don't make the poor minister strive in vain to get a good sermon into the half-sleepy heads and hearts of his hear- ers. Now I have told you the truth, but I am not very hopeful that it will make any difference. Well, if you will go on breathing, and obliging the poor in- nocent children to breathe such dirty, vile, poison- ous, filthy, rotten, nasty, polluted air, I can't help it. I wash my hands of the whole affair. Marengo, 111. C. C. Miller. Old friend, why do you say you are not hopeful that it will make any difference V Quite a lot of us are already hard at work, looking after this matter of ventilating pub- lic buildings. You ought to have seen Dr. Mason and some of the rest of us insist on the ventilation of our convention room at Columbus. As there was an open grate in the room, we managed to have real scien- tific ventilation ; but, my good friend, there is such a thing as going to extremes, even in this matter. \Vith a temperature approach- ing zero, one might bear, for the time being, a room that is tolerably close, better than to take a cold that may stand by him for months, or possibly cost him his life, 1 agree with you, that more people die from lack of air. as a rule, than from too much of 86 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. it ; but, even though this be true, 1 think we should take into account the occasional dan- ger from tlie other extreme. Hy the way, we once ventilated a concert room to sucii an extent, and mainly just to please you. that you became so hoarse you could scarce- ly sing at all. Now, don't say we are all sleepji in regard to this important matter except yourself, good friend. THE WIFE'S SHARE. FHIENU TERRY GIVES BOTH HrSBANDS AND WIVES A LITTLE EXHORTATION. fKlEND ROOT:— I think the lady that Dr. Miller tells us of on page 938 is " an isolated case," or at least a type of a very small class. Let me tell you how I think a very large class feel on this subject. At the dose of a farmers' institute the other day, where this matter of the wife's share had been dis- cussed quite fully, a good, motherly-looking old lady came to me and gave her experience in these words: "My husband never really refused me any money that I asked for. But, as old as I am, if there was any way that I could earn what I want, unbeknown to him, I would do it rather than ask for It." Now, ] know this is not " an Isolated case." Doubtless this woman voiced the sentiments of very many thousands of her sisters. As friend Miller " arraigns womankind," I feel in duty bound to say something against a large class of mankind. To the man, the gentleman, who acknowledges that his wife's labor is just as bard and just as impor- tant (the home-making) as his, and that she is his full business partner, and has just as much right to say what shall be done with their joint earnings, and to take some out to use as she pleases, as he has, to such a one I have nothing to saj-, only that he is one of God's noblemen. Why dfc not all men feel this way? Simply because a large part of man- kind do not yet consider women as their equals. That old curse pronounced on Eve when she sinned has not been (juite forgotten. The idea that they are masters, rulers, "the head," as well as the husband, seems to cling to them. To be sure, Paul did say, over 1800 ago, that the husband was the head of the wife; it wouldn't do for him to get too far ahead of the times in which he lived. Were he preaching in Ohio to-day I should expect very dif- ferent sentiments from his lips. But even 1800 years ago, if one takes all he says together, he is but little if any behind the best sentiment of the present day. Just think a moment of the full meaning of this passage: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it." With such a love as that, no woman could feel as though she had rather work and earn the money than to ask her husband for it. She would never have a chance, though, to ask for It, as he would always see that she had her full rights without asking. Such a love would show a man that his wife and he were equal partners, working together for the good of the firm, with equal rights at the pocket-book, and not that one was the lord and master and the other a sort of half slave, obliged to ask for all she got, in a begging way. I think that lady was right Mr. Miller tells of, who wouldn't take regular wages for her work, from her husband. That would place her in the light of a hired servant, rather than a full partner. No. there is only one right way; they should have a common pocket-book, and each should feel as though it contained their joint earnings, and one had as good a right to draw from it as the other. Against this it might be urged, that women would ruin their husbands by extravagance. Perhaps so, when kept as ornaments and not as full partners, or when kept in ignorance of the exact state of the finances. My balance-sheet, made yesterday, Jan. 2, shows every dollar that 1 have got, where it is, and all about it. My wife knows just how we stand, how much we are making, and always has from the day we began business together. I have far more fear of my own extravagance than I have of hers. Had I kopt her in ignorance of the truth, I can not say what the result would have been. Perhaps it would have ruined me to leave my pocket-book around with full orders to her to help herself to what was as much hers as mine. I can not think friend Miller quite right when he tells of his wife's work in the strawberry-bed, to save some money, and how she overdid, and made herself sick, and says: "In such a case I feel that! have the right to say, 'That money must go for the work, and it is not your privilege to have the mon- ey the work costs, in place of the article itself.' " On what gi-ounds has he this right? It must be be- cause he is " the head " or the larger partner in the firm. I think Mrs. Miller showed a highly com- mendable spirit. She wanted to help her husband all she could to keep the pocket-book full. He ought to have praised her fondly when she overdid and got sick, instead of writing to you how " riled " he was. You may remember, friend Root, that I had my wife with me at the institute at Lodi. From there we went to the Norwalk meeting, and stayed Wednesday and Thursday. The last institute of the week was at North Fairfield, some ten miles from the railroad, and the roads were very rough; sol took my wife to the depot at Norwalk, bought her ticket for home, handed her some money, and told her to get her dinner at Cleveland depot, while she was waiting, and when she got to Hudson to go to the livery stable and get them to take her home. ItisS'i miles, and she had considerable baggage. They charge one dollar for taking a passenger to my house. When I g(H home Saturday night, I found that wife had gone without her dinner, and walked home, carrying all her things. She is a match for you, I think, after reading of your eight- mile walk in last Gleanings. Well, she was pretty lame; in fact, I guess she has hardly got over it yet; but 1 am proud of her, just as brother Miller should be of his wife. She didn't walk so as to have the dollar to use as she pleased— there is no occasion for that at our house, but for just the reason that you took that long walk— because she thought she couldn't earn a dollar any easier. Now, I should like to stop here; but I must tell the whole truth while I am about it. When I came home, Saturday night, the livery- man got a dollar at my gate. I have felt just a little mean ever since; but I am not going to try to save myself by saying wife had no business to do her way. And I think what, really " riled " friend Miller was because— well, because ho didn't help his wife clean out that strawberrv-bed. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 87 Now, friend Root, 1 am talking to the farmers al- most t daily at the institutes on this subject of the wife's just share. Some men can not stand all I say, and some say it is sound. Down in Jefferson County a g-ood old clerj^yman said he liked my po- tato culture better than he did my theology. Again, that broad-minded Christian gentleman, Dr. Scott, of our State University, said that he and his wife had always lived on my platform, and that I was safe any way, as I would have all the ladies on my side, and all the hcxt of the men. Will every married man who reads Gleanings think of this matter long and carefully? Hasn't woman been punished long enough for her great sin? Isn't it about time we acknowledged her as our full e(iual? Would you like to have to ask your wife for every dollar you get, even if she always gave it to you graciously? Can you not manage in some way so she will feel more like a free wom- an, your partner, and less like a slave? Do not .iustice and righteousness demand this? It certain- ly does, friends. Many a poor woman in this coun try comes very close to being a slave. She has no money to do as she i)leases with, e-vcept the little that she begs, although she works hard the year round, and her husband (?) carries a comfortably filled pocket-book. T. B. Terry. Hudson, O.. Jan. 3, 1888. Friend Terry, I am sure you are in the right of it ; and I tliank you for the good your article has done vie. After reading it I went right over home to see what my wife was at work at. It was between seven and eight o'clock in the evening, and the tirst indication I had of her whereabouts was hearing the pump. As I came into the kitchen I found her filling the reservoir. I marched in and told her that, when I was at home, we were going to do up the work to- gether and then we would sit down together to read, as friend Terry had exhorted us. You ought to have heard her merry laugh ; and then when site got the idea that all the men-folks who read Gleanings were going to adopt the same plan (we are, are we not, husbands and fatliersV) she laughed again. Of course, she thanked me for my good in- tentions, but said tliere was not any thing I could do. But I liad made up my mind, and I am going to show her what I can do ; and I wonder how many otlier husbands tliere are who will undertake the same task. Now, in regard to that institute at Lodi : I urged and plead with my wife to go with me ; but she said it was so long since she had attended any thing of the kind that she would be afraid of everybody, and would be miserable during the wliole time. We argued and talked, and talked and argued; but she said she was getting too far along in life to think of going out in public, and sadly and sorrowfully I gave up the task as a liopeless one. I knew, or thought I knew, tliat if 1 could once get her into one of our conventions or institutes, she would catch the spirit of the work, and could not lielp falling in with it ; but she declared it was out of the question, and an impossibility. Now, what do you think happened V Why, wlien it came time for our Ohio State Bee- keepers' Convention I ventured to suggest that she go there ; Init. of course, that was worse than the farmers' institute. Finally I proposed that Ernest should take his wife also, and that they two should labor with mother. Well, imagine my joy and suriJiise when Ernest announced that mother had consented. Why, it seemed to me almost like a miracle. The secret of it is, that Ernest's wife is used to going about in cities, and has a natural tact for going among peo- ple, or anywhere she wants to go, and she always feels perfectly at home too. Well, the convention turned out just as I expected it would. My wife enjoyed it as she has not enjoyed two or three days for many a long year ; and when we got home she said that, if it were not for the expense, she would just like the fun of going with me to every convention I attended. Why, my friends, it is worth evei-y thing to achieve such a victory. These hard-working women who have stayed at home so long, scarcely dream of what God has in store for them if they would go out into the world and take hold and help in the great affairs of our na- tion and our different industrial institutes. Friend T., just tell your good wife, please, that she and 1 are going to be friends from this time forward. I am sorry if she over- tasks her strength ; but I am glad to know that she enjoys even hard work, wlien in- spired by the thought that the pay is a dollar an hour, or even more. Sometimes, when we hear of great doctors or great statesmen receiving a dollar an hour for their services, we are tempted to think such chances will never fall in our path ; but I tell you, if we have our thoughts about us there are oppor- tunities coming up every little while where we can save in just the way you have indi- cated, to the extent of even a dollar an hour ; and a penny saved is a penny earned. I too felt like criticising our good friend Dr. Miller for using the word '" riled," even in pleasantry. But I have not a particle of ob- jection to the word when the men-folks ap- ply it to themselves in the way you put it. We ought to feel riled a good deal when we are not willing to make as much exertion to keep the pocket-book well filled as our com- paratively weak, patient, and hard-working wives do every day of their lives. Mrs. Root is going out in the world with me more during this new year of 1S88 than she ever did before (a kind Father permitting); and my heart bounds now at the very thought of having the companion of my earlier years side by side with me as in those early days. We two have raised a family of children, and they now have grown up so as.to take care of themselves pretty well. Why shouldn't we enjoy going about together, as we used to do — yes, even before we were married ? and \ shouldn't wonder, friend Terry, if she and I should make you a call, say when the potatoes are looking best. A year ago she felt afraid to meet even Mr. and Mrs. Terry, because she was not acquainted with them ; but since the experience of that Ohio $itate Convention she is quite ready and willing to go anywhere that I want to go. It seems just wonderful even now , to think of the change that was wrought in just three short days. 88 GLEANINGS I'N BEE CULTURE. Feb. AN ESSAY READ AT THE OHIO STATE CONVENTION BY DR. TINKER. THE SECTIONAL BROOD CHAMIJEK. Tip CCORDING to the published i)r()j4i'aiiimt' of gil^ this convention, it appears that I am to dis- jS»^ CU8S the advantag-es of sectional brood-cham- "*• bers. If it had been announced that I was to discuss the advantages of sectional hives, we should be dealing- with a practical subject, one with which every bee-keeper in the land should be familiar. But the subject in hand is one in sore need of discussion, since, for some cause, very little has appeared in our bee-journals to enlighten us concerning it. My first season's experience with sectional brood- chambers seemed very favorable. It happened to be an extraordinary season with us, and any hive With good management would have made a fair record. The past season was not a good one, and the defects of the new hive wore apparent in many things. As compared with the Simplicity hives, of which I had seven in use, they were a marked failure. The bees in the Simplicity hives of my -neighbors also did better. They not only had more bees all through the season, but made more sur- plus, and stored enough for winter, while the bees in the sectional brood-chambers had to be fed for winter. I am reluctantly compelled to make this confes- sion, partly because of my own disappointment in these hives, and partly because of the kindly feel- ings I entertain for the inventor. Now, my friends, I will give in detail my experi- ence with the sectional brood-chamber, and my reasons for abandoning it. In the first place, the horizontal half of a brood-chamber is too small for a swarm, too small tor a colony in the fall, and too small for wintering. It is too small for a swarm, since, with a queen-excluding honey-board, the bees will store much pollen in the surplus sections, and soon dwindle down to the size of a good nucle- us. It is too small in the fall, since the bees are limited in space for stores and brood, and become too weak in numbers to winter to the best advan- tage. It is too small for wintering, since it will not contain sufficient stores to winter the colony and make a respectable start in brood-rearing in the spring. Thus it will be seen that one of the cases of such a hive, by itself, is of no value in the hands of the practical honey-producer. It is required that both parts of the brood chamber be used together to make any thing like a success of it. But if they are so used, the following difficullies arise: In the spring, the colony breeds up slowly, and without much attention will not get ready for the harvest. When at last it does get ready, if the honey-How is extra good the bees proceed to fill up the horizon- tal space with brace-combs, and fill in with honey. The bee-keeper now thinks to interchange the sections aad bring the brood to the top, but finds a strong lever is required to pry the hives apart. He quickly finds he can neither interchange the parts nor close the hives without killing hiindrcds of bees. They pile upon the broken surfaces, and a smoker is required in ordei- to cut away the honey. If robbers are troublesome, It becomes a serious matter, and the bee-keeper soon gives up the inter- changing business as a bad job. It seems that bees do not build brace-eombf? to the sanje extent: l)e- tween whole brood-chambers, tiered one upon the other, as between these shallow cases. After all, there is no advantage from interchanging the sec- tional parts, since bees will carry the brood upward and breed just as rapidly where no interchanging is done, as where it is. As the season advances, the bees put all the honey, or nearly all, in the upper case, so that the whole bi"Ood-ch amber is required for winter. The " shake out " function is a good deal easier to talk about than to carry out in practice. With black bees and a little smoking it may be done, as it does not take much shaking to get them out. With Italians, Syrians, and Cyprians, it is a ver-y ditflcult matter, and the bee-keeper is easily persuaded not to try it again. Finally, sectional brood-chambei's are objection- able because of the extra expense of so much rig- ging for the amount of honey they contain, and there are no advantages to compensate the extra cost. My friends, the sectional, or storifying hive, will be the hive of the future. By this I do not mean a hive with a sectional brood-chamber, for one of the parts of such a hive is only half as large as the standard brood-chamber, whose capacity, as fixed by fathers Langstroth and Quinby, is 2000 cubic inches of space, which will contain, in suspended brood- frames, about 13.50 square inches of comb. I have already shown that the half of such a brood-cham- ber is too small to be of any jn-actical use by itself. Nothing less than a capacity for 800 square inches of brood-comb is deserving the name of brood- chamber, and such a one may be successfully used. I mean instead, a hive made up of two. three, or more brood-chambers tiered up one upon the other, or, as our English brethren term it, " storified." As this latter term is more elegant and expressive, I shall use it. Storifying hives have many advantages over other kinds of hives. 1 have no doubt that the pop- ularitj- of the Simplicity hive is due more to this one feature than any other. We have had them in use in this country for many years, but it is only within the last few years that we have fully api>i'eciated this admirable function. It is highly significant that our English friends are placing so much stress upon this point. Of late they have given no premi- ums to any but storifying hives. In this connection I have but one suggestion to make, and I am done. It is, that, if the Simplicity hive were cut down to take a 7inch brood-frame, it would be nearly perfect as a storifying hive. It would then be just right for a swarm with a queen- e.vcluding honey-board; it would be just right for wintering, and it could he storified at any time in the working season, to make a large hive according to the necessities of the bee-keeper. New Philadelphia, O. Dr. G. L. Tinker. Thank you, doctor, for the very faithful report of your experience with the shallow brood-chambers. 1 would suggest, hoM'- ever, tiiat I think friend Heddon has some arrangement for preventing the building of brace-combs between the upper and lower sections. At the Ftica Convention we had a friend present who has used 41 of the Heddon hives during the past season. He used, also, about tlie same number of hives with the large Quinby frames, if I am right. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. We could not get him to make any sort of speech, but he would answer questions, as many as you might ask. His experience was rather in favor of the Heddon hive. He had some trouble with pollen in the sections, but it was only after he had lifted up the first tier of sections, and put another tier under it. Where new swarms were hived into a single section of the Heddon hive, he said the bees did go right into the boxes, and put all their honey there, filling the shallow brood-chamber almost solid with brood. When he attempted to build up colonies in the spring, however, in the shallow brood-chamber, he did not succeed so well. HOW SHALL "WE "WINTEB OUR BEES? INDOOK VS. OUTDOOR WINTEKINO. AND THE AD- VANTAGES OF THE FORMER. T X my report of the Ohio State Bee-keep- m ers' Convention in last issue, I made ^t mention of Mr. H. R. Boardman and ^ his manner of securing comb honey. Our older readers will remember that Mr. Boardman has been for many years one of the most successful men, if not ^/;e most successful in wintering bees intlie Northern States ; and, in fact, he winters hundreds of colonies, winter after winter, without any loss worthy of mention ; we can therefore afford to read with much care the following, which he read to us in the form of an essay, at the convention : AN ESSAY, READ AT THE OHIO STATE CONVENTION, COLUMBUS, JAN. 11, 1888. There has always been a feeling of Insecurity in bee-keeping as an occupation, on account of the uncertainty of wintering. This question settled, and some sure and reliable way of wintering pro- vided, the business will be placed on a firm basis beside the other industries. The ground has all been gone over so many times, that it would seem useless to attempt to present anything new or interesting; and yet the winter- ing problem has not reached its solution. Indoor and outdoor wintering have their advocates, and both alike have their record of successes and fail- ures. Outdoor wintering is among my earliest, and, I may also say, my saddest experiences in bee- keeping. The most important factor in the winter- ing problem is climatic influence. There are others important that come within our control; but the influences of the weather we can at best only modify. Cold does not kill the bees; but jt comes in con- tact with the warmth produced by the living colony inside the hive, and condensation of moisture en- sues. Moisture, combined with the cold, furnishes one of the most demoralizing and destructive condi- tions with which we have to contend in outdoor wintering, both upon the bees and the stores. When a colony is so prepared that an excess of moisture accumulates within the hive, the stores, both honey and pollen, especially if unsealed, are contaminated by these conditions, and rendered un- fit for the bees; and no amount of packing or pro- tection against the cold will improve these condi- tions. A large per cent of the loss of colonies that have been specially prepared for outdoor wintering is undoubtedly the result of improper preparation. Colonies exposed to the severest cold, in climates much colder than ours, often winter in good con- ditiOQ without any protection whatever; even when subjected to the most reckless exposure in old di- lapidated hives, crumbling to pieces with age, and split and seamed from bottom to top, colonies have wintered year after year, for many years, while oth- ers, protected in the most careful manner, accord- ing to the most approved methods of modern bee culture, have died. We are pei-plexed and astonished at such results. The existing conditions were not those anticipated. The only conclusions are, that the favorable condi- tions in such exposed colonies that wintered well overbalanced the unfavorable conditions; and, also, in such protected colonies that perished, there was a preponderance of unfavorable conditions, or, in other words, that such exposed colonies were in more favorable condition for wintering than the carefully protected colonies. This sounds strange, but is it not trueV I have often observed, that if the stores are of good quality, and remain in good condition, that the bees will also keep in good condition and winter well; while if the stores are in bad condition, no amount of protection from the cold will avail in preserving the health and vitality of the colony. Even stores of inferior quality, if in good condi- tion, are not necessarily fatal to the bees, if other conditions are favorable. Mr. Hutchinson, in Amer- ican Bee Journal, page 650, says, " I have yet to lose a colony having cane-sugar stores, and wintered in a warm cellar, and by the method I now employ." Does Mr. H. know that the same colonies would not have wintered well by any other reasonable method? Mr. R. L. Taylor, at the Chicago Convention, re- ported in A. B. J., p. 776, says: " I am confident that I can winter any fair colony well, on stores, which are certainly good, by any of the approved meth- ods." Who doubts his ability to do the same? Mr. Taylor also says, " I am satisfied that I can not win- ter a colony well on stores that are decidedly poor in quality, by any method with which I am acquaint- ed." Who can tell me how to do it? Stores may be so decidedly poor in quality that bees would not winter upon them by any method; but I have an abundant evidence that stores decidedly poor in quality, if preserved in good condition, will not necessarilj' produce serious results, if aided by other favorable conditions. I am aware that the results of indoor wintering are far from being uniform, and are often very far from being satisfactory. Disastrous losses are not Infrequent, even with apiarists of experience. Suc- cess depends as much upon the careful attentioQ to details of preparation as does outdoor wintering. Indoor wintering is my preferred method. It en- ables me, by my present methods, to secure all of the conditions favorable to wintering, both to the bees and the stores, with more certainty, and, at the same time, with less labor and expense, than the methods employed in outdoor wintering. VENTILATION. In the construction of my first bee-house I gave much attention to the ventjlatjon. I had ventilal;- no GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. ing-tubes put in tor the purpose. This was based upon theory. I have been compelled to change my views very much upon this subject. My ventilators are now all taken out, being worse than useless, and I now employ no special means of ventilation whatever for my bee-rooms. lUn the most ample ventilation is given to each colony by leaving the bottom of the hives entirely open, and placing them upon stringers, or, as I now place LKiglit here the speaker piled up a series of sec- tions to illusti-ate his idea, as shown in diagram.— Ed.] them, one upon another, with an open space be- tween, in such a manner that each hive is directly over the open space below. This gives what I term downward ventilation. It also affords an opportu- nity for all dead bees and rubbish to drop out of the hive. Of course, it would not be a matter of prudence to leave the bee-rooms closed throughout the sea- sou, disregarding all circumstances. 1 visit them on tours of inspection as often as I think occasion requires, and at the approach of warm weather I frequently leave the doors and windows open at evening and morning, in order to keep the temper- ature from getting too high. There has been, dur- ing the past few years, some extravagant notions in regard to proper temperature of bee-houses and wintering repositories, and some immoderate re- ports and statements have been made that are well calculated to mislead even those of some ex- perience. Some of the advocates of high tempera- ture for wintering have gone to unwarranted ex- tremes. I am myself convinced, by a liberal experi- ence, that a high temperature is important to the welfare of the colony, late in the season after brood-rearing has begun. But .50° to .55° 1 shall ex- plain as the maximum, and 60° as the extreme of high temperature. It is well to avoid extremes of temperature, but I am not quite sure that uniform- ity is essential or even beneficial. I should prefer that the temperature go not below the freezing- point, nor remain very long near it. But I have never been able to discover any very serious re- sults from alow temjierature, if not too long con- tinued. The use o'' artificial heat in bee-rooms in winter has attracted some attention. I have had consider- able experience in its use, and at one time I became quite enthusiastic over it. But I do not attach as much importance to it as formerly. There are times during a long cold spell when it may be em- ployed with benefit. I dispense with it in several of my apiaries entirely, and the comparative re- sults in wintering show but little difference. I pre- fer to have the rooms perfectly dry, and sometimes I use lime on the floors to secure this condition. EastTownsend, O. H. R. Ho.\iinMAN. At the rtica Convention, tlic general ten- or of the facts brought forward seemed to in- dicate much like the above. We have had our vehement advocates of a higli degree of temperature, and we have had others equal- ly vehement for a low degree ; but many ex- periences seem to indicate that bees may winter successfully through a wide range of temperature, say from 30 degrees up to 7-5. Most people, however, would fail— or, per- haps, I should say most cellars, with a tem- perature that very often goes above 60, as friend E. puts it; and it would want good strong colonies and a very good management to have bees , and brought me cold colfee, she pertly told me I was mistaken — the coffee was all drawn from one urn. All this was at a house where they charge S2 50 a day. 1 do not mean to say you can not get good ac- commodations for $2.50 a day, but I want to suggest that there is a great field for improve- ment in this line. At the Baggs Hotel you never need ask for a fire, for the whole establishment is warmed by steam and neat l>ase-burning coal-stoves, all the while, hot li day and night. You can lay off permanently your overcoat, and your cap too, and go anywhere, without any intimation that there is zero weather outside. This is accomplished by having extra sashes to the windows— storm-sashes perhaps you might call them. These sashes were put in from the outside, and held by suitable fastenings, leaving nearly a foot of space between the regidar windows and these storm-sashes. No frost was to be seen on any window. Within the hotel you find a postoffice, railway ticket-office, telegraph- office, telephone-office, and, in fact, almost 1888 GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE. 97 any thing anybody wants to do business with. If any one seemed to be looking in- quiringly for something, a smart boy tripped up and inquired, '• VV^ere you looking for something, sirV"' Well, now, no matter how inexperienced or green the stranger seemed to be, this boy never smiled, lie took it as a matter of course, and gave the fullest explanations. At the supper-table a friend next to nie made the remark that he had only so many minutes to make his train. As the supper he called for required a little time, he began to worry about los- ing the train. A bright, intelligent colored man who stood near overheard him and re- plied at once, " Oh ! we will take care of that, sir.'' And he beckoned to a fellow- waiter, and asked him, in courteous tones, to find out if the train was on time. He was back in a twinkling, saying they were fifteen minutes late. So our friend had ample time to finish his supper at leisure. The clerk furthermore informed him that he need have no anxiety in regard to the matter. Said he, " We will take the responsibility of putting you on the train in ample time." The ticket-ottice in the hotel had telegraphic commuication in regard to all the trains leaving. This ticket-office. althoi;gh it seem- ed to be fully as large and comprehensive as the one across the street at the depot, was managed by a boy. This boy would consult maps, make inquiries, and give any traveler the fullest particulars in regard to any thing he wanted to know. This of itself was in bright contrast to most of the agents at the ticket-oflices in our great cities. The boy was courteous and friendly ; in fact, the clerks and waiters, tlie whole of them, made you feel that your Avere associated with nice, sociable, pleasant, intelligent people, who had the spirit of the text I have quoted, in their hearts—" And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." It is true, they have an abundance of helpers ; but instead of being crusty to eacli other they seem to delight in working in harmony, and with a pleasant good nature toward their fellows, as well as the travelers they en- tertain. I tell you, my friends, there is a big contrast between this state of affairs and being waited upon with scowls and surly cross words. During my three days' sojourn there I almost forgot that we have to meet rudeness on the great thorough- fares of travel. I wonder if our railway of- ficials could not learn some valuable lessons by stopping at the Baggs Hotel. When 1 started to go home, my train was late on account of the storm. I inquired at the exit gate, of the man who took my ticket and punched it, about how long the train was behind time, but he turned his head in an- other direction, with a sort of scowl on his face ; and after waiting so long 1 began to fear he was offended, and didn't mean to answer at all, he jerked out, " Half an hour, or thereabouts." After I left him I found on tlie bulletin-board, written in chalk, the train w^as forty minutes late. Of course, /it- knew what was written on this board. Why couldn't behave replied promptly and pleas- antly, "About forty minutes"? I then made proper inquiries for a sleeping-car ticket, and was told that I must get it on the train. On the drawing-room car I ap- plied to both the porter and conductor. Tiiey told me I should have to wait till we got to Syracuse, and the conductor of the train declared I need have no anxiety, for they always had plenty of room on the sleepers. When I got to Syracuse, the sleepers were all taken, and the conductor of the sleeping-car was abusive because I tried to explain to him that I was in nowise re- miss. In fact, he would not hear a word. I waited, however, till his conscience troubled him a little because of his ill treatment of a guest ; then I sat down by him, and explain- ed, and he admitted I was right and that he was wrong, and made arrangements to give me the berth I was entitled to. Here four different officials were short and uncour- teous, and one of them let his temper get the better of him, and was abusive, when he was wrong and I was right. Do you not think, my friends, there is room for improve- ment in the line of our text ? Well, now, don't let us lose the point of our text by con- cluding that 'ice are all right, and that our neighbois are all wrong. My friend, youare very doubtless suffering the consequences of a lack of the spirit of this little text. I know I am suffering in the same way, and I have made huge resolves, since leaving that ho- tel, that I would learn and practice wisdom in the future. Mr. Baggs, the proprietor of this hotel, is a large farmer, and he is a great lover of choice stock. Tlie bills of fare are printed every day for each meal. In fact, they are a little bit of daily paper, published three times a day, and on eacli one you see some- thing in regard to his farm that furnishes butter, milk, and cream, from his choice Jersey cattle. Potatoes, celery, and vege- tables in general, are mostly of his own growing, and the very best of their kind. &8 gLi:aniKgs i:n bee cuLtuRE. J*EB. The whole house evidently takes pride in showing the great traveling public how well they can do. After you have indicated what you would like, on the bill of fare, the waiter often suggests, " We have some very choice beef-steak this morning ; sha'n't I bring you a nice pie(!e V '' or, " Wouldn't you like some of these eggs ? " and he shows you a new dish in this line, cooked with rare skill. The buckwheat cakes and maple molasses were both nice enough to call forth exclamations of surprise. The beef-steak was about the finest I ever tasted, and all these dishes are garnished with pretty sprigs of lettuce, parsley, celery, or something of that sort. This gives work for the market-gardener. Notwithstanding all these things are done so nicely, I didn't see anybody in sight who was looking after things, or bossing things. There seemed to be no need of any one to give orders, or to reprove slackness. Here is another indication of good generalship. The master-spirit was nowhere vhible. Another thing that pleased me in regard to this hotel : The customs and conditions of the house were made known to every- body by printed cards neatly framed. In different parts of the hotel one of them an- nounced, THIS IS A FOUK - DOLLAR-A - DAY - HOUSE. Breakfast Costs One Dollar. DiNNKK Costs One Dollar. | Supper Costs One Dollar. Lodging Costs One Dollar. This was evidently to prevent mistakes or blunders ; for some, unaccustomed to these prices, might go into the hotel and get meals and lodging where it would be very incon- venient to pay the above prices, or where they might he in great distress on account of the misapprehension. Other cards direct you to the postoffice-box, telegraph-oflice, railway ticket-office, and all the various places about such an establishment that any one might need. During the convention, at one time I felt sorely the need of my half- hour nap before meals. I found a pleasant parlor, with plenty of lounges ; but one of these placards very kindly announced that visitors were requested not to recline on the lounges, but to go to their rooms. Now, al- though T sought my room at an unusual time of day, every thing was in perfect or- der. A little open grate had a cosy little fire of hard coal, so unique it called forth exclamations of surprise. Not a particle of dust or disorder was visible anywhere ; and I found this dainty little coal fire in the grate during every hour I visited the room during my sojourn of three days. I do not know who took care of the room, for no waiter was ever visible. The whole estab- lishment was still and quiet, for guests seemed to feel they were to be ladies and gentlemen in the truest sense of the term. Yes, they behaved themselves like Chris- tians, for aught I could see, and that is the way the establishment succeeds in getting custom at these great piices. They made money by being Christianlike. Who.soever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. I tell you, friends, it pays in dollars and cents to carry the spirit of Christ with you. Where did this great hotel get such a corps of helpers? I presume they pay big prices for them, because each one in his line is an extra-good man or woman. Very likely a system of thinning out had been rigidly practiced in order to have none but civil, courteous, and obliging helpers. At no time during my stay did I hear any thing like an impatient word. More than that, pleasant looks and pleasant words meet the guests at every turn. You know I am always up ear- ly mornings, so I had a good opportunity of observing the machinery of this establish- ment start up. In the same way I have seen the machinery of large hotels start up many times before, but I never before saw a place where there Avere no impatient words nor cross looks early in the morning. The clerk at the desk complimented me on being an early riser, and gave me a pleasant good morning, calling me by name. I was the first at breakfast, except those who breakfasted early in order to take the trains. The waiters made some pleasant apology about not having a /ti/? bill of fare ready, but gave me a very nice breakfast; and these same waiters were sufticiently intelli- gent to inquire about the convention and the bee-keeping industry at large. On one occasion I opened the wrong door and al- most ran against the boy wlio was blacking boots. He pleasantly took in the state of affairs, told me it was all right, and left his work to take me tliiough his room to where I wanted to go. The water-closet arrangements of this es- tablishment were the most perfect I have ever seen anywhere ; but they operated, as usual, by water. No smell, not even a faint trace, could at any time be perceived any- where al)out the premises. Not only does the water wash away every thing immediate- ly, but a ventilating-shaft with proper ap- pliances draws a current of air through the room in such a way as to carry all vapors down and out of the way instantly. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 99 FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS- BEES FANNING WITH THEIR WINGS IN MID-WIN- TER. ip WEEK or two ago one of my hives leaked a k little, so as to slightly wet the ehafif cushions V/ over the bees. On the morning of the 1.5th ^ the sun was shining- bright and warm, so I concluded to chajige the cushions and give the bees dry ones. When I lifted up the cushions I found the bees so stitt they could scarcely move, yet as many as could do so, perhaps ^UO, had gath- ered to the top of the frames with their heads turn- ed down between the frames, and their wings fan- ning, ,iust as they do at the mouth of the hive on a hot day. I should like to know what they meant by this fanning, when they could scarcely ei-awl be- cause of cold. Were they fanning out the damp- ness, trying to dry otf the cushions, or were they wanting more ventilation from the entranceV Concord Church. W. Va., Jan. 23. T. K. Massie. Friend M., without being present to look at the bees I should say there was nothing the matter with them at all. They were in their natural dormant wintering condition ; and when you suddenly pulled the cushions from over them they were rubbing their eyes and slowly waking up, instead of being stiff with cold, as you put it. The 200 bees tliat were on top fanning were nearer the center of the cluster, and were warm enough to begin to move their wings. 1 presume you found them all right after they had been opened to the light a little while, did you notV the great abundance of fall bloom, asters, AND GOLDENROD. You thought It would be a pretty sight to see the bees humming over a part of an acre of asters. If you had only been here in October you would have been delighted. Such a mass of white and yellow bloom (goldenrod and astcri as covered a great many acres I There is generally a great deal of the former; but the asters, I think, got ahead this time. Farmers who pay no attention to bees or honey, re- marked that they never saw any thing like it before —those "little white flowers," they called them. Every place T went it was the same— in old fields, in clearings, by roadsides, everywhere. Some were not more than six inches high: others two and a half feet. I think they were i?i bloom about Ave weeks, goldenrod about three. The honey crop in .June was almost an entire failure. Cool weather iind frost hindered the bees from work some in October, but all filled the brood- chamber, and a number of the colonies filled sec- tions above. It was cool that some swarms seemed unable to build their own comb, and were filling every little starter with honey. Then I gave them foundation. Many of the combs nri' only partly filled and now are candied. I will try feed- ing it to them in March. We like Gleanings much. We do not think we co\ild do without it. Bethel, O.. Jan. 2. 18.SH. Mary L. Beck. "bee-bait" destructive to ukes: what shall BE done V T learned from a fai-raer. ou the market-train, of the severe loss colonies each. Wm. M. Young. Nevada. O. Friend Y., there are so many conditions I do not know how we can arrive at any sort 100 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. of an answer. The season might make all the diiference, from nothing at all to 100 lbs. per nuclens. Then, again, the man who manages them may make almost as much difference. The locality will affect the re- sult again ; and, still further, a greater in- crease may give even more pounds of hon- ey. Two pounds of bees and a queen is an average colony of bees the first of May ; that is, if you include some frames of brood also. THE CHICAGO CONVENTION, BY ONE WHO WAS THERE. The following spicy little poem from the pen of Eugene Secor, "Forest City, Iowa, we take from the A. B. /., page 755. At Chicago they met, a right jolly set, On a soft balmy day in November; Such a " buzz " and " roar " I heard once before— At an old cider-mill in September. From the West and the East, to this saccharine feast, Came the " workers " cheerfully " singing;" And though each had a wish to " sip " from the dish, But few were inclined to be ' stinging." They talked about bees— their legs and their knees— or the God-given nectar in flowers; Of its value as food; of bareheaded brood, And the late sad failure in showers. Our " countrified ways," the reporter says. Betrayed the bent of our calling; At this we're not mad, but exceedingly glad That our looks far exceeded his scrawling. Such a cniist.int " hum," without " smoke " or drum! 'Twas sail! carli hail a " bee in his bonnet;" But wlicther that's s«. one thing I do know, The " hive " had a Mii,i,f,r upon it. The Mason bee took the Miller to Cook, Who ad.iudged, from its .size and demeanor. There was no need to tread on, nor even put a Hedp-hn, As it lived on sassatr,as Root— a gleaner. For three days and nights, surprises, delights. Made us happy as bees in sweet clover; Tis a bright Green spot, not soon forgot— In memory's Hutch, a rich trover. 'Twould f,ail me to tell how the " honey dew " fell From many sweet lips, though human; But I, for one, when convention was done, Went home from Chicago a New-man. FINDING QUEENS. I tell you, I am an expert! I can get out the hon- ey, and I can eat my share of it— may be more; but I can't find my queens. I have looked and looked for them, and only once have I had a glimpse of one. I don't ask your opinion about that state- ment, because I can imagine it would not be very complimentary. However, it may be modified somewhat when 1 add that I am very near-sighted. I have lately worn glasses when about the bees; but even with them, as my husband would say, " I fail to find " the queen. The gentleman above mentioned won't say "can't;" but when he says he "fails to find" any thing, our daughter under- stands that It is time for her to try. Mrs. M. E. Brown. Athens, Clarke Co., Ga., Dec. 21, 1887. My good friend. I think our little book, " Merrybanks and his Neighbor," would prove interesting to you just now. Friend M. had just such troubles in finding the queens when he fir.st started. You just want to put a gummed label on her back. That is the way friend M. decided to do. A HARD WINTER FOR BEES. We have had a very hard winter for bees. They had a good Hy on the 4th of Jan. ; on the .5th it be- gan to rain, and has continued to rain up to to-day, Jan. 6, at 6 o'clock. It is a very cold rain. I can not say what may be the result of so much wet weather. My experience is, that it is the worst of all for bees on summer standp; but I hope to come through in tolerably good shape. During the last year here, up to about the first of July we had very wet weather; but I have seen as wet weather be- fore, and a good honey season from July 1st till about the middle of September. I will give .you my views about it, but I do not know that it is worth the paper it is written upon. About seven years ago in June, and in the midst of a fine honey-flow of white clover, we had what is called a cyclone. It did a great deal of damage. The next day the bees stayed at home, and for six weeks I did not see a bee at work on any kind of flower. Now, I have what I believe you call matrimony-vine grow- ing at my door; and when the bees are at work on any flowers they are at work on these, and very often when they work on nothing else. Well, we have had a good many storms this year like the one above. They call them electric storms around here; and I believe, though I can't tell how, that electricity has had a great deal to do with it, about here at least. Thos. Chapman, Rocheporte, Mo., Jan. 6, 1888. WIRE-SCREENING A PORTICO TO KEEP OUT MICE, ETC. I am a beginner in bee-keeping, and write .vou for a little advice. My hives are the portico hives, and in putting them in the cellar this fall 1 nailed a wire screen over the front of the portico to keep mice out, and to prevent the bees from coming out. Is this a good plan"? My bees are much more uneasy than tliey were last fall, when they had nothing over the front of the hives. Edgar A. Dodge. Glencoe, Dodge Co., Nebraska. Friend D., the only trouble with putting screens over the front of the hive for cellar wintering is the one you mention — that it annoys the bees, and causes them to worry themselves. I practiced it one or tw^o win- ters, without any particularly bad results ; and one thing "about it pleased me very mtich indeed— there were no dead bees scat- tered about on the floor, to be stepped on when you went in in the dark. You should keep the mice out by having the entrance only I inch wide^ WHAT I DO WITH UNFILLED SECTIONS. It seems to trouble a great many bee-keepers to have so many unfinished sections at the close of the honey season. Now, these unfinished sections I look upon as so many blessings, and I should like to have ten thousand of them on hand the coming spring. I do not want them to go back on the hive for comb honey, but 1 will tell the readers of Glean- ings how I dispose of them. In the fall, after the honey season is over, I place them in wide frames and extract the honey, and put them out of the way of the mice. I always use full sheets of worker fdn. in the section boxes. In the spring, when the weather gets warm, or just before swarming time, I take a case-knife and run it around the inside of the section, cutting the comb nice and square. Now, these combs I fit nicely in my brood-frames, and fasten them with transferring-strips or a piece of hard-twisted twine. 1 always raise my own queens; and when one begins to lay I give her a couple oi' frames of brood that is just gnawing through, and fill the hive full of these filled frames; or if I do not want to use them this way I hang them in supers for extracted honey. In a short time I have worker- combs which are as nice and straight as anyone could wish to see. These combs do not cost me as much as full sheets of worker fdn., and are just as 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 101 nice and good. Let bee-keepers like myself, who have more time than cash, try my plan and see if they are not well paid for their trouble; for I think it does not pay a bee-keeper, who buys all his fdn., to melt up a piece of comb that is four or more inches Square. W. H. H. Stewart. Gait, 111. Friend S., we used to do the same thing years ago ; in fact, we used to save every bit "of comb two inches squaie, and patch them up to make combs for extracting. Of late years, liowever, I believe that most bee- keepers prefer to stand the expense of a sheet of foundation rather than fuss with l)its of comb, and have patched-up combs, even then. Quite a number, and friend Doolittle among them, declare that a sheet of thin foundation docs not give honey quick- er or nicer than sections partly tilled with comb of the previous year. The matter will be well tested during the coming season. SHALL WE SUPPORT A MIM8TER WHO USES TO- BACe for winter. If I bring ten through the winter ;i shall do well. But I am not going into Blasted Hopes. Oh, no 1 I am a clear grit. If they all die I will buy again. D. N. Cummer. Florence, Ont., Can., Dec. 28, 1887. 1450 LBS. OF HONEY FROM 20 COLONIES. In Dec, 1886, I shipped 22 colonies from Alabama to Texas, and lost two in transit. One more did no good. I had seven swarms. They all ran away. This was in .Tune. The first of July the honey-har- vest conuuenced, and lasted six weeks, in which time I took 14.50 lbs. of honey; 200 lbs. of this was comb honey. T. J . Gross. Unitia, Tex., Dec. 24, 1887. has sold 25,000 LBS. OF HONEY. I am a bee-keeper, not the poorest and not the best. I have 60 colonies now, which is the increase of 22 which I had in the spring. I have sold 2.5,000 lbs., and have some on hand yet. I intend to make bee-keeping my business, if I succeed in wintering my bees. M. J. Kistler. Collingwood, Ind., Jan. 9, 1888. I presume, friend K., you mean that the 25,000 lbs. of honey is the total amount you have secured while you have been keeping bees, for you surely did not get it from the 22 colonies which you say you had in the spring ; or perhaps you buy and sell honey as we do. ONE-HALF BARREL OF HONEY FROM 22 COLONIES, AND INCREASED TO 40. The year 1887 has passed, and one more year we must put down as our " bad year." I started with 22 hives, spring count. Here is what I made: Half a barrel of rather good honey; 24 one-pound sec- tions, and increased to 40. The year opened up with the very best of prospects. Spring came a month earlier than usual, and every thing looked bright and cheerful for Louisiana, and I must add here that every thing turned out well except hon- ey. C. K. SCHWING. Plaquemine, I-a. 4000 LBS. OF HONEY FROM 98 COLONIES. The past winter and summer has not been a very good year here for bees and honey— only about half a crop, and a loss of one-half to three-fourths of the bees, with some a loss of all their bees. I started in last winter with 100 colonies. I lost but two coto- nies in the chaff hive through the winter, and the>' were each second swarms, and should have been doubled up: but as they made me just the one hundredth colony, I would not double them up; so I lost them. If I had doubled them up. probably I should have wintered without a loss of a single colony. I have to-day 119 colonies, ami took S!{00 lbs. of comb and 700 lbs. of extracted honey. I got no surplus from young swarms. My honey is all sold but about 2.50 lbs. of extracted. 1 had one of the largest bee-keepers to see me a short time ago. He and his sons had 500 colonies last winter, and lost, by spring, 200. Another neighbor lost 80 colonies. T feel proud of my apiary, and can truly say it is the nicest and best lot of hives in our county, and so say every one who sees them. Honesdale, Pa., Jan. ;i, 1888. F. Britenbaker, 104 GLEANINGS IN BEE CtlLtURfi. Feb. FROM !1 TO 24, AND 300 LBS. OF HONEY. I Started in the spring with 11 colonics— H strong- and 3 wealt. I increased to 28 and took 20i) Ibe. of e.xtraoted and nearly 100 lbs. in the lib. section. My bees are all Italians but one. 1 Italianized them this snminer, without losing a queen. I use the Peet cage. I have never seen its equal, to my no- tion. T have never lost a colony in wintering yet. Edgak a. Briggs. Manchester, N. Y., Jan. "., 1888. 4000 LBS. OF HONEY FROM 6.") COLONIES, SPRING COUNT. Like most other localities, it 'was too dry here the past season I'or honey; but as I have done better than they have on either side of me, I can't com- plain. I commenced the season with about 65 colo- nics, and obtained 4000 lbs. of honey, mostly ex- tracted, while I see, down the river about Kansas City, they report no surplus, and up the river, in Iowa, they have very little if any surplus honey; so it seems that this is a good honey location. I live at the foot of the bluffs. I have the hills on the northeast of me, and the valley on the southwest. The river here runs northwest to southeast. The honey, all except a little linden, was gathered from the valley, as it was too dry for any thing on the hills. My crop is about all sold, mostly in Kansas and Nebraska, which latter is but a few miles dis- tant. L. G. Purvis. Forest City, Mo., Jan. 10, 1888. HOPES BLASTED BY FOUL BROOD. Y hopes were all blasted by foul brood, and my investment in bees proved to be a poor one and a perfect failure. The bees gave me a great amount of pleasure while I had them ; and now the only way I have of get- ting even again is by renewing my subscription for Gleanings, that I may have the pleasure of read- ing it and gaining information, and be profited by the experience of others in bee culture. J. W. White. San Antonio, Bexar Co., Tex., Jan. 5, 188,h. ONLY ICO lbs. of honey FROM 81 COLONIES. This has been a very poor honey season here. I got only about 100 pounds of honey from 81 colonies, spring count, and two swarms. But my bees gathered plenty from aster and goldenrod to winter on. James M. Denh.^m. Valley, Lewis Co., Ky. MOVING bees to FIELDS OF ALSIKE. While my bee.*! did poorly the last season, I got. enough honey (by moving 22 colonies some .5 or 0 miles to a field of alsike clover) to do fairly well. At our State and county fairs I took a large plurality of the premiums offered at both fairs for displays of honey, bees, supplies, etc. I put 60 colonies in the cellar, in fair condition, and packed .5 on their sum- mer stands, with 23 without any extra protection. Elias Cole. Ashley, Delaware Co., Ohio, Dec. 30, 1887. Friend C, will you tell us the quality of that alsike honey ? Was it as liable to candy as the common white-clover honey V HALF THE BEES HAVE STARVED ALREADY. We have had the poorest season for honey in this part of the State since 1 came here from Knox Co., O., 17 years ago. About half of the bees have starved already, and I think the first of April will find very few bees alive that have not been fed. Feeding is so seldom required here that It makes peo- ple very careless about it; this is the first season since I have lived here that a good strong colony has failed to gather suflQcient stores for winter. While we do not get as large yields as some sections we are pretty sure to get some surplus every year without feeding. I had a small crop this season. I have read the reports from the different sections of our country for several years; and I think we have as good a count rj- for bees as can be found. We have comparatively little trouble in wintering. I have never lost a stock. We winter out of doors, and bees fly every month in the year. We have a good fruit country, and society is as good here as in Ohio. S. S. Johnson. Hudson, Mo., Jan. 2, 1888. ]Sl0¥Ef5 M^ QUEl^IEg. DOES IT PAY TO FURNISH EXTRA QUEENS JUST BE- FORE SWARMING TIME? §INCE it requires 26 days to get a laying queen from the egg, will it pay bee-keepers at the North, in heei^, to get queens from the South, provided they can get them promptly 16 days before their bees are ready to swarm? Woodville, Wis. W. W. Fuller. [As a rule 1 think, friend F., you would get a larg- er crop of honey, and certainly more increase, by purchasing queens as you suggest. But there is no particular need of sending south for them, that I know of, in order to have them ready at the time you mention. Another question comes in here: Does the bee-keeper wish to increase the number of his colonies?] •lAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. My report on the Japanese buckwheat is, 25 lb.s. from one sown June 25. The season was so dry that I did not think it would make any thing. I lost probably one-fourth of the seed on the ground. The honey crop this season was only about one- third of an average flow. Wm. S. Spaulding. Montpelier, Ind., Dec. 17, 1887. OLD newspapers VS. CHAFF. Wouldn't 3 inches of newspapers (packed in lay- ers) answer the purpose as well as 3 inches of chaff, in packing bees for winter? How would a dry warm root-cellar, under a granarj-, answer for a bee- repository? W. M. Barnum. Angelica, N. Y. [Newspapers will oftentimes do tolerably well, but they do not permit the bees to dry out as chaff does.] PEAVINE CLOVER ON SANDY SOIL. Do you know whether the peavine clover will thrive on a light sandy soil? Do you know of any grass or clover that will thrive on such a soil? J. B. Kibble. Manchester, Ocean Co., N. J., Dec. 15, 1887. [We have never had much experience with pea- vine clover on sandy soil, but know that it grows with great vigor anywhere any other clover will' grow. Will some of the friends who have had ex- perience please enlighten us?] 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 105 SEVENTEEN BUSHELS OF JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT FROM ONE PECK OF SEED. Although grown under the most unfavorable cir- cumstances, I thrashed 17 bushels of nice seed from the one peck of Japanese seed I purchased from you. It beat the silverhiill and the common buck- wheat a good deal, lor I sowed two bushels of each, and thrashed only 13 bushels of both— that is, 7 of silverhull and 6 of the common. I shall sow the Japanese exclusively hereafter. It is the nicest buckwheat I ever saw. A. J. Shepard. Walker, Linn Co., Iowa. HONEY EVAPORATED 1 think I have quite good ev the capacity to separate or ev gree, the nectar while gather! their hives. Lanesboro, Pa., Dec. ^0, 1887. [The idea, that a good deal of the honey is expelled whi wing, is mentioned in the A head of "Water for Bees." ON THE WING. idence that bees have aporate, in a large de- ng it and i-eturning to P.L. NORTON. of the watery portion le the bee is on the B C book, under the BEES ATTACKING BLACK AND NOT WHITE KID GLOVES. About two years ago I was hiving a swarm and had on my hands a pair of black kid gloves. While hiving the swarm I was attacked most furiously, so I went into the house and put on a white pair. I came out, and was not attacked at all. My idea is, that the gloss of black objects is what attracts their attention more than any thing else. Franz Zschoemitzsch. Monticello, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1887. bees SHOWING PREFERENCE FOR COLOR ; THEY STING A BLACK CHICKEN. I see on page 98:i, you want more proof that bees are more apt to sting dark than light colors. One of my hens wav-i passing through my apiary with a large brood of chicks. All but one were light color- ed. One was black. The bees attacked the black chicken and stung it to death before I could res- cue it. The hen and other chickens were not touched. Geo. A. Wright. Glenwood, Pa., Dec. 20, 1887. CIDER-MILLS AND BEES. What damage will an open cider-mill do to an open apiary, within one mile distance? How can such damage be prevented or cured, if said mill can not be made bee-proof V J. Johansen. Port Clinton, O. [Friend J., where the bees have flowers to work on that secrete honey while cider-making is going on, very often they will pay no attention to it whatever. During a drought, or dearth of pastur- age, however, you may have a great deal of troub- le, and I do not know any remedy but to take your bees away unless the mill can be made bee-proof with wire cloth.] CAN BEES BE KEPT PROFITABLY WITHIN SIX OR EIGHT RODS OF A RAILWAY TRACK? Where 80 to 100 colonies of bees are wintered on summer stands, within 6 to 8 rods of railroad track, would said bees be disturbed during cold winter weather by the jarring of about 12 heavily laden trains running over the track daily? Pittsford, Mich. G. H. Denman. [Friend D., I believe the reports that have been sent in indicate that, if other things arc favorable, even such i)roximity to a railroad disturbs the bees but little. They get used to the noise and jar, and don't seem to mind it.] With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. All queries sent in for this department should be briefly stated, and tree from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marlced, '• For Our Question-Box." Question No. 31.— Is it possible to produce extract- ed honey, equal in body, color, and Havor, to a good ar- ticle of comb honey? Yes. Yes. Why not? Most certainly. My experience says it is. Geo. Grimm. Dadant & Son. Paul L. Viallon. W. Z. Hutchinson. G. M. DOOLITTLE. I think so— very decidedly too. O. O. POPPLETON. It is possible but not practicable in a large apiary. Mrs. L. Harrison. It is not only possible, but a fact, that extracted honey is produced fully equal in body, color, and flavor, to the best of comb honey. Chas. F. Muth. Certainly; tor extracted honey is nothing more nor less than comb honey with the comb taken out. Dr. a. B. Mason. I think it is. The honey is the same. The comb as a dilutent makes the comb the more palatable. We eat extracted honey too fast, and so soon tire of it. A. J. Cook. Recipe. — Let the honey stay on the hive till the close of the season, and it is comb honey. Then ex- tract it, and it won't fly out of the body nor off its color in the extractor. In the heavy localities, I suppose this plan is not very readily worked. E. E. Hasty. Yes, sir, 'ee. That is just the kind of extracted honey I use and ship to my customers. I know that the usual extracted honey found on our markets is quite below the standard of ordinary comb honey, but this should not be so. Any of my customers who have tasted my extracted honey will vouch for the above statements, as will the editor of this journal. James Heddon. Yes. First-class extracted is superior in body and flavor to most comb honey sold, and equal to any. After it has been kept some time it deteriorates somewhat in flavor. This amounts to little, if kept in tin vessels. The color should be equal on the start, and with proper care will remain so. James A. Green. Yes. If I leave my honey in the comb a month, for instance, it is comb honey, either good or bad. Ten minutes later I may have it extracted, and it still has all those qualities the same as before; but I believe that, as a rule, it is not as good, from the fact that large quantities of it are extracted in an unripe condition. R. Wilkin. It is hardly fair to ask me such a question, when 1 am almost exclusively a comb-honey raiser; but if I must answer, I will .<*ay that, when I want a real good meal of honey myself, I prefer extracted; and at the risk of being accused of heresy, I be- lieve it possible to produce extracted as good in every respect as that freshly taken from the comb, C. C. Miller. 10(5 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. i'Eli. 1 think it is. Extract j'our good article of comb honey, and have you not got honey in body, color, and tiavor, equal to the comb honey from which it was taken'' If honey is capped before it is e.vtract- ed. it must be equal to the comb honey before it was extracted. But what is possible and what is most profitable are two things. If we leave our honey in the combs for it tu be all capped over, our crop would be small. Extract when the honey is thick; if not capped it is good enough. We should all be glad to get that this year. E. France. Question No. i^S.—If extracted honey will bring two-thirds the price of comb honey, which would be the more profliablc to jiroiluce, comb or extractedf How mucli more do you estimate it costs to raise comb honey than extracted:' 1. Both. One-third more. G. M. Doolitti.e. Qlte.stion No. Si.— Is it adcisahlr to change the name of extracted honey/ In it possible if desirable.' No. Geo. Grimm. No. Hardly. U. Wit,kin. No, to both questions. G. M. Doolitti.e. No. No. The Germans call it free honey. Mrs. L. Harrison. Neither advisable nor possible. W. Z. Hutchinson. I do not think it is desirable. It would be possi- ble, if it were desirable. James Heddon. Yes, if it is possible to find a better name; which I doubt our ever doing. O. O. Poppleton. I do not think It advisable. Although possible in the course of time, it would be, T think, very diffi- cult. C. C. Miller. I don't think we can better the name of extracted. Possibly it could be done, but it would take a long time. E. France. No. I see very little need of it, and I think it scarcely possible. There would be some serious disadvantages in the change. J.\mes A. Green. 1. Not unless a better one is given. It might be called " crystal " honey as the Canadian " manag- ing committee "' term It. 3. Yes. Dr. a. B. Mason. Neither desirable nor practicable. We must ed- ucate the people to distinguish it from strained honey, and this is being done from day to day. Dadant & Son. I see no possible reason for so doing. The name is excellent, and we should aim to make it univer- sal in its use. I think it would be difficult, even if the name were undesirable. A. J. Cook. The mania for changing established names in apiculture is very despisable. The change would be possible, if enough of us were afflicted with the mania; but I think that is not the case. E. E. Hastv. It is not advisable, as people are getting pretty well acquainted with the present name, which has been used for the last 2.5 years or more, and a change would create confusion, which will probably take :i.i more years to establish, at which time some one will probably come and stir up the advisability of another change. Paul L. Viallon. Mauj- ridiculous improvements have been at- tempted to better the name of "extracted" honey. If a change for the better were possible, I can not see the desirability, as the honey is, indeed, extract- ed from the comb. If it could be e-xtracted from something else than the comb, then I should be in favor of adding the word " comb " in some shape. Chas. F. Muth. 1. Extracted. 2. Nearly double. K. Wilkin. 1. Extracted. 2. Fully twice as much. Dadant & Son. I think there would be but little choice. W. Z. Hutchinson. Other things being equal, extracted. Two-thirds more. .Ta.mes A. Green. Extracted, provided you make a home market for it. One-third more. Mrs. L. Harrison. Comb honey, as with our present system it doesn't cost one-third more to produce comb honey. Paul L. Viallon. Much would dei)end upon the bee-keejier and his situation; with me it would be about an even thing. James Heddon. With me, and in my market, it is the most profita- ble to produce extracted honey. 1 am not posted as to the cost of raising comb honey. Dr. a. B. Mason. Extracted, to the first question; the answer to the last will depend much on localitj' and the bee- keeper; but my experience would lead me to say double. O. O. Poppleton. We can not get half as much comb honey as we can of extracted, and we would rather run a yard for extracted, as far as work is concerned, so I would say extracted, at two-thirds the price of comb, is more profitable. E. France. If I am right, comb honey would be the more profitable in rather lean localities, and extracted honey in very productive localities. In my own apiary, T should say it costs ;ibout two cents a pound more to produce honey in sections. E. E. Hasty. For the average bee-keeper, extracted, decidedly. I think it costs the average bee-keeper twice as much to produce comb honey as it does extracted. The expert may pi-oduce comb nearly as cheaply as extracted, but this takes long experience and much skill. A. J. Cook. Comb honey. Considering all, cost is about even. In considering cost we must not leave from view the condition of the colonies for winter. 1 answer this question entirely form the standpoint of a Wis- consin winter, and have no reference to milder cli- mates. Geo. Grimm. I think this whole matter of comb vei'sus extract- ed, varies so much with the place and the man, that every man is a law unto himself. To your first question 1 should say, extracted. I have done so little at extracting of late years that I can give no estimate of any value. C. C. Miller. It will be more profitable to i)ro(hice extracted honey. The exact amount, how much more it costs to produce comb honey, is of a speculative nature, and depends on the energy and ability of the bee- keeper, and on what his time is worth. If his time is worth nothing, it costs him nothing more. He gets paid for his sections and fdn.,and his shipping- cases may balance his barrels. Chas. F. Muth. 1888 gLeakings in BEk cuLtuke. 107 J^jYgELF WD MY]S[EI6pBei^S. What shall it profit a man, if he shall g-aiD the whole world, and lose his own soul?— Mark S: Sfi. OUK •' YORK STATE "' NEIGHBOR.S. TTp T the appointed time, January 17, at 2 gMk P. M., I was on liand ready for the '^m York State bee-keepers' convention ; ■^^ and, in fact, I was the only one on hand. Altlioiigh 1 came all the way from Ohio to this convention, there was not a York State man present in the convention looms at the opening hour. I should not have been thns early, perhaps, had it not been announced that friend Doolittle would open the discussion in regard to using full sheets of foundation in the brood-chamber. As it happened, however, he was not present at all, neither did he send in a communica- tion. Neither was C. V. Miller present, nor H. D. Cutting; and although the pro- gramme announced that Oapt. Hethering- ton would lead the discussion in regard to organizing an international bee-keepers' association, he was not present, neither did he send in any communication. In the same way, we did not meet Julius Huffman, L. C. Root, E. F. Ilolterman, nor C. R, Isham. In fact, of the eleven different prominent bee-keepers who were announced on the programme, only two were present. Shall we complain of the York State bee- keepers that they are lacking in enthusiasm or a sense of duty? God forbid. Very like- ly it is a Christian duty to do a certain amount of complaining, and remonstrate occasionally as one goes through the path of duty ; but I think, dear friends, the great trouble is, we shall complain too much in- stead of not enough. I do not know just why these friends were all absent, nor do I know why the number in attendance this winter at Utica should have been so much less tlian those who attended a year ago. In many localities the drought and short crops have made bee-men feel poor; but York State, during the past season, has been blessed in honey- crops far above her sister States. Doubtless many of the friends were kept away by sickness or impoitant duties ; but I fear the greater part of them remain- ed at home because the weather was severe- ly cold, and because of a sort of indifference that is the greatest obstacle in the way of furthering any good work. Some may ask, "• Brother Root, are you really sure that it pays in any sense to attend conventionsV Is it really worth while to keep them up, es- pecially when we have so many publications devoted to our industry, and so many cheap- er ways of giving and receiving knowl- edge?" To which I reply, '' Dear friends, I do feel satisfied that it pays to attend con- ventions, if they are properly conducted." Well, what shall we do to make sure that they are properlv conducted? " Why, at- tend them yourself ; pay your dollar toward the support of the iiistitutiou, and then ex- ercise your privilege as an American citizen, of voting for that which is right and good and pure and true. If you decide not to at- tend, do not, I beg of you, criticise and ob- ject, and lind fault with those who do attend.'' I was very much pleased to find the meet- ing was to be opened with prayer by one of the resident pastors of tlie city of Utica. 1 had an opportunity of having just a few minutes' conversation with him, and it made me feel like praising God to know that such good stanch servants of his are to be found all over our land, in our great cit- ies as well as in our country towns. I very soon learned to love and respect our good president, Mr. W. E. Clark. I have also learned to feel a very warm friendship for the patient, quiet secretary, friend Knick- erbocker. As the treasurer was absent, Mr. K. was obliged to act for liim part of the time, both as secretary and treasurer. The hrst topic was, " Does it pay to culti- vate plants specially for honey?" This seemed to be decided almost unanimously in the negative. Better devote your time and land to alsike and mammoth clover, buckwheat, and rape, in localities where the latter nourishes. A Mr. Crocker, Avho was present, reported about 80 acres in alsike clover during the past season, within range of his bees. This alsike was raised by the farmers about him, specially for a forage crop, without reference to honey at all. One member of the convention informed us, that at one time when acres of buck- wheat in his vicinity were producing no honey at all, he got quite a good yield of buckwheat honey by moving his apiary sev- eral miles to another locality where the buckwheat was yielding honey. In this case it was the buckwheat on the hills that produced the honey when that in the val- leys did not. I remember to have met a similar case in my own experience. " Does it pay to use full sheets of founda- tion in the brood-chamber ?" was discuss- ed generally ; and I believe the result was, that very few had tested the matter suffi- ciently to be satisfied. Mr. Crocker, mention- ed above, had used about 40 of the Ileddon hives, and thought he had a little better re- sults in comb honey where he put nothing in the brood-chamber but starters. Of course, the new swarms that were worked on the above plan had little or no stores for winter, as the result of giving so much from sections. When asked if he did not think all the gain made was on account of the lack of stores in the l)rood-ehamber, he said he thought not, and his experience seems to agree with the teachings of Ileddon and liutchinson, that it pays us to get all the white honey in the sections, even if it does result in leaving the bees entirely destitute of stores when the season is over. No one present had succeeded with ar- tificial fertilization, unless, indeed, the old Kohler method of causing drones and (|ueensto tly a little later in the day than tlHMisual time, be called artificial. The topic. " How can we organize an in- ternational bee-keepers' association that will best promote the interests of bee-keep- ers?" occupied more time and attention than any other one thing. The trt)ub]e seems to be, so many have different ideas in regard to what this organization shall ac- 108 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Feb. eomplish. Some ol' the brothers wished to aceoniplisli one tiling, and some another; and, all together, the question seems to be rathei- unwieldy. A few wished to have it worked as_a means of giving eacli member of the association private advices in regard to the honey-market. Others wanted it made general for all. both producer, con- sumer, and middle-man. The following quotation in regard to it, we clip from the A. B. J.; but no one seems to know who the author is : The convention of honey-pioducors in the State of Now Vork will begin "at Utica, Tuesday next. Three days will be occniiied in the deliberations. .[. L. Scotield will preside. The prodvicers of over ."),()00,OCi() pounds of comb honey and 1,000,(100 of ex- tracted honey as an annual crop will be present. Among- other subjects to be discussed will be the shape, size, and style of the ])ackages for the com- ing year, the price to be charged to the wholesale dealers, and a plan for unity of action to prevent the cheapening competition which has marked the sale of honey during the past. It is proposed to form a trust, to be composed of all the large producers in the State, nominally to regulate the size of combs, so as to unify the mar- ketable packages, but actually to buy up all surplus honey when there is a glut of production, so as to keep up the price and shut out competitors who might be willing to sell at a sacrifice. It is e.vpect- ed that this plan will meet with great opposition from the small producers. While the above is not exactly true, it outlines the work proposed. The matter of buying up the surplus honey so as to make a corner in the market. I do not remember to have heard suggested. I believe the con- clusion was, to organize a lioney- producers' union ; and to meet the expense of collecting statistics in regard to the honey crop, and forwarding them promptly, an 'admission fee of one dollar was to be charged ; and anybody can be a member of this union by sending a dollar to G. H. Knickerbocker, Pine Plains, N. Y., who will forward circu- lars, giving full particulars in regard to the matter, if desired. Of course, this tmion is not to consist entirely of York State bee- keepers, but it is expected to represent the Tnited States, Canada, and any other country where honey is produced, that cares to assist in the matter. The question- box brought forth a good deal of fun, and, we hope, threw light on many subjects. Friend N. N. Be'tsinger gave us a most excellent talk in regard to the marketing of comb honey. The special point he brought out was a somewhat novel one to me ; but as soon as he mentioned it, I felt sure he was right. It was this : People, the world over, are fond of change. Our forefathers first brought honey to market in pails and tubs. When somebody devised a clean nice box with a pane of glass over one end, it starteil a boom in honey, because the idea was so unique. Of course, honey in neat clean boxes l)rnught a better price. When father Qiiiiiliy,' however, brought honey to market in a box having glass on four sides, so that it was really a little glass show-case, this called forth a new demand, and much better prices still. A little later, friend Betsinger himself, if I am correct, gave us a glass box holding only a single comb. The glasses were held in the oppo- site sides by tin points. This had its boom, and prices were up at one time as high as 40 cts. a pound, we are told. Your humble servant, at about this stage of proceedings, suggested a l)ox holding only one pound, and this created another boom, "especially when these one-pound boxes were packed in a case of 24 or 48 pounds. The one-pound section had its boom, and is booming yet, I believe, a little ahead of any thing else, even it some of the York State folks did hurl anathemas at your bald-headed servant A. I. Boot because he had the audacity to teach the public to demand little sections of only a pound each, when they might have been perfectly satisfied with the two-pound sections, had nothing better been shown them. I here called forth quite a little fun by remarking titat I should not wonder if we should be obliged to get out new things a good deal as the women do in their bon- nets and manner of doing up their hair. It gives variety to life. There are none of us but tire after a while of having a constant sameness, day after day and month after month. I mentioned that, in our own State of Ohio, the women-folks must have a new way of doing up their hair about once a year. When we men-folks just be- gin to get reconciled to bangs, and think they are rather pretty after all, then the women start out with a top-knot on top of their head, and so on. Friend Aspinwall, of the Bce-Kcepcrs' Magazine, said that, in York State, they change their styles and fashions once a week. The only matter that brought up any thing like unpleasantness during our convention was, that friend Betsinger, at the close of his excellent talk, recommended pretty ve- hemently a little ]>apei- box of his own, with a glass window in it. 1 presume that no one would have objected to mentioning his own wares in his essay, were it not that the paper box is patented— or, at least, a patent has been granted him on some feature of it. As a means of avoiding similar unpleasant scenes, C. M. (xoodspeed suggested that, hereafter, no article should be exhibited to the convention, on which there was a patent. This stirred up a lugger hornet's- nest yet, and he made haste to withdraw his motion. Now, please do not conclude, dear friends, that our convention was the means of stirring up bad feelings. This matter of the paper boxes was laughed off pleasantly, and, in fact, there was so much pleasant good nataire constantly going on, that 1 forgot myself so far as to get away back into one of my boy- hood excesses. 1 had almost forjfotten that I used to get into fits of laughter that were uncontrollable. In fact, I don't know that I have laughed until I cried, for twenty long years, as I did at this convention. When they found out tliat I was trying hard to be sober and sedate, as becometh an editor, and one who is away from home, they seemed to take pleasure in provoking me to mirth. Finally, when I began to think I had obtained the victory, and was going to be steady the rest of the evening, one of the reporters started me going again. Brother Aspinwall was making quite an elaborate speech ; and when he got to the point where he said, with a good deal of emphasis, that a cert in 1888 gL^aki^gS in b:Ee cuLtuilE. lO'J thing would be a bad precedent, the reporter suggested, in a loud whisper, that he prob- ably meant *•' vice-precedent." Now, this is a small matter indeed, and perhaps you think there is not any thing funny about it ; but it set rae going again until the tears ran down my cheeks, and 1 fairly suffered. I did not dare to look at that reporter any more during the convention. To add to my troubles, the president here called on me to stand up, open the question-box, and answer the questions. Well, now, I tell you, dear friends, it is a good thing to get to laughing once in a while until you shake all of the bad feelings and muddy waters out of you. There were quite a few present who had before, perhaps, felt a little edgewise toward me about some things in the past, and I am sorry to confess that I felt a good deal the same toward them. But the fun we had that evening washed it all out as effectually as we used to wash the marks from our slates with clean pure snow- in winter time, away l)ack in childhood. At this present monu'ut, God knows that I have nothing but love and goodwill toward every friend there ; and this love and good will, r believe, overflowed a little, and has taken in some wlio were not there. T hope the memory of that convention will give me grace to be milder in my replies, and kinder in my editorial work iii the future. And if it shall transpire that God has given me the faculty for helping to make conventions pleasant and interesting, I shall rejoice in that faculty as a gift from him; and if it shall also tianspire that more of these broth- ers will go to conventions because of the knowledge that I shall be there to help make it pleasant. I will try not to mind tlie ex- pense ; for, as in our text, wliat shall it profit a man, even though he do get to be well off" by staying at home, and attending to business, even though lie gain the whole vxnicl, in fact, if it be true that, by so doing, he holds aloof fi-om his fellnw-men, and misses the opportunities of iTelping others, and. at the same time, helping himself V Yesterday I went up to the dentist's to have my teeth fixed. When done, I asked him if our "family was owing him any thing. lie said lie be- lieved not. and added, " Mr. Koot. I know how hard you try to keep things paid up, and to owe no man anything. Well, I too liave been trying, and tn/inn hard, to owe nothing to anyl)ody,except'good will ; and I want to owe all mankind a hearty good will as long as 1 live." Owe no man any thing:, but to love one another.— Romans 13:8. Now, dear friends, if attending conven- tions helps us in the line of the above little text, we have almost no bumiess staying at home when they are held in our vicinity— that is, when we are reasonably able to af- ford the expense. Sliall we not come to a standstill, and ask the ([uestion. '• What are we living for?"' and lin.illy, '' What doth it profit a man?" as in the language of our text. More than one man has discovered, at the close of his life, that riches have little to do, comparatively, with making a man hap- py ; and when we come to die, millions of money will not purchase the peace of God. dim 6wN Jinnm^ COXDUCTED BY ERXEST K. KOOT. salt; its value as a lubricant in facilitating the removal of wax sheets from rolls and dipping-boards. OON after the receipt of the card from M. M. Baldridge, which we -gj published on page 9i4. Dec. 15, stat- ing the value of salt in founda- tion - working, I told the foreman of the wax department to give the thing a most thorough test in more ways than one. This he immediately set about to do. All those who have made foundation are aware that, in order to get the best results, the sheets of wax. before being run into the rolls, should be drawn from shallow tin vats of warm water in order to give the sheets the proper temperature. In times past we have used in said vats only clear water. Our first experiment with the salt was to add a little of it in the vats of water referi-ed to, in about the proportion of a quart of salt to five gallons of water. The rolls were then thoroughly drenched in briny water — no starch or other lubricant being used. Tpon trial the sheets went through the rolls with little if any sticking. It soon became evident that the brine alone was not suf- ficient. As prescribed in friend Baldridge's letter, we then mixed a little of the brine in the starch paste, in the proportion of 1 of the former to 20 of the latter. In connection therewith the brine water was used in the shallow vats as before. Foundation was then rolled out with little if any trouble from the sticking, and the results were high- ly satisfactory indeed. There is not only much less trouble in picking the first end of the sheet off the rolls, but a much larger quantity of foundation can be turned out in the same time. Said our Mr. Kimball, on the first day's trial, as I watched the nice sheets peel off the rolls with so little trouble, " See here ; we have run off as much foun- dation so far this forenoon as we did all day yesterday. How is that for salt ? " It was then. I think. 11 A. >i., and on the day pre- vious no brine had been used. It seemed to me hardly possible that it could do this right along: but the foreman assures me tliat, since that time, with the salt he has averaged about as well. SALT FOR THE DIPPING-BOARDS. Mr. Baldridge also mentioned the ease with which sheets could be removed from the dipping-boards when the latter were soaked with ])rine Avater. We have care- fully tested the matter, and find it just as friend B. states. We now keep the "sheeters," or dipping-boards, when not in use. soaked continually in brine water. Without the addition oi' the salt in the water, the boards would roughen and become totally unfit for use. TO WHO?I DOES THE CREDIT BELONG ? Mr. Baldridge, in the card referred to in this article, does not claim to have originated the idea, but says he got it from a friend. 110 GLEANINGS IN BEE dULTUEE. Feb. In a card received since, tliis friend writes, telling how he accidentally made the dis- covery. It reads as follows : Mr. A. 1. Hoot:— On page 944, Dec. 15, T see Mr. M. M. Baldridge gives the use of salt brine to prevent sticking to the dipping-boards. Jn the spring of 188;} my brother and I purchased of jou a fdn. ma- chine. Your directions were, to use starch, which we tried: also soap; but sticls it would, till we gave it up in disgust. Later on, some sheets of wax fell into a pork-barrel, and we found to our delight that they ran through the mill like a charm. We then used salt thereafter, and we never again had foun dation stick. Finding that friend Baldridge had trouble with the sheets sticking, I gave him the secret. Let the people have it. It is worth money to any one having fdn. to make. E. A. Morgan. Columbus, Wis., Dec. 28, 1887. Friend Baldridge, thinking the "secret" was too good to keep from the brethren at large, " let the cat out of the bag." A CHEAP AVAY OF GIVING SALT TO BEES. Oh, yes ! The little evaporated particles of salt which will adhere to the foundation will in no way make it less acceptable to the bees ; but if the theory is true, that the bees require salt, then the value of the foundation so made is enhanced. T-TIN SUPPORTS ; A CONTINUATION OF THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED ON PAGE 22, JAN. 1st ISSUE. Since my description of the T super in the January issue of Gleanings, in the depart- ment of Our Own Apiary, we have had some- thing like a score of suggestions. I have not taken time to reply to each one individ- ually, but I will take space here to answer two or^three of the suggestions. It will be remembered, that I was not satisfied with the T-tin rests. I made a remark, some- thing to the effect that we would hail with joy a device which would hold the T tins just as securely, and yet at much less ex- pense. As a partial solution to this problem, I mentioned my experiment in the use of a piece of strong strap iron, bent in the middle at a right angle. This was not feasible, be- cause it would pull out too easily when driven into the bottom edge of the wood. To overcome this difficulty, quite a number of friends have suggested 'making a T-tin rest of strap iron, cut and bent as in the sub- joined engraving. The prongs are intended to be driven through the side near the lower inside edge of the side of the T _ supei-, leaving the lower step, so to speak, to suppoit the T tin, Hush with the bottom edge of the T super. Three of the little pieces of iron, so bent, are to be driven equiilly distant on each of the sides. I im- mediately instructed the f( reman of our tinning department to make me several of these, after the above description, of heavy strap iron, light strap iron, and of heavy tin. Samples of this I drove into the T- super sides in the manner I liave already described ; but I found that, instead of driving in securely, they had a tendency to split the wood. Moieover, it was only oc- casicmally that I could succeed in driving one squarely into the wood. It would bend and kink up. p]ven if it were practicable to drive them into the wood, it would necessi- tate an expensive die to punch them out, and then two folds would require to be bent with a common tinner's folder, to make the steps, as it were. Considered from all points, I think we shall have to discard these also as impracticable and expensive. Two or three other friends seem to have misapprehended the real purpose of these T-tin rests. One or two say, " Why not make saw-cuts in the T-super sides, and crowd the upright part of the T tin into the saw- cut T' thus: XXX The T tins are then to be nailed down. I admit, that this would hold the T tins very securely; but bear in mind, that they would be stationary, and not movable, when so fastened. The office of the little pieces of strap iron, as described to you on page 29 was to support the T tins, and yet admit of their easy removal. The reason for not having them stationary is fully discussed on pages 217 and 221, inclusive, of last year. Gleakincs in Bee Cultdre, Published Semi-Monthlt/. EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, nyEEX)I2sr-£w, OHIO. TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. !■ ♦ •> For Chtbing Rates, See Pint Page of Heading Matter. Whosoevei' will save his life shall lose it.— Matt. 16: 25. We have to - day 7732 subscribers. You see, friends, we are getting nearer the 8000. Perhaps we should say right here, that we are printing 9000 copies of our journal each issue. The rest, over and above our regular list, go out as sample copies. Our advertisers really have the advantage of a circulation of 9000. LOOK OUT FOR HTM! We are obliged to warn our readers to be careful about sending bees, queens, or supplies of any kind to William Connelly, of Ogden, Boone Co., Iowa. He has a way of excusing himself, by saying that the goods were for a cousin of his, by the same name, who has gone away, etc. Investigation, how- ever, shows that no man but himself has for years lived there under the name of William Connelly. We have employed a man to look up the matter. FRIEND SECOR'S POEM. I WANT to suggest that the little poem on page 100 seems to be just in harmony with the spirit of that convention, and, in fact, in harmony with the spirit of all the conventions I have attended this winter. Had friend Secor been present at Utica, he would have found just as bright intellects, just as 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Ill mucb enthusiasm, and just as much genial good- fellowship. ]f friend S. is a bee-man, I tell you, my friends, he is also a poet of no mean order. Where can you find more expressed in a few short verses than in the above little poem? You should have been at the convention, though, to be able to drink in the music that hums forth from not only every line, but almost every word of that bright little pen-picture. MATTER FOR GLEANINGS. I BELIEVE there never was a time when we had so large an amount of really good copy awaiting pub- lication as now. We shall endeavor to give place to all that is worthy of insertion; but to do so, it may take a couple of months. We hope this ex- planation will be an answer to those who may be wondering why their articles have not appeared in print. In order to hear from all, we shall have to ask the friends to write as briefly as possible. Short articles, amounting to two or three inches of printed matter, are highly acceptable at any time. THE WESTERN BEE-KEEPER. Did you ever! Another bee-journal under the above caption has started This time it is in Des Moines, Iowa. The editor and publisher is our old friend Joseph Nysewander, formerly one of the shorthand writers at the Home of the Honey-Bees, and latterly a supply-dealer at Des Moines. As you will see by the advertising columns, he is still in the supply-business, and in addition has, like some of the rest of us, hitched on a bee-journal. Vol. I. No. 1 of his journal i)resents a good appear- ance, and will doubtless fill a niche in the West. THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL IN A NEW DRESS. The first numbers of our esteemed cotemporary, the A. B. J., for 1888, have come out in a new dress. It is printed almost wholly from new type, and the matter has been somewhat rearranged. Altogeth- er it is a decided improvement. As in times past. Gleanings extends the right hand of fellowship, and wishes the publisher every success. In this connection we note with pleasure the brotherly feeling existing among all our bee-journals at the present time, and likewise the absence of little petty jealousies which, we are sorry t<> say, used to crop out once in a while. THE AMERICAN GARDEN. Since our last issue we are informed that the American Garden has purchased the OariUncr's Monthly and Horticulturist, and consolidated it with the American Garden. The Gardener's Monthly has been an acknowledged authority of its class for 43 years. A short time ago the .1 /neiica/i Gardcji pur- chased the FJo?-at Cabinet. There is one good thing about these consolidations— one gets nearly every thing that is valuable, and has to go over only one journal instead of three. It has often seemed to me like the economy of uniting two weak swarms of bees— you get one rousing colony. I believe it has not yet become the fashion among bee-jour- nals to double up. CABBAGES FROM AMSTERDAM. That is where we got them, dear friends; and our boys are having a tiptop trade in tbem on the streets of Medina, and they are magnificent cab- bages—in fact, the hardest heads, I believe, we ever saw in the world. Now, then, is it the skill our Amsterdam brethren have in raising cabbages, or have they got a better kind of seed that makes these solid heavy heads? In the latter case, we want some of the seeds. There is one thing vei-y pleasant to me in regard to this: While these far-away brothers are helping us by supjdying us with cab- bages, when we arc cabbage hungry, we are perhaps also helping them by taking their fine products off their hands. They cost fll.OO a hundred here, but I don't suppose our foreign friends get 14 cts. apiece for them by considerable. I wonder if we have not a subscriber in Holland who could tell just what the cabbages do net them that they send off to America. omitting addresses. We hoped we should not be obliged to say any thing more about this right away; but some of the brethren are getting to be quite bad again. Seethe following: Mr. a. 1. Root:— I wish my name discontinued from your list. I do not wish to talce Gleanings any longer. William Hawkins. On the opposite side of the postal card, all we can make out of the postmark is"ing." Without the postoffice, we should have to look over 77.33 names to find William Hawkins. Had there been any cor- respondence with him during the year past, we could find him by hunting over letters, and we have already spent con.^iderable time over it, without avail. Now, friend William, if this meets your eye, we hope you will be kind enough to tell us where you live, and I assure you we will stop your copy of Gleanings instantly. seed-sowing for vegetable plants. Now is the time, dear friends, with most of you for sowing the seeds for cabbage, cauliflower, to- mato, celery, and, if you choose, kohl-rabi, onions, beets, etc. Some may urge that it is altogether too early; but I tell you, strong, thrifty, early plants, that have been several times transplanted, almost invariably find a customer, and at good prices. A tomato-plant, for instance, that has been trans- planted until the root is a great mass of fibers, with a good short stout stalk is worth five or even ten cents, if the ordinary thin delicate spindling plants are worth a cent apiece. If they threaten to grow too fast, keep them growing slowly, in a cooler temperature. This cooler temperature, with free- dom from frost, is easily secured by frames of cloth instead of glass; and the common cheap muslin, such as you get at the stores, answers, so far as I know, as well as the water-proof fabric. Perhaps, however, the latter lasts enough longer to pay for getting it. For full particulars in regard to this matter, see our new book, " What to Do, and How to be Happy while Doing it." MORE ABOUT THE CHILD THAT GREW SO FAST; HIS recent discovery, as MENTIONED IN OUR OWN APl.\Ry, THIS ISSUE. Our older readers will doubtless remember that our old friend E. A. Morgan, who has given us such a valuable invention (see page 110), is none other than the one we named, some years ago, " the ABC child who grew so fast." You see, friend M. took hold of bee culture so suddenly, and made such as- tonishing strides, that we were all surprised. If I remember correctly, he has had some mishaps that didn't turn out so lucky as this one, when he let those sheets of wax tumble into the pork-barrel. The latter mishap bids fair to be not only lucky for friend M., but a pretty big streak of luck for all of 112 GLEANINGS IM BEE CULTURE. Feb. us. Just think of it I a great invention coming about by being in such proximity to the pork-bar- rel! If that is not jumping from the sublime 1o the ridiculous, then I do not know. Can't friend Secor weave us a poem with the above materials? Well, old friend, we owe you a vote of thanks, any way. Perhaps it ought to be something more than thanks. But you see you did not study it out at all. It is like the boy who whistled out in school. He dis- claimed all responsibility, on the ground that "it whistled itself." gPECI^Ii pi0¥ICEg. WHEELBARROWS, WITH GAS-PIPE LEGS AND HAN- DLES AND WOOD BOX. Wc Still have a few of the old iron wheelbarrows on hand that we wish to close out, and to do so we offer them at $3.50 each. REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF GARDEN-SEEDS. Since our list was printed in the January No., we have secured many important reductions in the price of staple seeds. At the same time, 1 believe we get the vei^i best stock that can be furnished. For prices, see our new seed-list, which we hope to have ready to mail in about a week. NEW 10-INCH FDN. MILL, $17.00. A customer in Eufauhi. Ala., is holding " a 10-inch A. I. Root comli-founrtatioii machine, which has never been used, and is in the original box in which it came from the factory." To make a quick sale we offer this machine for $17.00 cash. This is an excellent opportunity for some of our Southern friends to ('. CntnloKiK- (lie. ( IIICAGU HAltXESS 10., Wliolesale illir., 375 Wubiitli Ave.. Chicago, 111. MUTH'S HONEY-EXTRACTOR, NQir.tKE: CiLAKS HONEV-JAKS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HI VEK, HONEV-SECTIONS, &c., dec. FERFE T-TIX CASi:S. SEC- TIONS, METAL COSNEBS, Honey - Extraftors, and Fruit - Boxes. SEND FOB PRICE LIST. B. J. MILLER & CO., - Nappanee, Ind. HERE I COME '■ro say that E. IJaer, of Dix- on, III., has sold out his sup- ply business to the Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., who will sell V-groove basswood seel ions at from $3.75 to $4.(1(1 per M. Other supplies i,ii— _ —'•msr corrcspoudiugly low. Sam- ^'3r rrr=Tr~^TLj^^ plcs and circular free. Ad- dress the GOODELL & WOODWORTH MFG. CO., 3tfdb R&GK FALLS, WHITESIDE CO., ILL. BEES, (Jueens, Hives, Given Comb Foundation, Apiarian Supplies, German Carp, Small-fruit Plants. Send for catalogue free. E.T.Flanagan, Belleville, Ills. l-34db._ LOOK^ERE! A complete hive for comb honey, lor^only $1.30. Planer-sawed, V-groove sections a specialty. Price list free. J. M. KINZIE & CO., 17tfd Rochester, Oakland Co., micli. 2 SIMPLICITY B - hives, 2 covers, 10 brood- frames, 7 wide frames, and 56 one-piece 1-lb. sections, all in flat, $1.10. Leconte, Kietfer's Hybrid, and Bartlett pear-trees, ~0 cts. each; 13 White-Leghorn chicken eggs. .50 cts. 3-5-7d T. A. GUNN, Tullahoma, Tenn. NEBRLY THIRTY TONS DADANrS FOUNDATION It is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich.; F. L. Dougherty Indian- apolis, ind.; B. J.Miller & Co., Nappanee. Ind.; E. S. Armstrong, Jerseyville, Illinois; Arthur Todd, 3123 North Front Street, Phil'a, Pa.; E. Kretchmer, Coburg, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., M.J. Dickason, Hiawatha, Kansas; J. W. Porter, Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Va. ; E. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y. ; D. A. Fuller, Cherry Valley, 111.; J. B. Mason & Sons, Mechanic Falls, Maine; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O., Jos. Nyse wander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watcrtown, Wis.; J. >iattonn, and W. J. Stratton, Atwatcr. O., Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Frei- burg, III.; Geo. B. Hilton. Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1409 1.5th St., Denver, Colo., and nu- merous other dealers. Write for free samples, and price list of bee sup- plies. We guarantee cvenj inrh of our foundation e'lunl III xninple in event re»pect. Every one who buys i( is pleased with it. CHAS. OADANT & SON, 3t)ifd Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illiiiolik. CIRCULAR NOW READY. ADDRESS JAMES HEDDON, Dowagiac, Mich. Etitoii's Tiiijii'orrtl — ISLl L.\th;st and Bkst. Send for /i.fe iree catalogue. Address FR.4>K A. EATON, 3d Bliiffton, OUlo. If you Wish to Obtain the Highest ?m% f©r Honey THIS SEASON, WRITE TO HEADQUARTERS, V. a. STKOHMEYEK A; CO., AVliolc»iiale Honey IVIercliants, 17-4db 1-i-Z Water St., New Vork. NICE FOUNDATION, 6 to 7 feet per pound, 30 cts.; 8 to 10 lect, per pound, 3.5 cts. Wax worked for two-fitths, or 10 cts per pound. 3tfd S. & A. M. SMITH, MMttoon, Coles Co., 111. THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW! For January is now out, and contains the following original articles: " Disturbance Not Necessarily In- jurious," K. L. Taylor; 'Bees are Summer Birds," E. M. Hayhurst: " Disturbing Bees in Wintei-," .las. Heddon; •' A Niche that Needs Filling," M. M. Bal- dridge; " Daily Visits no Disturbance," J. H. Rob- ertson; " Hees Winter Well in a Swinging Tree- top." F. Booiiihower; "Keep the Bees Quiet in Early Winter," H. R. Boardman; "Continued Dis- turbance Injurious," J. M. Martin: "Light Not a Disturbance," Dr. A. U. Mason; "Disturbance Not Injurious, if Other Conditions are Right." Eugene Secor; " Bees Undisturbed by Light," H. D. Cutting. Following the above come editorials upon: Price of the Review— Wood or Tin for Separators — Is the Latter 'Colder " than the Former?— "Not Accord- ing to Natui-e " —Mr. Heddon and the Review — Disturbing Bees in Winter Seldom Injurious — Temperature to be the Special Topic of the Next Issue — Unfinished Sections vs. Foundation — A Modern Bee-Furm. After the editorials, room is given for the follow- ing extracts: "Modern Bee -journalism." M.; "Brine for Soaking Dipping-boards," M. M. Bal- dridge; "Less Afraid of Disturbance," Dr. C. C. Miller: "Injured by Passing Trains," G. M. Doo- little: " Stamping on the Floor Above a Bee-cellar," Dr. A. B. -Mason; "Disturbing Liees Out of Doors.'" G. M. Doolittle; "Handling Bees in Winter," F. Boomhower. Price of Review, .")0c a year, in advance. Samples free. THE PRODUCTION OF COMB HONEY. A neat little book of 4.5 pages; price 35 cts. The Review and this book for 6.5 cts. Stamps taken, either U. S. or Canadian. Address W. Z. HUTCHINSON, lOtldb Flint, Wlich. Notiiiiig~Sycceeds Like Success. I have been successful in the proiluclion of Comb Honey for the )>!isr ten jears. hikI my little para- ph I im "Howl Produce Comb Hoiiej," biiefly explains the incrluid I pursue. By mail. 5 cts per cop\ : per liKl. s:! (111. My illustrated price list of General Sup- iilies, Bees, and Queens, free. A'ldress GEO. E. HILTON, Fremont, Mich, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. S9 Contents of this Number. Acre *>f JUiney-tratliorers i'i Alfalfa ill California .iO Apiarv, Selling an 54 Apiaiy. Floating 50 Aster a^s a Honey-plant 57 Australia 52 Bees. Reviving Frc.zen 63 Boys' Hive factory GO Buckwheat, Japanese 58 Buckwheat. To Harvest ... 57 Bumble-bees 57 Butter-dishes 59 Cateriiillar. Saddle back. .. 57 I 'haiuhick's Letter 45 Colonies iier Sqiuire Mile... 43 Columbus Convention 67 Comb V. Fdn. for Starters.. 47 Combs Between Starters 43 Cotton-worm 57 Eilitorials 68 Fish Culture 56 Foul llidoil in Australia 55 Foul Brood in California 50 Foundation. Thin (Q.Bi 59 Gleanings, Helping 46 Heads of Grain 56 Hermaphrodites 51 Honey, Canning 55 Honey, Comb v. Extracted. 60 Honey. Price of 47 Items, Two of Interest 41 Lawn-making 48 Location, Knowledge of 41 Pancakesand Honev 56 Queen. "When to Reiliove 54 yuest ion-Box 58 Reports Discouraging 59 Rejiorts Encouraging 59 Seasons, P..or .54 Sections. Filling full (Q.B.). :i» Sections Filled on One Side. 42 Sections Open on 4 Sides ... 44 Sewing-machines and Bees. 47 Sod House for Wintering... 57 Starters, Triangular (Q.B.). 58 Statistics 56 Stores Needed in South 56 Tomato. Mikado 49 Vegetables, Improving 49 i'oung's Kind Words 57 Your Name is Wanted to appear in the Ameiicdii Hee-Keeper's Reference Book. It will be a neat hand-book containing the names and addresses of bee-keepers in the United States and forei^'-n countries. Send us 10 cts. and have jour name appear in this book, and bj' so do- ing you will receive circulars from dealers, and thereby become posted as to where you can do the best. You can not invest ten cents better than by having your name printed in this book. Write number of colonies, and average yield of honey, so that we may properly rate you. Also state the variety of bees you prefer. This work is intended to till a long-felt want among bee-keepers. A department will be reserved in this hand-book for the names of apiarian supplj-dealers and queen- breeders, and three lines will be allowed them, giv- ing room for their name, address, and business, and will be inserted for 25 cents. The size of the book will be .5x7 inches, neatly printed and bound. A space will be left by each name for a memorandum. The names will be print- ed in alphabetical order, besides being an accurate index to tictive bee-keepers, giving their names, ad- dresses, and almost a report of their business. You can not afford to miss having your name in this book. Address at once. J, B. MASON & SONS, Mechanic Falls, Me. BE SURE To send a postal card for our illustrated catalogue of APIARIAN ?iI^Xrl'.^Tt'T;?n^ SUPPLIES tains illustrations and descriptions of every thing new and desirable in an apiary, AT THE LOWEST PRICES. i:T-»wXaI.S^iT Q-CrEE2srS Ji.l Italian queens, bee-hives, and supplies. We sell goods very low. Send for price list. B. J. MILLER & CO. NAPPANEE, iND. 24tfd MUTH'S HOUEY-EXTRACTOR, SQITARE GLASS HONEY-JARS, TIN RUCKETS, REE-HIVES, HONEY-SECTIONS, A:c., A:c. PERFECTION COI.D-R1.AST SIUOKERS. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, O. P. S.— Send 10-cent stamp for " Practical Hints to Bee-Keepers." Itfdb 40 GijEANii5rGS m :feEt: ctitTUEE. JA^. JI0NEY GdhUm. CITT MARKETS. ^KW York. ^Ho7ie{/.— For tiie past iew weeks the demand for honey hits slackened off to some extent, as it generally does at this time of the year. In or- der to make sales now, we are obliged to shade |)rice8 slightly. About the middle of Jantlary we expect the demand to bte more active again, at flrm- er prices. P. G. Strohmeyer & Co., Jan. 9. 1^3 Water St., N. Y. Cincinnati.— ffo/iej/.— There is a slow demand i'or cdmb honey, with a large supply of thfe best we ever Saw. . Commission houses are well supplied. It brings i6@20c in the jobbing way. Demand is fair for extracted honey in square glass jars. Scar- city for the past few months, and the advance, has Checked somewhat the demand from manufactur- ers for dark honey, which I hope is temporary only. It brings 4@,9e on arrival. Beeswax.— There is a fair demand, which brings 20@22c on arrival for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Jan. 9. Cincinnati, O. Columbus. — Honej/.^Market is Quiet. I quote the following prices: Choice white, 18@20c; 1-lb. sections, dark, 14@.1.5; extracted, 10@12; Beeswax, 20 @22. Our stock of honey is very light here at pres- ent, but I think the prices will have to come down to 16 or 17 cts., which I think would create a better demand. Earle Clickenger, Jan. 9. 117 South 4th St., Columbus, Ohio. Milwaukee.— Honey. —Market quotations on hon- ey unchanged from last report. However the de- mand for honey of all sorts is not urgent. Comb honey is especially dull. Beeswax. 32(gi25, nominal. A. V. Bishop, Jan. 10. Milwaukee, Wis. Albany.— HoHcj/.— Market is quiet, and prices un- changed; will not be much change now until it is shown that there is not enough to go around. If so, then it will be higher. Consignments solicited. H. R. Wright. Jan. 9. 32S Broadway, Albany, N. Y. St. Louis.— Ho/iej/.— Honey is dull— no quotable changes otherwise in the market. Beeswax, choice, 20c; fair, 1854(§jl9'/2; dark. 15@16: where mixed with grease, half price. W. B. Westcott & Co., Jan. 9. St. Louis, Mo. Kansas City.— Ho?ici/— We quote choice white 1- Ib. sections, 18@30c; dark, Mb., 16@18. White. 2-lb., 18c; dark, 16. Extracted, in cans, white, 9c; in bbls., 8c. California, 2-lb. sections, 18c; extracted, in 60-lb. cases, 8@9c. Beeswax, 18@20c. Supply of honey is larger than the demand, and sales "are slow; the trouble seems to be, that prices are too high. Clemons, Ct.oon & Co., Jan. 9. Kansas, City, Mo. Chicago.— Honej/.— Honey sold slowly during De- cember; prices range from YKsilSc for choice 1-lb. sections, while fancy lots bring up to 19@20c in a slow single-case way. Extracted Is steady at 7@10c. Beeswax, 23c. Trade this month so far is light. R. A. Burnett, Jan. 9. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Detroit.— Honey.— Best comb honey continues to be cjuoted at 18(c'20c. Supply only fair. Extracted, 9@11, according to quantity and quality. Sells best in 60-lb. tin cans. Beeswax. 21@23c. Bell Branch, Mich., Jan. 9. M. H. Hunt. St. Louis.— Honey.— We quote choice comb 18® 20c; strained, in barrels, 554@6'/4; extracted, in bbls., 4'/4@8; in cans, 8@10. Beesrcax. 20c for prime. Jan. 9. D. G. Tutt & Co., 206 N. Commercial St.. St. Louis, Mo. Kansas City.— Honey.- The demand for honey is light; 1-lb. sections, white, 18@20c; 1-lb., dark, lh@. 16; 2-lb., white, 17^18; 2-lb., dark, 14(5jl5; extracted, white, 7@8; dark, .5@6. Hamblin & Bearss, Jan. 10. 514 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. DADANTiS FOUNDATION FACTORY, Whole- Bale and retail. See advertisement in another column. 3btfd Wants or Exchange Department. , Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half out usual ratfes. AU ad's intended for this department must not exceed 5 lilies, and yoil must sAt you want your ad. in this de- partment, or we will jiot be responsible for any error. You can have the notice as many ILnfes as you please; but all over five lines will cost you according to our regular rates. Of course, this department is intended only for bona-flde ex- changes. WANTED.— To exchange a 6-inch foundation-mill, nearlj^ new, Root's, for a 10-inch iloot mill in good order, or T will give $10.00 cash for one. S. J. Smith, Manchester, Ont. Co., N. Y. WANTED.— An experienced man, married or sin- gle, to go into the bee business with me. 2d Address David Hadley, Alva, Fla. WANTED.— A good man to plant a nursery and fruit farm in partnership. I will furnish the stock, he the land and labor. A good opening for the right man. My 6i-page fruit-catalogue and " I'wenty Years in the Nursery." mailed on applica- tion. J. B. Alexander, Hartford City, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange Wheeler & Wilson sew- ing-machines (new) for honey, bees, or sup- plies. J. A. Green, Dayton, 111. 20tfdb WANTED.— To exchange bees in Langstroth or Simplicity hives, for disk-harrow and hand seed-drill. I also want seed-catalogues. Address W. H. PoTNAM, River Falls, Wis. WANTED.— To exchange Ohio black-cap plants and Cuthberts, for sections or beeswax. James Hallenbeck, AUamont, Alb. Co., N. Y. 24-2db WANTED.— To exchange sample sections, and price list of apiary supplies, for a two-cent stamp. Will also exchange supplies for founda- tion, and a few colonies of Italian bees, delivered at Clintonville, Wis. Address 2-4d W. H. Cook, Clintonville, Waupaca Co., AVis. ^ITANTED.— To exchange Brown Leghorns, Wyau- Vt dottes, for Belgian and English rabbits; also eggs in spring, for Niagara, Empire State, or Moor's Early Grape-cuttings, or Canarj' Birds. Benj. Zuecheh, Apple Creek, Wayne Co., Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange one V -groove or 4-piece sections or supplies for one of A. I. Root's 10- inch tdn. mills, or any other good make of machine. 3-3d S. D. BuELL, Union City, Michigan. WANTED.— To exchange pure P. Rock chickens, bred from prize-winning stock, large and well marked, for a Barnes foot-power saw, alsike clover- seed, or white water-lily roots. Address 2345d B. D. Sidwell, Flushing, Belmont Co., O. WANTED. —To exchange a Clyde Stallion for grain-binder, or other horses. 2d J. H. Johnston, Leclair, Iowa. N ICE FOUNDATION, 30 CTS. PER I^B. W. T. Lyons, Decherd, Franklin Co., Tenn. These sections are notable on two accounts. One is the in- variable accu- racy of the workmans hip. The other, the very low per- centage of b'r e a k a g e in folding. Not unfrequently a thousand have been folded without any breakage, and that, too, without dampening. Send for reduced prices and estimates on large lots. Ad- dress as in cut. 243d. Vol. XYI. Jan. 15, 1888. No. 2. TERMS: $1.00 Per ANNUM, tN Advance; 1 JPc.^^rfhJjf'h^rl ill 1 R'7 ^ 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- \ ber. 5 ots. Additions to clubs may be f made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to ONE postoffice. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY ^A.L ROOT, MEDINA, OHIO. Clubs to diffei-cnt postofRces, not less than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 cts. per year extra. To all countries , NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. TWO ITEMS OP IMPORTANCE. KNOWLEDGE OP A LOCATION, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE ADVANTAGE TO WHICH BEES GATH- ER HONEY. 'E have been having, for a few days back, a regular blizzard here, blockading roads and keeping all indoors. To best use the time, I have been looking over my cor- respondents' letters, classifying them, and storing them away in such a shape that I could re- fer to them at a moment's notice in the future, should it be necessary to do so. The result of this " looking over" has led me to write the following article, on two old subjects. If these things, "knowledge of a location," and " age at whicli bees gather honey," could l)e more thoroughly impress- ed on the mind of every bee-keeper, much more would be realized in honey, according to my opin- ion, than is now obtained. KNOWLEDGE OF A LOCATION. Successful bee-keeping is made up of numerous items, all of which bear an important part toward the success attained; lience the more thoroughly a per- son understands when to attend to all these items, so that the right thing is done at the right time and in the right place, the more sure that person is to attain the success desired. Among these items, a thorough knowledge of the location in which we are situated, as to its honey-producing flora, is by no means the least. Best hives, best strains of bees, and best locality, all play an important part in the success of the apiarist; but none of these are more important than a knowledge of our location. Some of the letters received the past year show- that there is great ignorance along this line among bee-keepers; and as lung as this ignorance re- mains, no one can expect to secure the best re- sults. How are we to know when to commence to build our bees up so as to have our hives filled with bees and brood at just the right time, when to put on boxes, and when to have our swarming all done up, unless we know which flowers produce our honey? The getting of bees at just the right time is the great secret of success, and hives full of bees at any other time amount to nothing. When I first began bee-keeping T was told by an old bee-keeper, that, when he lived in my neighbor- hood, his bees got an early start by getting pollen ott the willow-buds when they first swelled in the spring, as there was considerable golden willow on his place. So I set it down that golden willow pro- duced the first pollen. Soon after, I read in Quinby's book that golden willow produces no pol- len, but that the lirst comes from skunk's cabbage. About April 10 I saw the first pollen coming in, and I at once went for the willows, but not a bee was to be seen about them. Next I went to the swamp, around which the skunk's cabbage grew, and there I found the little fellows rolling up the pellets of bright yellow pollen, and carrying it home, thus showing that Quinby knew more of what he was talking about than did my old bee-friend. Then as every new variety of pollen came into the hive I traced it out and kept in my diary the date of its blooming, from the skunk's cabbage in the earliest spring, to the witch-hazel in latest fall. Then the same was done as regards honey-producing plants 42 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. and trees, golden willow giving the first, and selen- | dine and a weed with white blossoms, in the woods, I the last. This was kept up for five years, and then notes compared, so as to give the mean time of the blossoming of all plants visited by the bees. Thus With this knowledge I could work the bees under- standirigly; and if the season was early or late, vary operations accordingly. If those entering, or those already in the ranks of bee-keeping, would thoroughly post themselves in this matter, they would find it a great service by way of receiving a good yield of honey. Age at which bees gather honey. This may be thought by some to be of little in- terest; but taken in connection with the above, it has much to do with the surplus honey we get. Many seem to suppose that the bee Is capable of going to the fields to gather honey as soon as hatch- fed, or in three or four days at least; but some facts prove that they do not do so. Bees may be forced to go Into the fields for pollen and honey at the age of from four to six days; but when the colony is in a normal condition, as it always should be to store honey to the best advantage, the bee is 16 days old before it gathers honey. If we take combs of bees just hatching, and place them in a hive without any bees, as is frequently done to in- troduce a valuable queen, we can see young bees not over five or six days old go to the fields, being compelled to do so for pollen, water, etc., because there are none of an older age to go; but this does not prove that the bees of that age usually do so, any more than the experiment of feeding 30 lbs. of honey to bees confined to the hives before one pound of wa.v is produced, proves that it always takes 20 lbs. of honey to produce one pound of comb. I have conducted two experiments since I kept bees, to ascertain the age at which they fli'st gath- er honey; and as each prove the same, I believe 16 days to be the time when the bee brings her first load of honey, when the colony is in a normal con- dition. About the middle of June a black queen is re- moved and an Italian introduced in her place. The date was kept regarding the time the last black bee hatched, and ^Ylisn the first Italian emerged from the cell. Then the hive was watched, and not an Italian was seen at the entrance till the sixth day, while none were noticed on the wing, marking their location till the eighth day, when, at 3 p. m., quite a few came out for a " playspell," as it is term- ed. Every pleasant day the number of Italians at these playspells increased, but none were seen out of the hive at any other time till the 16th day after the first Italian hatched. At this time a few came in with pollen and honey, commencing to work at about 10 a.m. After this the number of Italian honey-gatherers increased, while the number of blacks decreased, until on the 45th day after the last black bee was hatched, when not a black bee was to be found in or about the hives. If the above is correct, and 1 believe it is, it will be seen that the eggs for our honey-gatherei'S must be laid by the queen ')! days before our main hon- ey-harvest, if we would get the best results from our bees, as it takes 31 days from the time the egg Is laid, to the time the bee emerges fi-om the cell; and this, added to the 16, nuikes the :?" days. To be sure, the bees, from the time they are three days old, help to perform the labors in the hive, such as building comb, feeding the larvse, evaporating nectai-, etc., hence are of much value toward se- curing the ci"op of honey, if we have plenty of bees over 16 days old; but otherwise, all hatching after the middle of the honey-harvest are of little use. I have given this article thus early, so it may be itl time for our Southci'n friends; and I believe that on these two items hangs very much of our success or failure as apiarists. G. M. Dooltttle. Borodino, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1888. I have often had the above points in mind, friend D.; but several things come in to make our phms uncertain, even if ever so well laid. During this past season, for in- stance, we made great calculations on clo- ver honey whicli— didn't come at all ! Our hives were boiling over with bees, and no surplus. This brought them in good shape for basswood, and they did well on it for a few days. Then canie the question. Shall we keep tliem full of bees and brood for fall harvest, or not ? In a good many locations this great army of workers have to be fed to keep tliem from starving, while in other places quite a bountiful yield of fall honey came from goldenrod, aster, etc.; and often- times localities that liave not for years giv- en fall honey, suddenly give a fair yield, while those that have almost always given stores enough in the fall to winter them over, frequently fail entirely. The conse- quence is, the one who supposed his bees ! were ready for winter, found them in a starving condition; and many of the breth- ren who bought sugar, and went out to pre- pare the hives for ieeding, found the brood- I nest full of honey, and in some cases the ' bees were filling boxes rapidly, while the bar- rels of sugar were just being unloaded for feeding up for winter. Notwithstanding this, I think it is an excellent plan to know wliere the honey comes from, and when it may be expected ; and also to avoid loss, caused by raising a great lot of consumers when they are not needed or wanted. SECTIONS JPILLED OK" ONE SIDE. OLIVER FOSTER .VROUES IN FAVOR OF SECTIONS OPEN ON ALL SIDES. fN page 039 Dr. Miller speaks of the difficulty in getting bees to build uniformly on both sides of the foundation in sections; and as he leaves the problem unsolved, and invites sug- gestions from others, I will offer a few. The doctor thinks he sees the cause in their prone- ness, when honey is scarce, to continue storing in combs or cells already started. He also hints at two other causes— too large starters, and too few bees; but perhaps these last are conditions to be overcome rather than to be removed. I will sug- gest another cause, which I think plays an impor- tant part: Imperfect communication between the sections. Bees act upon the principle that "in union there is strength." Especially is this true in comb-building. Like a wise general they are very cautious about dividing their forces without having a direct communication with the main body. So they do not begin work indiscriminately in dif- ferent parts of the super, but extend their combs from one common center. As an illustration, take 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 43 a nucleus occupying- the central part of two combs. Place brood-frames filled with foundation, at the side of these combs. The cluster of bees will occu- py the central part of the space between the first sheet of foundation and the comb, but perhaps will not extend to the edge of the sheet at any point. They may draw out and All the cells on the side next to them, but they will never pass into the next space to work the other side until the cluster ex- pands to some point where they can pass through or around the sheet without leaving the cluster. Now, if a hole is made through the center of the sheet they will not hesitate to occupy and work the other side. Other conditions being the same, the more direct the communication with the main cluster, the sooner will the other side be occupied and worked. If the nucleus could be so arranged that work would progress in the direction of the combs in- stead of across them, there would be a great advan- tage, as there would then be no inducement for the bees to favor one side. Fortunately we can ar- range our section boxes in this way: By using- open end sections, and by getting the bees started in one •' cross row," by using empty comb in that row the work will progress from this row to the ends of the case in the most natural way. Since adopting- this method I have had no trouble at all from one-sided sections. Several years ago T used nOOO sections with open- ings so narrow that l)ces could not puss between the outside row and the side of the case. I now make the slots I4 inch deep, or V2 inch between two sections. Some of these outside sections would be filled and sealed on the inside, but there would not be a cell on the other side. Jn fact, the side walls of the foundation would often be all removed by the bees, leaving the septum scraped smooth and thin. The other sections in the case would be well filled. The foundation used was made on the Giveii press, runninj? about 10 square feet to the pound. The sheets were cut 414x41.1, and were fastened to the sections by pressure, on all four sides. The corners of the sheets were first clipped off enough to avoid wrinkling. One corner was cut away enough to leave a small passage for the bees. This opening was the only one leading to the outer side of these outside sections, and I am satisfied that is- olation was the only cause of their not being filled on that side. As the foundation was securely fas- tened to all sides of the section, there was no bend- ing to one side, such as Dr. Miller mentions. I have found, Avith him, that starters l'/2 inches wide or less will give straighter combs, and of more uni- form thickness, than full-sized sheets. The reason seems apparent to me. The bees on the opposite sides can communicate more freely with each oth- er, and thus avoid misunderstandings (?): for how arc the bees on one side of a large sheet to know how deep are the cells on the opposite side? WHV COMBS ARE SOMETIMES BUILT BETWEEN THE ST.AHTERS. I have not had experience in this, and may be mistaken; but I am inclined to think the trouble comes about in this way: When honey is coming in rapidly, the few starters that are found within the limits of the cluster can not be drawn out fast enough to receive all the honey. More wax-work- ers must be employed than can work to advantage on the foundation, so other combs are started be- tween; but when honey comes in slowly, this extra comb-building force is unnecessary; and when a limited comb-building force is employed, it seems necessary for them to confine that force to a limited surface, according to comb-building economy, hence an occasional neglected side. My suggestions to avoid " one-sided " comb honey may be summed up as follows: 1. Use open-end sections, to allow comb-building to progress naturally in the direc- tion the combs run. 3. Have direct communication between both sides of each section and the brood- chamber below. :>. Let there be free passage be- tween the outside rows of sections and the sides of the case. 4. Use clean white comb in all of the sec- tions in one of the central rows running across the case from side to side. The observance of these points will enable us to produce " well-balanced " comb honey; at least, that is according to the ex- perience of Oliver Foster, 370, 3.50. Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Friend F., I have noticed wliat you say in regard to nuclei or weak colonies extending the cluster, and getting around the combs where there are no winter-passages, as they have been sometimes called ; and as you state it, it does seem as though there ought to be an advantage in having sections open on all sides. In fact, I did not consider, un- til you just now brought out the truth of it, that our ordinary way of making sections, with the sides close-fitting, partitions off the hive completely from top to bottom ; that is, where sections are used in the wide frames there is no opening from front to rear, except under the wide frames. In view of this, it seems to me that your sug- gestion must be a good one ; and I am in- clined to think that question No. 25 was ask ed mostly of those who had not had much practicitl experience in using sections with open sides. NUMBER OF COLONIES PER SQUARE MILE. DK. Mir.LER CONSIDERS THE SUB.JECT. K. J. W. PORTER in Gleanings, p. 816, Nov., 1887, says, " Somewhere we have read that in Europe as manj- as 6000 colonies have been kept on one square mile of land." Every now and then this statement is re- ferred to. It is misleading because not understood. If I am not mistaken, the German mile here refer- red to is equal to six of our miles, making the Ger- man ,«quni'e mile eiiunl to 06 of okc square miles. I had the impression that 3000 instead of 6000 was the number given, but Mr. Porter is as likely to be right as I. In any case, the story has been running a good many years without any reinforcements by recent facts, and I should receive the 6000 with some grains of allowance. That would be 166 for one of our square miles— a number which might be supported on a square mile possibly, if the coast were clear on all sides; but I much doubt if 36 such square miles in a s(]uare block could each support 166 colonies. If 30i)0 is taken as the number, instead of 6000, that would make .5.5 colonies for one'of our square miles. Mr. Porter starts an interesting query as to the number of colonies supported on a square mile, and intimates a doubt as to 1000 being on a square mile in America, even if 350 of them stand on each of the four corners. 44 GLEANmGS I^ BEE CULTURE. Jan. Now, I don't know that any oue claims to know i anj- thing positive in this matter; but it may do no harm to do a little estimating. Let us sec how many colonies there will be to the square mile, on the assumption that 125 is the limit, for greatest ; profit, in one apiary, and that three miles is the jiroper distance between ajtiaries. There is some reason for this assumption, in the actual practice of bee-keepers who keep a number of apiaries. This would allow for each 125 colonies a hexagon with a diameter of 3 miles and an area of 7.8 miles, or about 16 to the square mile. I confess I had nev- er thought before of such a small number; and it is possible that I am all wrong somewhere, and shall be glad to have any inaccuracy pointed out. I think, however, friend Porter, tliat you will find 16 nearer the truth than 101 0. If we crowd the ground much more, and put 150 colonies in each apiary, the ai)iaries being 2 miles apart instead of 3, we then get 43 colonies to the square mile. To get 1000 colonies to the square mile, if our pre- vious figuring is correct, we need to locate our a])ia- ries one mile apart and put 8615 colonies in each. I think hardlj' any one believes that much surplus would be secured in such a case. It would be of interest to learn what is the great- est number of colonies in one apiary that has been found profitable. Does any one know of more than l.jO? Or, to put another question, what is the largest number of colonies that any bee- keeper has kept in one apiary for a series of years? At one time, if I remember rightly, D. D. Palmer said he would keep 400 colonies in one ajiiary the following season, and I watched with great interest to see how ho would succeed; but before he had the chance to increase to that number, if 1 am not mis- taken, he lost all his bees in wintering. The able editor of the British Bee Journal divulg- ed a very interesting bit of information with regard to that successful but e.xtremely reticent bee-keep- er, Capt. Hetherington. The captain has 3700 colo- nies in 20 different apiaries, within a radius of 12 miles, at distances of two or three miles apart. This gives an average of 135 colonies in each apiary. There is an apparent discrepancy between the two statements, that the apiaries are two or three miles apart, and that the furthest is 12 miles from home. If 19 apiaries are planted in hexagonal form at a dis- tance of 2'/^ miles apai t, the furthest from the cen- ter will be just 5 miles instead of 12. But we might expect that the inconvenience of roads, the difficul- ty of finding the best locations, and perhaps the difference in pasturage, would make great irregular- ity in planting. The probability is, that some of the outside ones are much less than 12 miles from home, perhaps no one so far in a hec-Une, and that a good many are more than two or three miles apart. If we compromise the matter, and say the average is 4 miles apart, and the furthest 8 miles from home, we get a little more than 9 colonies per square mile. Even if Capt. Hetherington should place his apia- ries 2i4 miles apart he would have only about 25 col- onies to the square mile. Now, if the friends will report the largest num- bers that have been profitably kept in one aj)iary in different localities, it will be a little help in the problem. C.C.Miller. Marengo, 111. Friend M., I was pretty sure we were a good deal mixed up in this matter about the number of colonies that can be kept on a square mile ; but I think we can very easily find out how^ many colonies can be kept profitably in a single apiary. Will those who have had experience with from, say, 150 colonies or more in one locality, for the production of honey, please tell us about itV It does not make any difference how many years ago. Who remembers of hav- ing a large yield wiiere he had as many or more than the number mentioned, in "one locality? Can't somebody in Capt. Ilether- ington's locality give us something more definite than what we have had from hear- say? And, by the way, I tliink we have subscribers enough in Europe to tell us about these localities where great numbers of colonies are kept on small areas. .Now, although I have said so much in discourage- ment of honey-farms, I feel quite sure we could easily tix a square mile so it w^ould yield more honey than lias ever yet been produced by nature on a single square mile on the face of the earth ; and 1 think, too, we might do it by I'aising buckwlieat, rape, alsike, and mammoth clover, so that we should get our pay in other directions if we did not for honey alone. But it wants about a square mile to do very much at the busi- ness. It may not be necessary to own the wdiole square mile, providing the one who has 150 colonies could control the crops raised within, say, half a mile of him in eve- ry direction. If you want to make a square mile, make it a little more than half a mile from the apiary ; or let any bee-keeper with the above number of colonies pay the farm- ers around him a sufficient sum to induce him to cover his land with crops bearing honey. If you can not take the time to plant basswoods, as I have done, find a lo- cality where there is a heavy growth of basswood already, then make the cleared land yield honey from plants, as I have sug- gested. Our proof-reader suggests that the German short mile, equal to 3/!^ English miles, is rather to be understood, where the long mile is not mentioned, the latter being equal to 5| of our miles. This is certainly a very important point, and it seems to me strange that so many years have passed without somebody either here or in Germany calling attention to the misleading state- ment in our books and journals, about the large number of bees kept on a square mile in Germany. SECTIONS OPEN ON ALL SIDES. FRIEND DADANT GIVES US HIS RE.ASONS TOR THINKING THEM PREFERABI-E. O, friend Root, we have not experimented largely on the open sections; but in what ex- perience we have had, our conclusions have been the same as those of the first and roost firm advocate of open sections, a modest man, who does not put himself forward— Oliver Foster. Hutchinson says, and we say with him. " I have seen bees sulk for days during a good honey- flow, simply because the present condition of things was not to their liking." On the other hand, Foster explains very nicely and clearly why bees do not like sm all receptacles for their honey, and always sulk more in them than in larger ones. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 45 HOW TO RAISE COMB HONEY. " When we take into consideration that the ob- ject on the part of the bees in storing- up honey in the summer is tt) have it accessible tor winter con- sumption, and that in winter the bees collect in a round ball, as nearly as possible, in a semi-torpid state, with but little if any motion except that gradual moving- of bees f rorii the center to the sur- face, and from the surface to the center of this ball, we may imagine how unwelcome it is to them to be obliged to divide their stores between four separate ;»i)artments, each of whicli is four inches square and twelve inches long, with no communi- cation between these apartments." Now, friend Root, if there is a better description of the instincts and desires of the bees, of their " liking," as Hutchinson says, we wish to see it. We do not wish to be understood as saying that bees will " milk " evevy time with closed sections, and will not with open ones, but we do say that the open sections are more to their "liking." Since we have just given the the(n-y of our argument, we will now give the i)ractice. All of our olden-lime apiarists, who have follow- e;l the progress of honey-production from the birth Of the old ^.B. J. to this day, will remember the square glass boxes, and the enormous progress that was achieved when Adair invented his now discarded section box. The section box, made of about 10 sections, holding each some IS lbs., was a very spacious apartment, and was .so well liked by the bees that we found that the difference in yield between hives supplied with these and hives sup- plied with glass boxes was sometimes as :! to 1. Later on, the three-pound section proving too large, we were, all of us, compelled to set them aside, in order to suit the market. But we have tried, side by side, in the same hive, open frames, open sections and closed sections, and the closed sections were always or nearly always worked last, all other things hriiig ajual. We have even had one instance in which the closed sections were neglect- ed, although placed nearest the Jirood-combs. Now, friends, please read over those words of Foster, and you will see that the theory agrees with the practice. We will not deny that the open sections have their disadvantages, when it comes to mar- keting, but we ai-e strongly of opinion tliat they will get into more popular use. We should like to see our friends give them a thorough trial. 1 see by the Question-Hox.tbat, if we are theones who pay the highest apiary i-ent. we are also the ones who get the least returns per hive, and yet we are among the ones who think bee-keeping pays. Perhaps this is due to our making the busi- ness as economical as possible. With our large hives we have less manipulations, no reversing, less feeding, for we do not run the risk of taking away all the honey when taking away the surplus cases, and we leave the hives in good condition for winter. But there is one thing that helps to make our crops less— it is the lack of bass wood in our vicinity. We wish to go on record as preferring the one-piece section to the four-piece. Whether the incorrect answer given was our own pjistake or the printer's, it was incorrect. We dp not believe in four-piece sections now. C. P. Dadant. Hamilton, Hancock Co., l\\. Friend D., we are very glad indeed to find tbat it is a mistake in saying you prefer the four-piece sections; but the mistake was clearly an error of your own ; therefore only Mr. Heddop, Mrs. Harrison, and friend Hutchiosoji are left iu favoj- of the four- piece. In regard to sections open all around, we have for a long time been well aware or all the points you make; but I should say you are putting it pretty strongly if you really mean to say that you think three times as much honey can be secured in very large sections, or even in full-sized frames, if you choose. At the Ohio State Convention, from which I have just return- ed, Dr. Tinker spoke several times very em- phatically in favor of open -side sections. Our friend Fradenburg also vehemently ad- vocated having the surplus honey built in full frames, cutting it out as it is retailed, for chunk honey— the plan which he de- scribed to us perhaps a year or two ago. We hope this matter will be fully tested by experiinent during the coming season. Our friend Oliver Foster takes up the same mat- ter on page 42. ^ ^ MRS. CHADDOCK TAKES DR. MILLER TO TASK A LITTLE. women's rights and wronos. TN C. C. Millers letter about who shall hold the j£|[ pocket-book, he says, "It is womankind I ar- ^l raign. Whatever may be said about woman in ■*■ general, there are some who seem to have the impression tliat a husband is a mere machine to drudge and earn money that his wife may have plenty of mone.y to dress up in fine raiment, and sit and fold her lily-white hands in graceful idle- ness." Now, I have heard and read about these women with the "lily-white hands " ever since I can remember; but as yet I ha,ve never seen a sin- gle specimen. Have you, Dr. Miller? I read not long ago how the rich men of New York, the bank- ers, brokers, and merchants, were wearing out their lives to earn the money to keep their wives and daughters up with the style; but not one of those wives or daughters takes or reads Gleanings, and 1 doubt very much whether you. Dr. Miller, have a bowing acquaintance with them. So you see your shot at the "lily-white hands "falls harmless be- cause of too long range. All the women that 1 know work too hard. I am personally acquainted with some very well-to-do people— women whose hus- bands are worth from thirty to seventy-flve thou- sand dollars, and not one of these wives has "lily- white hands;" they all workand take careof things, study and plan, do a good part of their own sewing, makeover old dresses, and work harder for chari- ty than some poor women do who do their own housework. The farmers' wives of my acquaint- ance are sJaws— nothing more nor less— worse slaves than even the colored people of the South ever were. The Southern slave worked simply because he had to; but his conscience did not trouble him very much, and a rainy day was a godsend. The favmer's wives that I jinow, work because they have to too, but there is never any rainy day for them— no day when the cares of life drop away from them find leave thpm free; their consciences goad sharper than any master's whip urge them on. Then, further along, you say it is a sort of " mild insanity " for a woman to wanf to earn something, to be independent. You do j^ot really believe that, do you? You just meant it for a little joke, but forgot to put the label on, did yon not? In Illinois, where I live and wljere you )iye, a man apd wop^- 46 GLEANINGS IN 13EE CULTURE. Jan. an will marry, neither of them having a cent iu the world. They work and save, and have children, and sometimes one of them dies. If it is the woman, no change is made; the man owns every thing, just as he did before; and when he marries again, his sec- ond set of children inherit just as much of his property as his first set. But if it is the husband who dies, every thing must be torn up, overhauled, appraised, and the wife's share, generally one- third, set apart for her, and the rest divided up among the children; and If she marries again, her second set of children get only a share of " her thirds." I agree with you, that there is something " radically wrong:" but for humanity's sake, don't lay it on the women. Men made the laws, and men interpret them. Women submit. And is it any wonder to you, Dr. Miller, that a woman should feel timid about Asking for, or spending money that is all her husband's, but is only one-third hers? I know that some men say, "My wife and 1 are equal partners." It sounds well and looks well in print, but it is not so. I know that a man can will property to his wife; and if his children or other relations do not prove him to have been insane, she can have the use of it while she lives; then (mostly) it must revert to hisfulks. 1 think it is good for a woman to have some property of her very own. I have been watching this thing for twenty years; and all my observation goes to prove that men whose wives have money in their own right are a little more polite and deferential to those wives than are the men who own it all. Mahala B. Chaddock. Vermont, 111., Dec , 1887. I think, friends, we had not better talk women's rights any more just now, especial- ly as spring is looming up in the distance, and we want to talk over the important matters pertaining to bee culture a little be- fore the bees begin to fly. 1 want to say, however, that I made a will about twenty years ago, placing all my property in my wife's hands at my death ; and 1 ain told by competent authority that she can go right oh with business, without, wasting time or money in employing lawyers, or doing any thing; and I think it behooves us all to make such provision that our hard earnings may not be taken from the wife and chil- dren in case of death, and wasted in useless red-tape proceedings. My wife and I are partners ; and when God calls me away I expect her to have as full control of every thing in business matters as I have now. HELPING GLEANINGS. HONEY, MAPLE SYUUP, AND— "TAFFY." 9 EAR BROTHER ROOT:-Wouldn't you like a little taffy? I know you like maple syrup on your cakes. The idea of liking it better than honey! It must be a very different article from that made in those four great camps in Chicago, and labeled " Pure Vermont Syrup." Did you ever see a big lot of glucose-barrels down in the hollow, behind the camps? ' I took Gleanings and laid down to rest, and, no- ticing the number of subscribers, I reckoned up how many more you would have to have to make 8000. 1 said to myself, "Now, if every one he now has should get one more it would double the list; and every one could do it if they would only try." Now, Lucinda Harrison, you start out and get that new one. There, now, is that dear old lady who drives down here so often about her bees, and you have doubled them up in the fall and packed them for winter, never charging; for you know if you did, that every one owning a few colonies would be sending for you, if you would hive a swarm for .50 cents, or take off surplus for a quarter. Gleanings would brighten this old lady's home; and when she has read it, she could send it to her only son on a farm in Kansas. Now, who will join hands with me in a merry-goround to helji Uncle Amos? I've a hitch in one leg, and can't go very fast, but I'll get there all the same. Tral-la, tral-la, tral-la. I think all questions that are answered by refer- ence to a back number are no good. How many of your readers, do you think, will take the trouble to hunt up this back number to see how it is answer- ed? Mhs. L. Harrison. Peoria, III. Now, Mrs. II., are you not getting to be a little uncharitable in regard to the adulter- ation of maple syrup ? At one of the R. R. eating-houses in Grand Rapids I saw a very pretty card put up — "Buckwheat Cakes and Maple Syrup, only 25 cts.'' As I had not been to breakfast, I called for some, just on purpose to see if it were genuine. The syrup was rather dark in color, compared with ours, but I am sure it was genuine, right from the maple-trees, every bit of it. At a hotel in the same city I found genuine glucose, and no mistake, put on the table with the buckwheat cakes. But the syrup- cup was not labeled syrup, honey, or any thing else. It was put on with the cakes, and you were to eat it or not as you chose, and 1 suppose call it what you chose. It was thick, and light in color, "but there was so little sweet about it that one of the bee- men suggested we should sweeten it with some sugar out of the sugar-bowl. The taste reminded me of the peach-tree gum we children used to eat, years ago.— 1 am very much obliged indeed for your sugges- tions in regard to Gleanings; but my ex- perience is, that it would take a considera- ble pile of money to induce every subscriber to obtain an additional name, or even to induce them to do it on an average. I don't like to have people work for me without pay, or, at least, I don't like to ask them to work for me without pay ; and we have, therefore, as you may remember, offered every subscriber 25 cts. for showing our journal to his bee-keeping neighbors, and explaining it to them, and getting them to subscribe. Now, where the friends feel dis- posed to undertake this work of tlieir own accord, as you do, a great many times they may be induced to take a little more time to canvass their neighborhood well, where they know they will get 25 cts. pay for every new name they secure ; but this offer has as yet made no great addition to our list. I hope the friends will remember that those who accept of this offer must not advertise Gleanings at 85 or 90 cts., for they would, perhaps, in that case, gather up many of our old subscribers at a reduced price, a\ ithout extending our circulation niucli if any among those who are not acquainted with it. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 47 FOUNDATION, AS DISCUSSED AT THE CHICAGO CONVENTION. PRICES OF HONEY, AND HOW REGULATED. TT^DITOR GLEANINGS:— To the large number ^ of 3()ur readers who could not attend the late iPj' Chicago convention, Gleanings for Dec. 1st ■^^ is a treat indeed. 1 never more wished to go to a convention, and all the more regret my inability since reading the meager reports. I had hoped to be able in time for action, to propose the National Capital as the next place of meeting. An active apple campaign has so engaged my attention and enei'gy that I was too late lor 1888. 1 bespeak the consideration of the fraternity in time for 1889. We can have a noble hall in the Agricultural De- partment building for the meetings. Gen. Coleman assured me of this. It is about time that we had a location east, and a visit to our beautiful Capital can be protitablj' made by many of the eastern members. One point was happily brought out at the con- vention; that is, the relative value of comb and foundation as starters for sections. It ceitainly is true, that, when bees begin to work, they will draw out shallow combs and foundation, and finish soon- er than they will with fully built combs of the year before, if soft foundation be used, and newly made shallow combs. But why? If the old combs arc cleaned out in the fall they get dry and hard, .just as old foundation does, and bees do not act on it as they do upon fresh founda- tion. Some years ago Mr. John Vandervort told the writer that it did not pay to use old foundation, nor to put it in the sections long before use. Now, this appears to be a mooted question. For foundation does harden; and until the heat of the hive is great enough to soften it, it appears to be disliked by the bees. Friend Chas. Dadant said, sonic years ago, that the evil could bo corrected by exposing a few minutes to the sun's rays; and that it would then be in good condition. Experience lias shown this to be a great advantage with brood foundation. Mr. Vandervort went so far as to say, that, had he a lot of sections with starters put in in the win- ter, he would prefer to cut them all out and put in freshly made foundation. The wet appearance so often noticed on old combs refilled and capped, is probably owing to the im- perfect attachment of the cap to the old cells, the edges of which are jagged by the honey-knife, or broken, and is, withal, hard and dry, and the junc- ture is not perfect. A slight leakage is the result, and wet combs. Inasmuch as all nectar is not alike thin, some of it being very thick when gathered, it follows that, under some atmospheric conditions, the ripening objection would not hold as to deep cells. PRICES ON HONEY, AS CONSIDERED BY MR. BAL- DRIDGE. Mr. Baldridge makes some good points. But, let us suppose that the community of buyers is as well posted as the wide-awake bep-fiecper; could he, in any such wide-awake community, sell for tSJ centg that which was freely sold in the largo markets last year at ti and f pentgV Why, at the Albany conveu: tion last winter a party told the writej- he bought a carload of California white-sage honey (which ranks high, does It not?) at 5 cents per lb., delivered in New yorji. Cftliforpia popib \}onej >va8 genf to ^aj- timore, and jobbed out at 10 cents per lb., and even less in eases. The facts are, that in ]88() the mar- kets were glutted. We have no reason to expect a return of old prices for our special com- modity while the general decline in the value of all of the products of industry continues to prevail. When we got 20 cents per lb. and upward for comb honey, sugar was about fiO per cent higher than now. I should think, rather, that friend Bal- dridge's idea reflected upon the intelligence of the community he sold to. Surely they did not take the bee-journals, or they would have seen prime honey offered at less than half his price. Here in our town some iiroducers started their honey at last year's prices: and the lowest, ISH cts., for comb honey as good as the best. I had no trou- ble in getting 20 cts. for all that I had. The home market should be fully supplied, and at rates that will secure that market to the local producer. Charlottesville, Va., Dec. 17, 1887. J. W. Porter. It lias been several times suggested, friend P., that old foundation can be made as good as new by dipping it in water, not quite warm enougii to melt it. This, how- ever, would not be practicable with starters already fastened in the sections. 1 believe that most bee-keepers are in the habit of putting starters in the section boxes in the winter time. You and friend Vandervort would seem to imply that this is a bad poli- cy ; but I hardly think the difference is enough to amount to much. If we are oblig- ed to wait until June before we put in our starters, it would be a rather serious matter; for one day in June is often wortli more than a week during the cold weather of winter, or even stormy days in spring. — I think that many of the friends misunder- stand friend Baldridge somewliat, as there have been other criticisms in the line of yours. Friend B. handles nothing but gilt- edge honey. I remember that, several years ago, he offered a very large price for extract- ed honey, providinghe could get some equal to a sample he. had been selling. A good many had very nice honey, but none was equal to his sample. The honey from alsike clover, which we have frequently mentioned, is of this class. We have some of it left, but it is just as transparent now as it was dur^ ing all of last winter. If handled in a cold room you have to cut it with a knife, but it has not candied a particle ; and I tell you. such honey is delicious. It is no trouble to get a half more for this than for the ordina- ry run of exti'acted honey. BEES AND SEWING-MACHINES. THE TWO OCCUPATIONS ADAPTED TO EACH OTHER. §EVERAL of the bee-keeping friends have writ- ten of the bee-business in connection with other work. I believe school-teaching seems to take the lead sp fi^r. For a number of years I have run tlje §cwing-iiiaphine busi- ness in connection with iijy bee?, and, take it all ai'ound, It Is the best combination I kpow of to go with them. With sufficient energy, I think it will pay fully as well, if not better, than the bees. I found it necessary to keep a team to market my honey, and it was just what I wanted for the ma- p>]ine work. Panvasging t'ov machines is lyork that 48 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Jan. can be dropped and taken up again with less loss to 1 ho business than perhaps almost any other under- taking. When a man begins a school, he must stick to it every day until the term is closed. The sew- ing-machine trade has some disagreeable features. In the first place, a canvasser of machines is often classed with lightning-rod rascals, insurance agents, etc. There seems to be an odium against the business. But the calling is legitimate, and the only right way to sell machines is by canvassing. Soliciting trade is disagreeable to many, but I do not know that it is any more unpleasant to ask a lierson to buy a machine than to buy honey. Per- hH]is the most disagreeable feature is the extreme conipetiiiun, price-cutting, and dishonorable tricks and methods practiced bj' unscrupuloiis competi- tors. But iinyoncwho cati stand the soul-harrow- ing discouragements of the bee-business ought to be proof against every thing else. When the sale of a machine can bo effected with- out jewing, and all else is harmonious, I know of but few pleasanter WHys of making money in a small way. 1 shall never forget the agreeable ac- quaintances I have formed in the sewing-machine work. The sewing-machine business is not like a book-agency. It is much more of a business, and one can spend a lifetime, if he desires, in one locali- ty, without wearing out the territory. If one is so situated as to have an office in town, a good many dollars can be picked up in the way of the needle, oil, and repair trade. Selling needles is the pretti- est way of making pin money that I ever knew of. However, it is not necessary to live in town to sell machines. Ten miles in the country will accom- plish about the same results. A certain amount of work in the sewing-machine business generally yields certain results. I presume many of the friends arc nicely situated to go into the work. Any one who has good business ability ought to meet with fair success. I would advise any one who thinks of starting, to be sure and handle one of the leading machines on the market. There are many launched, but few can stem the tide of competition. Grinnell, Iowa. John F. Whitmobe. Thanks for your suggestion, friend W. The point that the sewing-machine business can be taken up and dropped at any time is a good one. Now, why not take honey along Avith you, as well as sewing-machines, and thus kill two birds with one stone? LAWN-MAKING. eOME SUGGESTIONS THAT MAY STRIKE HOME TO A GOOD MANY OF US. R. ROOT:— I was reading in an eastern pa- per awhile ago of an address delivered by a New England clergyman, in which he deplored the decline of rural life, setting forth the causes, and making suggestions for its remedy. How true this may be of New England, I am not able to say: but I think it docs not apply to Southern Ohio, for there never was more intelligence among the faiming classes, never such breadth of feeling, and never a keener ap- preciation of rural possibilities, than now. Never- theless, country life lacks very much of reaching that Utopian pjfcellence which a true country dweller longs to see. I do not think the cure Ijes wholly in the reasons given by our friend, but I am convinced that it lies, in some degree at least, in a careful improvement of our surroundings. The doorya.-d should bo made more beautiful, because this will make a homely house or an an- tiquated barn more beautiful. It is often puz- zling to know just how to proceed. The best way is to proceed systematically, gauging one's plans by his means and time. Let the lawn be as large as possible. The battle is nearly Avon when a smooth velvety sward is obtained, which, since the advent of the lawn-mower, is possible to nearly every one. The lawn should have sufficient drain- age to allow a pure atmosphere around the dwell- ing. Just after a heavy rain, note the low places before the water runs off, by setting a small stake; also note the high places in a similar way. No^v begin to grade. Dead levels are not often desira- ble; but easy slopes, conforming somewhat to the surrounding country, and to the original plot, will usually have a more desirable effect. If earth is drawn from a distance, the surface should be cov- ered with top soil. When this has been properly done it may be sown with a mixture of two parts blue grass with one of orchard and one of white clover. This mixture may be varied according to circumstances. I don't regard this as important as manuring the sward frequently; and if this is done, the grass will largely take care of itself. It is not best to invest too strongly in lawn-seed " mix- tures," because they are too expensive, and inferi- or seeds are often sold in this way. It is as nec- essary to manure the lawn as it is to manure the meadow. The most convenient fertilizer for most of your readers is, perhaps, well-rotted stable manure. If you have a manure spreader, it will be just the thing for this purpose. If applied as early in the spring as possible, the rains will soon wash the substance down to the roots, leaving the strawy portion for a mulch for the dry months. The next step is to consider walks and drives. Have plenty of walks. If you can't decide as to where they should be placed, take a piece of pa- per and lay off the different buildings and places which are to be reached by walks. Mark off the walks and drives too, if you need them, so that the.v will have a graceful curving appearance. Never sacrifice convenience for beauty, hut blend both together as much as possible. Avoid sense- less windings, such as making a walk considerably longer than necessary, for the purpose of having it curved. Walks maybe constructed of Hags, im- itation of stone, bricks, gravel, or bo.-trds, the order indicating their relative desirability. If the lawn is large enough, it is necessary that drives be made. The rules for walks apply to.these, and they should be made so that a team can turn and not have to go upon the grass. Do not plant too many trees upon the lawn, be- cause it will have a crowded appearance. Open spaces will make the lawn look larger. Plant trees in groups. The kind of trees to be planted may safely be left to one's judgment. 1 give the prefer- ence to the maple family, but would not confine myself to this alone. We should seek diversity, The despised sycamore is beautiful in winter, Evergreens should have a compact foliajio, spread, ing out upon the ground, and narrowing toward the top like a cone. If it is possible, by all means have a fountain in the l^wn. IJere is an unpretentious house, but 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 49 the grass is closely clipped, nnd cheery maples stand around. Vines are entwining the old-timed veranda. There is a windmill with a tank just back of the house. This is the reason that you see a sparkling jet with dripjiing rocks and a continn ous spray fallin?- i;pon the water-plants. Minnows glisten in the clear water, and seem to be on friendly terms wiih some children playing near. The grass is kept green, although all around is scorched by the heat. The w.aste water is tiled to a watering trough down in the barnyard. The trough projects through the fence to the high- way, sufficiently to allow the passers-by to freely satisfy their thirsty steeds. I tell you, Mr. Root, this place almost seemed to me like " the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Keep the lawn clipped when it needs it, whether it requires it twice a week or twice a month. Much more could be written, but I think if these simple directions are carried out one can not fail to have a neat and tasteful lawn; and having gone this far, personal taste may be exercised in making flower-beds, planting shrubbery, etc. .J. K. D. Jamestown, O., Dec. 15, 1S87. IMPROVING GARDEN VEGETABLES BY SICLECTION. THK MIKADO TOMATO. fUlENn HOOT:— Ynn and I lioncstiy differ as to the value of this variety; Imt fi'om our own standpoints we are doubtless both right. In this and many other markets, the Mikado would he almost unsalable. When good sinoolh tomatoes were selling at 30 cents, wp managed to sell a few ol iho Mikado and olhei' rough-fruited sorts at live cents per bushel; and what could not be sold rotted, for no one wanted them badly enough to take them as a gift. Tt is easy enough to see, however, that it might be valuable in your and other markets, where it could be sold. The Turner Hybrid, which is thought by some to be identical with the Mikado, is, I think, much superior to it, in the fact that the fruit is not so rough. Both may be improved by careful selec- tion; but it is my opinion that it will be found to be impossible to " breed out the wrinkles." This has been tried with theTrophy, Canada Victor, and other varieties; but, so far as I know.it has been only partially successful. Mr. Livingston, who has spent many years in improving the tomato, thinks that it is a waste of time to work with rough-fruited sorts, as he tried it for a long time and then gave it up. Your method will result in one good; viz., you will i)romote earliness by selecting the best and earliest fruit, and at the same time will make .some improvement in its appearance. As a general thing, I would not advise those who use but a small quan- tity of seed to grow it themselves, as seed-growing is a business that requires much S])ecial knowledge. The tomato is an exception to the rule, however. Much of the tomato-seed sold is bought of canners who, of course, are not careful to gave it from the first ripe fruit, nor from the finest specimens. To compete with this seed, those who grow the crop for the seed alone are obliged to follow the same careless methods; hence there is but little first-class tomato-seed in the market. With most vegetables, the small grower would find the proneness of vari- eties to cross quite an obstacle; but as varieties of tomatoes do not cross readily, he has no trouble in keeping them pure. He need have no fear, at least, that crosses will occur between a variety that he is growing and those of his neighbors. It Is such an easy matter to save tomato-seed from the earliest and best sj>ecimens, that it will well repay any gardener to attend to it himself. W. J. Green. Columbus, O., Dec, '88T. Friend Green, your letter is, in some re- spects, a good deal discouraging. By all means, give us tiie truth, even though it be discouraging. If we can not get rough to- m:itoes smooth by selection, iiow in tlie world can we do it V And if you can, please tell us liow liiend Livingston oiiginated liis Beatity and otlier tomatoes. It is true, tlie Beauty is a smoother and handsomer to- mato, litit witli tis it did not ripen nearly as early. The tomatoes are not as iar^tt'. and it does not l>egiti to produce the amount of fruit that the Mikado does. Our ^Mikadtt vines will give as many bushels of compara- tively smooth and handsome tomatoes as the Beauty, and tlien ever so many bushels more of badly sliaped ones. Do you really mean that good smooth tomatoes sold in Columbus during the past year for the low price of HO cts. a luishel, or are you speaking of formei- years y For I sliall begin to feel guilty if it transpires that nice tomatoes were only .30 cts. in Columbus, while we were getting $2 00 Jiere in Medina. Of course, ours were retailed from house to liouse. Now, it may be that I am talking of Turner's Hybrid when I speak of the Mika- do, for we raised plants from botli ; but they look so nearly alike, and were pro- nounced so nearly alike by many good authorities, that we decided "to call them one and the same tiling.* Now, to illustrate what an important matter this is. and how easily people may l)e led astray, 1 give you the following from one of the readers of Gleanings : Dear Friend:— \ should very much like to get a small package of that selected tomato-seed; and knowing that you did not wish to dispose of it, 1 will otter you one dollar per I4 ounce for it. Frank B. Wild. Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Mich., Sept. ?;J, 1887. I will send our friend one-fourth ounce of the seed ; but after what you have said, I should not think of charging him a dollar for a quarter of an ounce. While at the Michigan Agricultural Col- lege we were speaking of tomatoes and the rot. Prof. Bailey interested me greatly by saying that the pear tomatoes were, so far, free from rot ; and when I at once suggest- ed increasing their size by selection, he told me it had been done, and that the tomato advertised by Hawson and some others as the King Humbert was nothingmore than a large pear or plum tomato. Now, the pic- ture of the King Humbert represents toma- toes almost the shape of an egg,and as smooth *The way Maule procured his Turner's Hybrid, is described in his price list as follows: "Last spring, hearing of just half an ounce of seed taken from selected specimens of the Turner Hybrid, all weigh- ing over 1 lb., 1 paid $50 for jt, or at the rate of $1600 per lb.'' 50 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Jan. Mild regular as an egff. On tlie strength of litis we set out (luiie a number of plants. AVhal do you tlinik we got? Wliy, tliey were enlarged tomatoes ; but instead of be- ing round, like the pear, they were three- cornered, like a beechnut, and not only the most awkward in sliape of any thing 1 ever saw in the way of tomatoes, but I do believe the color is about the most inferior and for- bidding of any thing in the line of the tomato kind. Why, we thought at one time we should not be able to do any thing with them; but when I suggested offering them at 50 cents a Inishel, while nice tomatoes ])r()iight S2.00, we linall v started a large trade in tiiem because of their cheapness. They are wonderfully i)roductive. and on this ac- count I dont know but that we shall try Ihem another year. Hut there was not a single smooth round tomato in the whole lot," nor even one that looked any thing like t)ie picture. It seems to me that the man who sends out a catalogue with such a state- ment as appeared in regard to the King Ilumbeit. when the real facts are as I have stated above, damages himself more than he knows. If I should make such a blunder as the above, I should feel like taking space in my next catalogue for making a downright handsome apology. What does it amount to, supposing you do Sfdl a great lot of seeds at tf'u cents a packet, providing every pur- chaser decides vou are a swindler when his plants begin to "bear V May be I am too se- vere, but I should like to know if any of the friends have raised any such King Hnm- l)erts as are pictured in the catalogues. Now, friend Green, according to your state- ments, the King Humbert can never be made smooth, even if it is a wonderful bearer, and absolutely proof against rot. Now. in a wider sense an important mat- ter comes in right here. We liave been told tbat Henderson produced the AV^hite Plume celery by selecting, year after year, plants that 'hail a tendency to be white ; and we liave been told that it is now^ in the powder of the stock-breeder and horticulturist to get such an animal or such frnit as he wants, if he has the patience to follow it up. A few days ago 1 wanted a new bobsled, and our wagonmaker sent me one that was alto- gether too frail and light for my business. I Avanted it for drawing logs. He hnally said he could make one to order, just exact- ly as 1 wanted it. Well, a good many of us have begun to think that a horse or a cow, or a strawberry or a cabbage, if you will ex- cuse my illustrations, can be biiilt to order for any special purpose. Just now 1 want a very small, quick-heading cabbage purpose- ly to head under glass, in a greenhouse. Can it be furnishedV In speaking of the King Humbert tomato, I liave the impres- sion that the originator made lather a botch of his work of years. He gave us a larg- er tomato, and one free from rot; but in his selection of special fruits for seed he paid no attention to form and cdIoi", but trained a rather beautiful-shaped ]>ear tomato into an awkward frnit with an ungainly shape and brindle color. A good many are at work now^ on improved fruits and vegetables. Now, for ijistauce, is it not possible for U8 to take this ungainly Humbert and make it of handsome shape and handsome color? or had we better go t)ack to hrst principles, and start out again with the pear? You see, we are, a good many of us, in danger of wasting years in a vain pursuit. I shall be very glad indeed to have Prof. Bailey, of the Agricul- tural College, Mich., give us his views in re- gard to this matter, for he has already done a great work on tomatoes. The particulars of this work are given in their Bulletin No. 81, just out. They have there procured ev- ery variety of tomato that is advertised either in "tiie United States or Europe, amounting to 170 in all, and have, after much pains and expense, decided that all but about 57 of them are so nearly identical they may as well be called one and the same thing. FLOATING APIABY. " FOUL brood; alfalfa; comb vs. extracted HONEY. SOT long since, Wm. Muth-Rasraussen, of In- dependence, Cal., wrote me as follows: From recent articles of yours in the bee- papers, I thoug-ht you werecontemplating a " floating apiary " on the Mississippi River, but it now appears that you liavc given up the project. Why is this? Yes, alfalfa is an excellent honey-plant, and is our main dependence here. The cut of alfalfa on the back cover of Heddon's book is a very good representation. The flowers arc blue and purple in color. The honey-range here is quite limited, and fully taken up, as nearly all the farmers keep more or less bees. Independence is situated in a long nar- row valley between the Sierra Nevada and the Inyo range of mountains. The country is sparsely settled, and our local honey-market amounts to al- most nothing. I am now changing from extracted to comb hon- ey, as T find a readier sale for the latter. The price, however, is low— by far too low to be satis- factorily remunerative, lam not farming, but de- vote all my time to bee culture. Yes, foul brood was one of the reasons why I left the Southern part of this State and came to this place. I have now been here about seven years. I, the writer, visited Southern California in April, 1875, for the purpose of engaging in bee culture thei-e; and during that visit he had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of friend Muth-Rasmus- sen. Mr. M. was, at that date, in charge of a large apiary a few miles north of Los Angeles, and close by Passadena. but which, in 1KT5, was known as Indiana Colony — only a few scattering houses. Owing to a heavy frost, and some ice, during the time of my visit, which destroyed the sages for that season, the main honey dependence then of South- ! ern California, 1 concluded not to invest in bees, and, in Juno following, returned to my present home. At the time of my visit, foul brood was doing a deal of mischief in Southern California' and. ns will be seen, was one of the principal rea- sons why friend M. quit the bee-business in the neighborhood of Los Angeles. For the life of me I can not imagine how any one should get the impression that I ever desired to engage in a floating-apiary enterprise. C. O. Perr rine demonstrated some of the foolishness of a floating apiary on the Mississippi River. He held several interviews with me about thnt enterprise, l)efore he went into it, and wanted me to assist 188S GLI:ANi^GS IN BEE CULTUllE. h\ him; but I gave him no encourag'eraent. The fact was, I bad no faith in it in the way he proposed to carry it on. The project I did have faith in at that time, and still have, is the shipping of bees by rail from South to North, and vice versa, when conduct- ed properly. This has, in my judgment, never yet been done in the United States. There seems to be a difference of opinion, based upon experience, about alfalfa being a good honey- plant. One reason, perhaps, why it is worth but little for lioney purposes is because, if wanted for hay, it should, and perhaps must, be cut as soon as it comes into bloom. If kept for seed, then it might supply us with considerable honey. From what is known of alfalfa, I am satisfied that it can now be grown with success, not only in the South- ern but almost anywhere in the Northern States; that it stands the winters well, and will give from three to four crops of hay per season. This state- ment may surprise some of the readers of our bee- papers; but if any doubt exists, I think I am pre- pared to remove it. Friend M., in turning your attention exclusively to comb honej% you are at last on the right track; and it would be a good idea if many others would do likewise. Extracted honey has done more harm than many imagine. As the majority of producers voluntarily put down the retail price on extracted honey to one-half or one-third the price they asked for comb honey, it has been the means of bringing the price of the latter down, down, down, until it has, in many cases, almost reached the level of the former. This being the case, there should now be a sudden halt all along the line, so the blunder may at once be corrected. In short, no one should pro- duce extracted honey for the market unless he has the knowledge, the ability, ami the disposition to sell it at a proper price, which should not, as a rule, be less than the same grade of honey would have been worth in small sections. Reader, please wake up and tell us what you have to say in re- ply to this. M. M. Balduidge. St. Charles, 111., Dec, 1887. Friend B., it seems to me that demand and supply mnst have a good deal to do with the comparative difference in prices of ex- tracted and comb honey, as, indeed, de- mand and supply must have much to do with the prices of honey in general. Other things come in, however, to greatly affect the price. The large prices you have re- ceived for both comb and extracted honey ;ire owing, as I have understood it, to the fact that you handle nothing but the gilt- edge, or extra nice, of either kind. 13ut even after one has this extra gilt-edge hon- ey, he must have judgment and wisdom, energy and experience, to make the most of it. 1 believe you have all these qualities. Notwithstanding all this. I think that, in a good season, yuu will often find yourself helpless when both comb and extracted hon- ey are going "down, down, down." It is true, you can Iiold on to the crop just as we held on to our carload of California honey and our big stock of glassed sections, until a season of general scarcity occurs ; but the latter is rather expensive business, and it is also a risky one. Honey-producing is so new an industry, comparatively, that none of us knew exactly where prices were going to settle ; and, to tell the truth, we don't know exactly yet; bitt I think we know a little better tiian we did a year ago. We know now, that, when honey becomes scarce, there are a good many who will have it, even if the price goes away u]) ; and in this respect it is like potatoes and cabbages; and I feel a good deal encouraged in rcgiinl to honey becoming a great staple.— Alfalfa will grow very well here in our Medina clay soil, as I have proved by my small patchts ; but I never saw many'bees at work on it. — In regard to a lloating ;ipiary, I think an experienced bee-man could make it pay by giving his time for a few years, by testing the matter on a small scale before he goes into it largely. I feel sure, however, it will never do to move the boat while the bees are Hying ; and I am afraid it would not answer very well to conhne them to their hives. AVhile they are gathering honey they should be located in a very quiet piece of water; and even then a good many heavi- ly laden bees will probably fall into the wa- ter and be k'st ; but as bees have done quite well in localities close up to the water, I think they will do well in a boat. By keep- ing them on the boat all the while, you can get rid of the disagreeable and laborious operation of loading and unloading. "When the boat is at anchor it should be fastened so it can not move, and it will never do to crowd so many hives together as did friend Perrine. Our successful house-apiarics will indicate just about how many can be work- ed safely on board a boat. There is not a doubt, as it seems to me, but that an expe- rienced man could make it a success ; but at the same time. I feel that it is ciuite likely he would get tired of it, even if it did pay, just as many have become tired of their house-apiaries, after they have been at great expense to get them started. HERMAPHRODITES. A VERY CURIOUS BEE. ERMAPHRODITES, when real, combine both ^1 sexes in the same individual. That is, the animal is male and female at the same time. This peculiarity is not rare, even among the higher plants. Almost every plant that meets our gaze has both stamens and pistil, usu- ally united in the same flower. Often, as seen in the walnut, hickory, oak, and chestnut, the same plant or tree bears both stamens or pistils, but they are separate, or not combined in one bloom. Such plants are called monoicious— from the Greek, meaning "in one household." True hermaphro- dites, then, among animals, are quite analogous to moncecious plants. Indeed, the term monfccious is sometimes used to designate hermaphrodites among animals. Some plants, like our willows and poplars, bear the male flowers or organs on one plant, and the female on another. Thus every observing bee- keeper has noticed his bees on the willows, alder, or poplars, in early spring, and noticed that, while on certain trees-thc pistillate— they collect only nectar, on other trees — the staminate — they arc gathering only pollen. Such plants are called dioe- cious. This term is also used in describing animals, and is equivalent to bi-sexual. Bi-sexual, or dice- cious animals, then^which include all of the high- 52 GLEANINGS IN iJEE OULTUKE. .iAti. est branch of animals, ha\c the sexes in different individuals. Nearly all the lower groups of ani- mals possess hermaphrodites, or raonieclous forms. Even worms and gasteropods are not exceptions. Our angleworms and snails ine true hermaphrodites. Each angleworm and siuiii lins both male and fe- male organs. All vertebrates, or back-l)Oiie animals, and all true insects, are bi-sexual SO fitr as scientists have yet observed. True, so-called hermaphrodites ex- ist among insects, vertebrates, and even mammals; yet all such animals are really true males or true females, though some of their organs or character- istics seem to denote the opposite sex. Even the human family has furnished such examples. Such hermaphrodites among liees are not very uncom- mon. I have several bees in ray possession which, while ihey have the hciid and thorax of the worker, have the abdomen of the drone, or vicf versa. Usu- ally, if not always, the real sex of such bees is de- noted by the abdomen. It the abdomen is that of male, the testes, or male organs, will be present; if that of a worker, the abortive ovaries may be dis- covered by a careful dissection. A VERY CURIOUS BEE. The bee sent me through you by T. H. Kloer, Terre Haute, Ind.,is a most wonderful and interest- ing specimen. Here the apparent hermaphroditism is bilateral. The right side is a drone, to all appear- ance, while the left is as distinctly worker. The right eye runs up to the middle, crowding the right simple eye forward, while on the left the worker eye is normal in size, position, and pubescence. The right jaw is like a drone's in the little notch, while the loft is distinctly that of a worker. The same is true of the wings; the right one is broader than the left; nor do the legs form an exception. The pollen-gathering hairs are thicken the left legs, while the right ones are in every respect drone- like. The difference is very marked in the posterior legs. The left hind leg shows the pollen-basket with its rim of hairs, and the beautiful combs on the inside; while the right leg is a simple drone's leg and nothing more. As soon as time will per- mit I will have drawings made of all these parts. It would be very interesting to dissect this unique bee, and see how its internal organism is constructed; but it is so rare and valuable a specimen that it seems a pity to mutilate it. Mr. K. says, though he could see the sting, the bee showed no inclination to use this organ, even though he pinched her. I know of one case where a queen was so abnormal that many of her bees were peculiar in exhibiting the so-called hermaphroditism. It is lo he hoped that Mr. K. will watch this colony closely loi- more bees denoting this new and more strange modifica- tion. This case is peculiarly interesting as bearing on the Dzierzon theory. Why should half of the egg develop into a drone, exteriorly, at least, while the other half became a worker? Js it probably true, that several sperm-cells usually enter the micropyle of the egg to form a worker, and that in this case only one, perhaps, entered, and so the egg could become worker only in part? Even this suggestion is far from being satisfactory, in view of the meth- od of development in the animal egg. We know that the egg-segments, and that the cells thus form- ed, unite to form the primitive animal. Thus it is dilficult to see how any such partial impregnation could result in hermaphroditism. I wish lo praise Mr. K.'s keenness of observation. How few of us look closely enough to discover such a rarity as this wonderful bee! A.J.Cook. Agricultural College, Mich. AN AUSTRALIAN LETTER. the ra1'idt..y increasing resources of the country; a i.,and for bees, etc. §INCE writing you last. I have packed up my traps and removed from the colony of South Australia to this, the adjoining colony. The distance of the capitals from each other (Adelaide and Melbourne) is .500 miles; the route is either by water or rail— 40 hours in one case and 18 in the other. South Australia, although larger in area, is by no means so populous as Vic- toria, and on that account is somewhat less ad- vanced. Their populations are, relativelj-, 1,010,000 to 8(31,000. Victoria, as some of your readers may know, is rich in gold, the discovery of which some 40 years since attracted a large and varied popula- tion from all parts of the world, answering to the corresponding events which took place in Califor- nia. The excitement of those times is now fast be- coming legendary, and the colony has settled down to make the most of the good gifts which Provi- dence has lavished upon it in other ways than gold. While South Australia has been passing through a severe time of ffnancial depression, which 1 sup- pose is inseparable from young colonies with large borrowing powers and still larger wants, Victoria has fast been pushing ahead, developing her re- sources, opening up every inch of country by rail and otherwise, attracting capital from all parts, increasing her population, and is now in a state of "goaheadinoss" which is a pleasure to see. Main frontages in Melbourne have recently brought up to i'lOCO per foot, which speaks volumes. You will not be surprised that, in view of these circum- stances, I made up my mind to shift camp, which I would have done sooner had I been able, seeing, moreover, that Victoria enjoys a strong protective policy which helps and fosters young industries. This means that I, as a small manufacturer, am placed on more equal terms Avlth you, a large one, to enable me to compete while establishing my- self; but possibly you don't see it in the same light. One of our daily papers, in a recent article, stated that the ordinary churchman's ideal of paradise was "Peace on earth and trade with all mankind," which, of course, represents importers and export- ers. Finding that I could not dispose of my machinery except at heavy loss in Adelaide, I resolved to pack it up, trans-ship to Melbourne, pay the 2.5% duty upon it upon entering Victoria, and re-erect it when I could find a place suitable, which was no easy task; but it being overcome, I then returned to Adelaide to look after my little family there, and some 60 colonies of bees, which were making rapid preparation for the approaching spring. These I packed by inserting half-inch slips of wood between the end-bars, and wedging securely to- gether, taking off covers and bottom-boards, and coverina- with two thicknesses of cheese-cloth. They had to be carted over a rough road 9 miles to the port, and placed on board a steamer, which work I superintended myself, as most of the cole- 1888 GLEANliSTGS IN BEE CULTUllE. 6ii nies were very large, and preparing for swarming. After a pleasant voyage I got them safely landed on Melbourne wharf, ran the gauntlet of the cus- toms, secured vans, and carted them 8 miles to the spot from which I now write. I lost but one colony in transit, which, by some means, smothered. The others lost very heavily in bees, and were thrown back a good deal, tut have since increased at a fair rate, so that at the present time I count over 100 colonies, with every prospect of there being many more, although I am checking swarming as much as lies in my power. I have been heartily welcomed by all interested in bee culture, who were glad to have an opportu- nity to supply their wants, and have every pros- pect of doing well, as I and my business become known. The honey yield is good, though little is yet known of the frame hive, and the newspapers still i-efer to matters pertaining thereto as a novel, ty. Here, as in all these colonies, the honey har- vest is to a great extent variable— one good yield and one light one; but the good one is a good one. I find that the bo.\-men calculate 80 to 100 hives of bees equal to 5 to 7 tons of honey, and this without any care bestowed upon them other than taking the honey, and this from a degenerate race of blacks. What maybe accomplished under better management, and with better bees, is yet to be seen. It is my intention to send 50 good colonies into the country for the season now opening, and see what I can do. 1 fear I live too near town to se- cure any harvest, although up to the present my bees liave been booming in spite of an exception- ally wet spring. Honey brings 4'/^ to 6 in bulk; 1-lb. sections, 9 to 10 wholesale, and no end to the demand at the present time, or likely to be for some time to come. One of your readers in Texas wrote me, since reading my previous contribution, asking informa- tion respecting these colonies; but his letter, ar- riving just at the time that 1 was on the move, was mislaid. For his information, and to others through your medium, I should like to say a few words which may be useful. SOIL, CLIMATE, AND WAGES PEU DAY. Australia, as a whole, is a land blessed with a fertile soil and a temperate climate. The northern parts tend toward the tropical, but in no part is the cold of winter very severe. Snow is seen only in the heart of the mountainous country to any extent, so that the bee-master has no trouble or losses in wintering. I ran my bees through last winter without even a mat of any sort on top of the frames, and they seemed comfortable enough, and most of the queens continued laying, or ceased for only a short time. Ttie country is divided into colonies, each under a separate government, fram- ing its own laws for internal economy, and each having a governor representing our much-loved Queen, to whom we arc, as a people, extremely loy- al. As pointed out, there is no reciprocity of products, and a good deol of unspoken jealousy exists between the colonies; but it is probable that, before many years elapse, we shall enjoy a federa- tion of the whole colonies for mutual benefit. To any man witli a trade at his command, these colo- nics offer a wide scoi)e. The small capitalist start- ing in business has every help a paternal govern- ment can afford him. The settler has the most lib- eral terms offered, and, speaking generally, no man need remain poor who is willing to work and save. Now, I will venture to say that you have all these advantages, and more, in the States, except, perhaps, in the matter of temperature. The pos- sibilities of life lie within the man, not in external circumstances. Man is always superior to his sur- roundings, and may rise above his fellows if he will take steps to differ from his fellows and SAVE. The average wages paid to artisans is from 10 to 13 shillings (or from $3 35 to $3.00) a day — 48 hours' work to the week. Laborers get 7 to 8 shillings (or $1.75 to *3.00). Men brought up to practical farm work are in demand at all times, and may soon become their own masters. I have seen men by scores become rich during the past 30 years by steady work, and rise with the colonies; but, alas! I have known hundreds, surrounded with every necessary opportunity, go down, hopelessly down, never more to rise, through that curse of all curses, drink — drunkards, body and soul, before they were aware of it themselves, because, as young men, they would do as their fellows did, and not dare to be singular. GLEANINGS AND ITS HOME ARTICLES. My wife says, "Oh that we had a few men such as friend Terry and many others (whose contributions are so delightful to read), in our midst, who do what lies in their power to lighten woman's lot, and e.xercise (blessed word!) a sympathy for wom- an's trials!" Of course, this joggles me up a bit, and I am very apt to hear a quotation from Glean- ings at times if I am remiss in fixing up that bench or putting up those hooks, etc. What always strikes me in reading American literature is the apparent home life and fixity of home and sur- roundings which is much wanting in these colo- nies. Here men, under liberal laws, take up land either for speculative purposes or to drain its re- sources in 6 or 7 years, and then sell, with only hero and there a man willing to make a permanent homestead for his family— need I again repeat, these are the men who now are comfortable? Cold and severe winters have a tendency to create a home feeling, and enforce attention to many mat- ters which go by default in more genial climes. This is the only way I can account for the differ- ence. It is with great pleasure we open and read Gleanings when it comes to hand, and I think it is about the best-read publication which comes into the house. You will remember that, by a short act of parlia- ment, the government of South Australia set apart Kangaroo Island as a spot for breeding Ligurians only. We are now about to reap the benefit of this, as one of our most experienced bee-masters, Mr. Fiebig, is now busy packing his first orders from there; and as he has had many years' expe- rience in Germany, as well as here, we are pretty sure of getting the best-bred bees procurable, at a medium price, to commence with. Now, I think for the present I have "said enough of "myself and my neighbors." We are all looking anxiously to hear that you have conquered and stamped out foul brood. We all know him here to our sorrow. Leonard T. Chambeiis. Middle Brighton, Aus., Nov. 6, 1887. Friend C, I am very slad indeed you gave me that text. I did not know ihat any thing could be put in so few words to meet my views so exactly. " Peace on earth, and trade with all mankind " is exactly my mot- to. I know it would distress some, especial- 54 GrLEANrNGS IN BEE CaLTURE. Jan. ly at the commencement; but who is there who could not bear losses for a little time, for the sake of seeing all mankind helped V T confess that I am comparatively ignorant in regard to this matter of dnties and cus- toms; but T am sun^ tin- world would be benefited in the end by giving all an equal chance; that is, so far as buying and selling are concerned. In other words, it always gives me a thrill of pleasure to have an op- portunity of calling every human being brother, no matter whether he is black or white, rich or poor, just over the garden fence, or clear over on the other side of tlie world. God meant us to be brothers ; and the sooner we accede to his wishes and in- tentions, the quicker will heaven come here on earth. Many thanks for your kind let- ter, giving us so many glimpses of human life away off in Australia. SELLING OUT AN APIARY. yillTTINO THE BUSINESS ; HOW WE UID IT AT A SACRIFICE. Tf^ AST spring- 1 removed to a new charge, 400 ^j miles from my former one. While I desire rT *^l^^ys to keep a few bees, for various rea- '*™ sons it seemed best not to remove my apiary here. It consisted of about 100 colonies with empty hives, combs.and apparatus necessary to man- age Buch an apiary. My location was good for hon- ey, but almost every year I lost many colonies dur- ing the winter. I have no doubt there were per- sons desiring to engage in bee-keeping who would have bought me out if I could have found them; but they could not be found. I found one person who wished to engage in the. business, but he had had no experience with bees. To him I sold 47 colo- nies at 1^.00 each, also some supplies. The rest I sold at retail io farmers and others, receiving for none over $2.o() a colony. I considered my apiary worth to me $1000, and would have considered it cheap at ^^600; but I recei\ed only a little over $200 for it, therefore bees do not prove very valuable property when you come to sell out. To any person wishing to sell an apiary, I would say: If possible, sell out your entire outfit to some person desiring to engage in the business. If you have to retail your bees to farmers you will not realize more for them than for black bees in box ^ives. If you can not find such a purchaser, per- haps you can secure some person -.vho has some knowledge of bee.s to take charge ot yn\n- apiary, and you may be able to give some little a;tfntion to it yourself; and by receiving a share of the honey, you may, in a few years, realize more than if you sold all for a mere tritle. Perhaps the easiest method to quit the business would be to wait until the end of the season, then brimstone the bees, ex- tract the honey, reduce the combs to wax, and make kindling-wood of the hives, i am certain, if I had taken that method I should have received more money than I did, but it seemed too cruel. I never thought of adopting it. W. D. Kalston. Morea, 111. Triend R., your statement of facts seems a little sad, but I know there is a good deal of truth in it, in a good many localities. Now, would it not have paid you better to offer, the bees at a very low price, either in your local papers or in the bee-journals r* Surely, it must pay you better than to brim- stone them. REDEEMING FEATURES OF A POOR SEASON. DOES REMOVING THE QUEEN IN THE HEIGHT OF THE SEASON STOP THE HONEV ? T^ FRANCE, on page 896, Dec. No., closes his lii) interesting communication with " When l^ > you have a big working force, take away the ■^^ ' queen." How many tyros, even in bee cul- ture, would not see 1 he consequences at a glance— not only a cure for swarming, but a cessa- tion from honey-making. Why does a man of his experience put clay on our eyes, when at best we can not see clearly? I notice the great mass of writers give one testi- mony in regard to yield of honey and scarcity of swarms for the past bee season. This so perfectly agreed with our experience that we accepted the situation to call last year a failure, and to prepare more vigorously for the new year, on the princi- ple that " lightning never strikes twice in the same place." If we have had, through a combination of circumstances, a season of almost perfect failure, we may hope and expect the combination to be dif- ferent the coming year; and generally, as one ex- treme follows another, we may look for an unusu- ally prosperous bee-year, not only in bees and hon- ey, but in price, caused by the drainage of the market by this year's failure. During July our bees had managed slowly to fill and cap a few boxes, and nearly fill several more. By the last of August and early in September much of this surplus had been consumed by the makers, and we began to consider ways and means to carry through a few colonies to build a new business on the old capital. Having settled down to this faith we gave little heed to their workings, only now and then lifting the hives, and thereby judging nothing- was doing. Early in December, having occasion to change location of hives we found most of them greatly improved in weight; and on removing the surplus boxes we found about .^O lbs. of late-made honey, perhaps mostly gathered in October, and from a buckwheat patch I sowed very late. It was also flavored with the late fall flowers with which our town abounds. Our 17 colonies, we had estimated, would con- sume ~00 lbs. of sugar to carry them through. We now find them self-sustaining, only 2 or 3 requiring assistance, and that abundantly furnished by the surplus of other hives. We are in the southeast corner of Virginia, with a climate requiring no protection for bees other than their good summer quarters. I would sug- gest no change here, except an absorbent to cover the frames and prevent too much moisture, which we sometimes find in the hives. My practice is to place three hives on a stand 6 feet long and one foot high, and leave 6 to 8 feet between the stands. One grape-arbor, or other shade, will cover the 3 hives as well as one; and there is no fear of con- fusion in the bees finding their own home. Suttolk, Va., Dec. 29. 1S87. J. C. Frisbee. Friend F., I used to think strange that some writers should recommend removing 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 55 the queen during the height of the honey- How ; for I huve often seen a colony that was working vigorously, slack right up when the queen was taken away. A cus- tomer once wanted a select tested (lueen to take home with him. The only one in the apiary was one in a colony working heavily in a hive covered with sections. In consid- eration of a good price I took her out; but the honey stopped at once, while other colo- nies continued to pile it right in. By the time they had a new laying queen the yield was nearly over, and I estimated the loss of lioney was about as much as the value of the queen. Had 1 kept her in the hive I should have had my honey and my queen too. Well, now, there seems to be a differ- ence in colonies in tiiis respect. I have since then seen a strong colony go right on storing honey (which was almost entirely stored in tiie sections) after the queen was removed. Perhaps taking the queen away when they are starting cells and making preparations for swarming might have less effect in stopping the yield. We should be glad to hear from some of our veterans in regard to this matter. A FACTORY EXPRESSLY FOR CAN- NING HONEY. KKIEND CniilSTIE'S INDUSTRY. ItKT ^' bave for several years been printing great numbers of honey-labels for Mr. Aug. Christie, of Smithland, Woodbury Co., Iowa; but we never knew exactly what he did with them all until we found the following in the Smithland Exponent : Few people are aware of the importance of the honey business in this section, or how much of an establishment the Smithland apiary and canning- house, owned by Aug. Christie, has become. The reporter was not aware of it either until he wander- ed up there one day this weel< on a tour of inspec- tion. He found the gentlemanly proprietor busy at work, but he kindly dropped every thing to show us ai'ound and to explain the process of canning. Mr. Christie owns five apiaries, with from five to six hundred stands. All the honey from these api- aries is brought to his Smithland canning-house to be put up for the market. This is a more extensive job than one would think, and the process is more complicated. The honey, when extracted from the comb, is bar- reled up and taken to the storehouse, where it is kept until the time for canning begins, which is generally about the tirst of December. The build- ing where the canning is done is a substantial brick structure, 22X30 feet, and two stories high, with an ell for an engine-room. The arrangements are such that, when the honey is brought in, it can be unloaded from the wagons on a level with the up- per story, and the barrels rolled in. Then the bar- rels are placed on end, the heads taken out, and the honey emptied into a tank holding about 100 gallons. This tank is made of lioiler iron, and heated to a moderate degree by steam. From this tank the honey passes through a lead pipe which is regulat- ed by a stopcock, into a reservoir witii a three-bar- rel capacity. From this reservoir it passes through another pipe into a steamehest. This pipe is made of block tin, and is made in a spiral form, so that the honey may be kept in motion ; for the honey, if it remained in one place too long, would be over- heated, and a little too much heating spoils it. In the chest it is heated to the required temperature, and drawn off into cans, the heat preventing its granulating. The capacity of this apparatus is two barrels per hour. In addition to this there is a steam-chest in which cans are placed; and the steam being let on, the honey melts and runs into the same tank in which the barreled honey was placed. This makes the whole capacity of the factory three barrels per hour. The honey is drawn off in cans varying from one to sixty pounds each, but the largest demand is for the one-pound cans. An engine of six-horse power drives the machin- ery, and furnishes the steam for heating purposes. Mi-. Christie travels during the greater part of the year, selling to dealers in various parts of the country. Now, we should like to inquire of friend C, if, with the above apparatus, he succeeds in putting up his honey in such a way that it remains liquid year in and year out. The theory has been, that, if honey is sealed up and heated to just the proper temperature, it will never candy until the seal is broken ; and friend C. can probably tell us whether it works in practice. A WARNING. FOUL BUOOD IN AUSTRALIA ; ITS WIDESPRKAl .\ND DESTRUCTIVE WORK. fOUL brood has, unfortunately, obtained so firm a foothold in this colony that there is scarcely an apiai-y — in this district at any rate — that is free from the disease now, or has not previously suffered. To bee-keepers, the outlook is so alarming that they are afraid to increase their colonies, and there will naturally be a reluctance to invest capital in the growing in- dustry. Unless some combined action be taken to check the scourge, foul brood will become master of the situation. Accoi'diugly, special meetings of the S. A. Bee-keepers' Association, and of the Mt. Barker Bee-keepers' Association have recently been held to discuss the question; and in both cases it was unanimously resolved that legislative action was required. Dr. Cockburn. M. P., Presi- dent of the first-named association, is now con- ducting a bill through our Parliament, making it an offense to keep diseased bees, combs, hives, etc., on the i)remises, and imposing a penalty of iil to illO. Provision is made for government inspection, but the details of the bill are not in my possession. The majority of bee-keepers strongly favor Muth's method of eradicating the disease; that is to say, transferring the bees into a clean hive with starters, and feeding medicated syrup. This has been uniformly successful here, whilst the numer- ous other methods, including spraying, feeding, etc., and the host of nostrums, such as coffee, camphor, eucalyptus oil. etc., ha%'e resulted in fail- ure. The disease may be checked for a time; but a permanent cure seems unattainable without the entire removal of the infected combs, as prescribed by Muth. We sympathize with you in your fight against foul brood, and are watching the result of your efforts with much interest. C. F. Clough. Mt. Barker, South Australia, Nov. 13, 1887. The problem of what to do with the dis- ease with you is indeed a serious one, now that it has got such a foothold. Your letter is not the tirst one we have had from your country, telling of its terrible ravages. Most severe measures should be taken against its further progress. You are prob- ably on the right track, both as to legislative action and method of cure. Our experience has taught us that the colony should be put into clean hives on frames of foundation, and then given some antiseptic. Your let- oO GLtlANlNGS IN BEE CULXtJltE. Jan. ter should prove to be a warning to bee- keepers in America, though it is a little strange why it has gotten such a start with you. Here is something further on the subject, which we take from the Australian Bee Journal of Dec. 1 : In almost every district, from one end of the Australian colonies to the other, that scourge of the bee-keeping- industrj-, foul brood, exists. Eight years ago it was known to be in only a very few widely separated districts, and clean healthy colo- nies were then the rule, whereas they are the ex- ception now. The disease has spread to an alarm- ing extent during the past few years; thousands of colonies have perished, and some districts have be- come so infected with it that it is only with the greatest vigilance and perseverance that bee-keep- ing even on a small scale can be carried on at all in them. Very few apiaries, indeed, can boast of being entirely free from the disease at the present time. It is now a matter of so serious a nature, in fact, that, unless some thoroughgoing steps are taken very shortly to stamp out tlie pest, the bee- keeping industry in these colonies will soon become a matter of history. Hundreds of people have been compelled to give up keeping bees, at considerable loss to themselves, owing to their inability to con- quer the eneni}', and many who looked to honey production as a means of livelihood, or to augment their small means, have been sadly disappointed by their bees dying off. The experiences of Mr. G. Stevenson and " Lamh dearg Erin," so graphically described by them in our last and present issues, are similar to that of hundreds of others, and there are few indeed who would not soon become dis- heartened and give in under similar circumstances. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. WELL FIXED FOR FISH CULTURE. T WAS glad to see in your journal something j^ about carp culture, as I am in that business ]ll also. I have 5 ponds, and but one is stocked. "*■ It is a pond of about 2 acres. A year ago last November I put 308 (Jerman carp in, and drain- ed it this last October, and found only l.iO. The ducks were on the pond almost all the time. We shot some of them and cut them open. We found some of the carp in them. The longest, when put in, was about ;{ inches long; and when I drained the pond many were 33 inches, weighing from 3 to 3i4 lbs. The pond (stocked) is from 3 to 7 feet deep. You see I have the carp fever, for this month I sent for and received 3T0 more carp, many of which were 6 inches long when received. I am very proud of them. These I put in a separate pond, 90 yards long, 30 ft. wide, and 4 ft. deep. I have perfect con- trol of my ponds, for they are all on bench land above high- water mark. The water is supplied from my cardingmachine race which is raised 13 ft. high to run a turbine water-wheel for the woolen- mill. I can draw all the water out of my ponds, and then fill them again at pleasure. T have an abundance of water for the business. I use the water four limes— from the first to the second, from the second to the third, and forced by a hydraulic ram from the third to the fifth. The ram throws 16 gallons a minute. All who have looked at my ponds say that I have as fine a location as there is in Mis- souri. If there is money in the fish-business, I can enlarge my ponds to 10, 1."), 3i>, or 40 acres, Justin proportion to the increase and as we have need. In September last we killed a 30-inch carp. We cut its throat. It bled freely, and five of us partook of it to our satisfaction. All pronounced it very good. L. J. Bl.\nkenship. Corsicana, Mo., Dec. 31, 1887. It seems to me, friend B., that the duck- business does not work very well in con- nection with the iish-business. The great trouble with carp-rnising seems to be that fish, fowl, and reptile seem to work in con- cert to exterminate them ; that is, they are so good that every thing in this line wants to eat them up. DOES IT KEQUIRE MORE STORES TO WINTER IN THE SOUTH THAN IN THE NORTH? In this locality there is hardly a week when bees can not have a fly, and therefore are more restless. Will they not need more supplies to winter on than when they are quieter? Is there any danger of in- ducing robbing by feeding sugar syrup out of the hives in a water-jar, as shown in A B C? By feed- ing a thin syrup in this way as soon as the weather is settled, could not colonies be built up rapidly? H. R. Talcott. Birmingham, Ala., Nov. 23, 1887. I believe, friend T., that this question has been fully answered. Perhaps several cir- cumstances would have to be taken into consideration, but 1 do believe that bees consume less stores when they settle down into their semi-dormant state, and remain so for months together. Possibly they do not come out as strong in the spring, but I am inclined 1o tliink it would be more profitable not to have very much brood- rearing until about tiie first of March. the matter of statistics. The plan as proposed in Gleanings, page 88.5, by Prof. Cook, for gathering and publishing statis- tics in regard to the honey crop, is. I think, a most excellent one, and one that the editor of Glean- ings should not lail to appropriate, and I would sug- gest, as my humble opinion, that it would be one of the most valuable features contained in Glean- ings; profitable and valuable alike to the honey- producer and the dealers in bees and queens throughout the Ignited States. I hope soon to see this progressive feature a fixture of Gleanings. Thanks to Prof. Cook for the suggestion. Consid- er your humble servant free of all cost, should you desire to add this feature to Gleanings, so far as Eastern North Carolina is concerned. Abbott L. Swinson. Goldsboro, N. C, Dec. 12. 1887. Many thanks, friend S. We shall proba- bly avail ourselves of your kind offer of re- ports from your vicinity. BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES AND HONEY. Noticing your comincnt in Gleanings on buck- wheat cakes and honey as compared with maple molasses, please let me tell how we get something a little extra, and also how to get rid of broken and partly filled sections of honey. Take all the partly filled sections, or any second-class comb honey (with no bee-bread), and slowly melt in any con- venient tin or copper vessel. When it is all melt- ed, set it away until cold, then take off the wax, and your honey is left clear and nice, and will need no straining unless you have some bee-bread in it. In such cases, warm the honey once more, and 188^ GLt:ANlNGS IN lii:E CULTURE. 67 strain. This process gives the honey a little dif- ferent and pleasant tiiivor, and we think it the best of any sweets on pancakes. N. E. Doane. Jennings Ordinary, Va., Dec. ~8, 1887. HOW TO HARVEST BUCKWHEAT, AND NOT WASTE THE SEED. 1 send my plan of saving- the buckwheat seed, and I know no better way. When ready for cutting I take my old-fashioned scythe and cradle, and cut and throw two and sonieiimes three swaths in one bunch. We call this bunching. I do this when the buckwheat is damp, early in the morning, or on damp days, when the wheat will not rattle off. When I finish cutting 1 let it lie, say two or some- times four or five days, until dry; then I take a team and wagon, with a good tight body on the wagon, and drive in the tield where the buckwheat is, with one man in the wagon and another on the ground to fork up the bunches. They are lifted into the wagon very carefully. In the mean time the man in the wagon Hails the wheat out. It takes only a very few strokes with a 4 fined fork to take all of the grains out. 1 then dump the straw over- board and leave it in the field, then clean out the grain with a fanning-mill. In this way of cleaning and drying, the grain will do to put in the bin, and will not spoil in the bulk. S. Langford. Buckskin, Ind. Your suggestions are excellent, friend L.; but I don't think tliat we ever found our buckwheat so dry that we could thrash it with a four-tined fork. We have lately tiirashed our buckwheat, pretty much in the way you indicate, with a Hail. In spite of us, however, more or less is always wast- ed on the ground. ASTER AS A HONEY-PI.ANT ; SHOULD IT BE CULTI- VATED? Will you please tell me where I can get some as- ler-seed, and what it costs? Is it as good for honey as the Chapman plant? There are but very few who keep bees in Western Nebraska, it being a newly settled country. I was one of the flx-st set- tlers in this county (Red Willow). I came here tif- teen years ago. There were thousands of Buffalo here then. A HOUSE MADE OF SODS, FOR WINTERING BEES. I have now 33 good strong colonies of Italian bees. I have a part of them in a sod house all above ground. It has not been colder than 4.5° in my bee- house this winter. Those I have outdooi-s have been flying to-day. Comb honey in one-pound sec- tions is worth 25 cents here. I think a great deal of Gleanings. K.F. Loomis. Indianola, Neb., Dec. 24, 1887. Friend L.. I do not believe that the aster- plant would yield as much honey as the Chapman honey-plant ; for the amount of honey yielded is comparatively small, and it requires acres of it to make any show at all in the honey-vield. I am sure it would not pay to cultivate it for the honey ; and even if it would, the only safe way to do is to first cultivate a small bed of it. If it pleases you, then take a quarter of an acre, and aft- er that a larger tract. Farmers complain that wheat does not pay at 70 cts. a bushel, and, say, 20 bushels to the acre ; but I am afraid that even a good stand of aster would not be worth to you, in dollars and cents, one-fourth of the above amount per acre. In fact, we scarcely know that any plant taised for honey aloiie has ever paid even as riiuch as §14.00 per acre. — Your suggestion of making a house of sods, for wintering bees, is quite an idea. Especially would this be practicable on our Western prairies, where tlie winds are terrible, and stone and timber scarce and high. I should think the sods would be just the thing for keeping out the frost. The following is from our friend Mr. Ivar S. Young, the editor of the Norwegian Journal of Bee Culture. The reader will re- member that he made us a visit early in the fall. We take pleasure in inserting this short note from our genial fiiend : Mr. K(?i/o/;— Will you kindly allow me to ex- press, through your valuable bee-journal, my cor- dial thanks for the friendspip and kind attention which were so profusely shown to me during my long-to-beremcmbered visit among the American and Canadian bee-friends. I will, as long as I live, take delight in thinking of my trip, and never! no, never! forget the Avorld's most able bee-keepers, nor their exceeding liospitality toward me as a stranger. I only regret that my time was so limit- ed that I had no opportunity of personally calling on the many more whose names were so well known and dear to mo from the bee-journa!s. Ivar S. Yoitng. Christian ia, Norway, Nov., 1887. We congratulate you on your safe return home to that "best wife in'the world." We, on this side of the water, appreciate your genteel compliment. BUMBLE-BEES, AND HOW THEY WINTER. You say in Gleanings, page 950, to master Elbert, that you wish him to tell yr'u more particularly how bumble-bees pass the winter. When a boy, about 8 or 10 years old, my father often called me "Old Tmker," because I kept a little bee-yard with half a dozen bumble-bee hives. I hunted up the nests in the day time, put them in little boxes toward eve- ning, in my yard. In spring, when frost was out of the ground, I had to help break up some moor ground, and I then found nests of five and eight bees from four to six inches deep, in small holes, in a sort of sleep; and when warmed up the bees soon came to life. The holes were worked out nice and smooth inside, but I never found them lined with moss or grass, as friend Elbert said. Gerd Wendelken. Marietta, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1887. Prof. Cook forwards the following from W. J. Ellison, in regard to the saddle-back caterpillar, or the cotton-worm, as it is call- ed in the cotton plantations: THE COTTON-WORM, OTHERWISE CALLED THE SAD- DLE-BACK CATERPILLAR. Pro/, roofc.— To-night I feel just like the Irish- man who went to see the panorama of his native land. A piece of scenery very near his own home, including a familiar bridge, was shown, when he exclaimed, " Och, murdther! many is the time I have walked over that same bridge." Now, when I see your cut of the saddle-back caterpillar in Glean- ings, it is such a splendid picture of the gentleman, it is hard to keep from exclaiming about it. In our 58 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTLTRE. 3a1S. neighborhood it is known as the cotton-worm, and is the dread of all the cotton-pickers, as it resem- bles the leaves in color, and, on account of its still, quiet nature, it is more often felt than seen flrst. This summer I have seen many of these; and but for their signs on the ground, and the way they strip the cotton of its foliage, they would hardly ever be seen until one runs his hand against its bristles. lam beginning to think we have all the insects in nature in our State. I have often been on the point of writing you about the little miller shown in November Gleanings, the larva of which is almost as troublesome as our regular bee-moth larva; being smaller, it will go where the bee-moth can't get to deposit its eggs; and many times, when we think our nice section honey safe, we find the cappings cut by the little worms, and a gallery right across the face of a nice section of honey. I wonder you have no notice of it in the Manual. Stateburg, S. ('., Dec. 7, 1887. W. .T. ErxisoN. ^iU BUSHELS OF JAPANESE FROM '^ BUSHELS OF SEED. In reading the reports on Japanese buckwheat, 1 see the amount sown by each one is very small. Perhaps I can add some to the list. Not being a farmer myself, but having an interest in bees and also in the grain for milling, I induced my cousin to try; and he thought if a little were good more would be better. He sent to Peter Henderson for two bushels, which was sown July 6, and during the drought it looked as though it would not be worth cutting; but after the fall rains it came on in a hurry. He thrashed just UO bushels from the seed, and we have ground some of it into flour, and used it in our family. I don't think the cook could tell the difference between this and other buck- wheat flour. We grind our buckwheat by the new process, and make very white flour. Angola, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1887. M. J. Bundv. 0UR QaE^JFi0]S[-B0?^, With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. All queries sent In for this department should be briefly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked, " For Our Question-Box." Question No. 28.-18 it best tofiU section boxes full of fourutatiuJi, or i(,sf starters only one inch in width'/ C. C. Miller. Dr. a. B. Mason. Geo. Grimm. w. z. Hutchinson. Paul L. Viallon. G. M. DOOLITTLE. Full. Kill full. Kill full. Fill them full. I prefer a full sheet. I prefer to fill the section. Fill them to within an inch of the bottom. Dadant & Son. We have used half-inch with very good results. Mrs. L. Harrison. I have never experimented enough on this to make my opinion of any value. O. O. Poppleton. So far as my experience has gone, I prefer to use full sheets of foundation in my surplus bcxes. James Heddon. I have found it best to use full sheets; though I often use triangular starters. A. J. Cook. Starters one-third of an inch in width are best for me. Full-sized sheets have a chance to pay for themselves wherever the bees can not keep up with their income. E. E. Hasty. It is much more profitable to fill them full. If quality only is considered, starters are better. If foundation is made thin, and used fresh, there is practically no objection to its use in full sheets. James A. Green. The office of starters one inch wide is only to serve as guide-combs. Thej' would not increase the crop of honey much. But to fill the sections with fdn., increases the crop materially. It does almost as much good as to fill them with newly built comb. Chas. F. Muth. As a rule, we do not propose to put ques- tions in this department where there is only one opinion expressed ; but in the above case it seems best to find out whether the friends all agree in regard to full - sized sheets for sections ; and it is gratifying to know that the testimony is so much alike. Our good friend Muth seems to have over- looked the fact that recent decisions place full sheets of foundation even ahead of new- ly built comb; that is, where the cells are drawn up to any thing like full length. Question No. 29.— Is a triangular stai-ter, with the poiid rcachivfi ncarlu to the bottom of the section, as good as a full .■^hert of tliiii foundation/ No. No. No. I think not. F use full sheets. Geo. Grimm. Dk. a. B. Mason. w. z. Hutchinson. C. C. Miller. G. M. DoolittLiE. Not in our opinion. Dadant & Son. Nearly or quite as good. Mrs. L. Harrison. No, not in my experience. James Heddon. I prefer a full sheet. Paul, L. Viallon. See answer to previous question. O. O. Poppleton. It answers very well, but 1 prefer full sheets. A. J. Cook. A triangular starter is not as good as a full sheet of fdn. The sections will not be filled in the ame time as when full sheets arc given. Chas. F. Muth. If it pays to use foundation, use it. W hy stop half way? Partly filled sections give the bees a chance to build two sizes of comb in the same sec- tion, and make a botch of things. E. E. Hasty. No. Firstly, because it will not be finished quite as soon. Second, because it will not be as well fin- ished. The foundation should be cut as large as possible, without having it kink from the lower corners touching the sides, when put in with ordi- nary care. This gives a square, solid comb of hon- ey, firmly attached all around, that is easier to shake bees from, looks much better, and is much less lia- ble to break out in shipment. James A. Green. This question, also, seems to be decidedly in a line with the former one. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 59 Question No. 30.— 7s it adcisahle to use a very thin foundation in the sections, say l'~ or l.'> square feet to the pound? niiat weight nf foundation— that is, how many square feet to the pnund—do yov prefer to use in the surplus department.' Eleven feet. Dadant & Son. Any kind or weight, if the base is thin. Geo. Orimm. About 10 square feet to the pound is nearly if not quite rig-ht. (i. M. Doolittle. 1. Yes. The thinner the septum the better. 3. About twelve. Dr. A. B. Mason. I never found any too thin, particularly where full sheets are used. Mrs. L. Harrison. I prefer fdn. of about 8 square feet to the pound, but the septum should be as thin as it can be made. O. O. POPPLETON. I think so. 1 used to think thick was as g-ood in the sections, but now I would have at least 13 feet per lb. A. ,T. Cook. Yes, it is advisable. I prefer it about 10 to 13 feet to the pound; 10 ft., if the extra weight can be put in the walls. \V. Z. Hutchinson. A good deal of experience has decided me against such thin foundation. About 10 or 11 feet to the pound is thin enough forme. C. C. Mili.er. More honey can be secured with a heavier found- ation, 9 or 10 feet to the pound, but I think it advis- able to use the thinnest foundation. James A. Green. Foundation measuring about 10 square feet to the pound has my preference for sections. It han- dles easier than the thinner sorts, and there is no danger of the fishbone. ("has. F. Muth. I want the thinnest tlint can be made. At times bees will thin the fdn. pretty well, but at other times they will not; therefore by using it very thin at all times you are sure not to have the fishbone. Paul L. Viai.lon. Use the thinnest good foundation you can get, if you fill the sections full. In case you use only starters, take foundation of medium thickness. The little " snipes " can nibble it all out too easily if it is thin. E. E. Hasty. I have had the best success with full sheets of foundation in surplus boxes as heavy as 8 square feet to the pound; but this foundation had a very thin base, the weight being mainly in the side walls. I am now using and selling surplus foundation running about 10 to 13 square feet to the pound, and this is as heavy as I care to use fdn. made upon roller-mills. James Heduon. The drift of the above seems to be, that we need some sort of wall to our foundation; and if the bases are very thin, it does not matter very much how thick the wall is. As thick walls, however, cost more money, on account of the wax contained in them, most of us would prefer rather Jiglit walls, unless. Indeed, it be found true that we can well afford to pay for having considerable wax in those walls. As bres will probably secrete more or less comb any way, it is not likely that it will pay us to furnish them wax enough, even in the wnlls, to (Ji'&w the peJJs up at fulj length. ^EPe^Tg Dipc0aR;«6iN6. wants nothing better than the wooden but- ter-dishes for feeders. fHE past season has been very discouraging to bee-keepers in this vicinity. I had KX) lbs. of comb honey from 40 swarms (fall count), and had to feed 75 lbs. of sugar. 1 used wooden butter-dishes to feed in, and don't want any thing better. C. U. Guthrie. Prospect, Wis.. Jan. 2, 1888. poorest season in 30 YEARS. I have been in the bee-business for 30 years, and it has been the hardest time on the bees that has ever been since 1 commenced. I have about 60 gums left, and e.xpect to continue in the business, for I am not at all discouraged, since all lay In the same complaint. L. J. Blankenship. Corsicana, Mo. ^EP0R¥g ENCQ^i^^eip. BEES PAID, EVEN IN A POOR SEASON. Y report for 1887 is short and easily counted. From 33 colonies, spring count, from May to Aug. (no late honey), is only 310 lbs. of comb in lib. sections, and about (iO lbs. of extracted; 43 queens raised. The box hon- ey brings me 3.5 cts. a box; extracted, 35 cts. per lb. The queens, I used myself. I also carried over from last year over 300 lbs. of comb honey for which 1 ex- pect to got 35 cts. a pound. For extracted honey 1 use the small jelly-cup, which holds 14 lb. of honey, which brings me 17 cts., cup and all. 1 find they sell more readily than any thing else 1 can put ex- tracted honey in. Although the poorest season I ever experienced, I am satisfied. They will pay me for all my trouble and expense. They have gone into winter quarters with plenty of honey gathered from asters. My bees have been shut in only two days. The first week in December the mercury was down to 14; since then they flew out every day until Dec. 17, when the first snow fell, 11 inches on the level, but cleared off warm again. The 31st they had another fly. To-day they are shut in again. I am afraid the warm weather will be hard on my bees. The queens commenced laying Dec. 1, and have considerable brood started for this season of the year. Josiah Eastburn. Falllngston, Pa., Dec. 34, 1887. FROM 50 TO 68, AND 1400 LBS. OF HONKY. Spring count, 50 (lost 18 in wintering last winter); 15 of this number were so near dead that it took them all summer to build up and gather honey enough to winter. From the 35 good ones (none were vei-y strong) I took 1300 lbs. of comb honey and about 3iK) of extracted, and increased to 08 ; one flew away. At the commencement of basswood 1 had eight first swarms, which I put back, as they had 5(5 one pound sections partly filled, and 1 knew if 1 hived those swarms it was good-by box honey from those colonies, so I hived them back, and every one of them stayed and went to work, and I was very much pleased when I came to take that boneyoff. 411 of them filled and capppd PJpe)^. J 60 (CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. hear almost every one complaining about the sea- son; but I believe if my bees had been as strong as in the spring of 1886 I should have had the usual yield of honey. I had three or four colonies that were in good trim, and they made me fi-om 70 to 80 lbs. of nice comb honey, and this is about as much as we ever get from the best colonies. New Milford, Pa. F. \V. Dean. Every boy or girl, under 15 years of age, who writes a let- ter for this department, containing somk valuable fact, not GENERALLY KNOWN, ON BEES OR OTHER MATTEHS, will receive one of David Cook's excellent live-cent Sunday-school books. Many of these books contain the same matter that you find in Sunday-school books costing from 81.00 to 81.50. If you have had one or more books, give us the n.ames that we may not send the same twice. We have now in stock six different books, as follows; viz.: Sheer Off, Silver Keys, The Glant-Kill- er; or. The Roby Family, Rescued from Egypt, Pilgrim's Progress, and Ten Nights in a Bar-Room. We have also Our Homes, Part I.,. and our Homes, Part II. Besides the above hooks, you may have a photograph of our old house api,iry, .and a photograph of our own apiary, both taken a great many years ago. In the former is a picture of Novice, Bine Eyes, and Caddy, and a glimpse of Ernest. We have also some pret- ty little colored pictures of birds, fruits, flowers, etc., suitable for framing. You can have your choice of any one of the above pictures or books for every letter that gives us some valuable piece of information. CONDUCTED BY ERNEST R. ROOT. THE BOYS' BEE-HIVE FACTORY. NOT MR. SHIFTLESSNESS THIS TIME, BUT AN ENEMY STEALING HONEY FROM HIVES OF BEES, AND THE PEN- ALTY THEREFOR. Y ! how it rains !" said Jimmie to liis idaymate Sam, as they were both trudging home at night from school. " I never saw such a season before in all my days.'' "• Yes," replied his companion, "■ and such roads ! Why, it is just awful deep. Look at that wagon-wheel ! the mud reaches almost to the hubs." " I wish these folks along here' would build a sidewalk of some sort," said Jimmie, as he started toward home, leaving his com- panion. "• I have to wade through the mud day after day, and you know ma always makes me clean my feet. It's a job to do it to her notion. Ted gets a lickin' nearly every day for bringing mud in the house." AVhen S;im reached home he noticed there was something wrong with that side of the barn wliich faced the road. It was pretty well covered with spots of mud, as if some one had thrown handfuls on the barn-side. It was evident that the window of the loft was the target, for it was not only covered with mud, but several panes of glass were broken also. Seeing this, Sam, somewhat excited, hastily made his way into the shop which he and his playmate had recently cleaned so thoroughly. What a sight greet- ed his eyes! The pail of white lead which the boys used to paint the hives with was upturned upon a pile of partly finished hive and frame stuff. The young doves which he had been raising with so much pride were missing from the dove-cot, and the tools were scattered over the bench and Hoor ; likewise chunks of mud were on the floor, which had been thrown through the broken lights of glass. Sam was angry beyond endurance, and proposed forthwith to get vengeance upon— whom, he didn't just exactly know. He pro- ceeded to the house. "■ Ma, some one has muddied the barn all up. There are great chunks of mud on the Hoor, and— "That's nothing strange," interrupted his sister. '-Mother and L during these wet days, have to clean the porches quite often, and it was only this morning that 1 picked up several chunks of mud off the carpet, just after you left. Mr. Shiftless- ness comes around quite often these muddy days." " Oh, well I Shiftlessness doesn't steal young doves ; he doesn't throw mud all over the sides of the barn, tip over paint-pots on hive-stuff, and break windows.'' "He does things pretty nearly as bad," persisted his sister. His mother, observing that something was really wrong, was about to make further in- quiries when Jimmie came running over. " Say ! what do you think I some one has been knocking my" hives over. The covers were off some of 'em, and things look as if some fellow had been there this after- noon, stealing honey. Some of the combs are broken into. You know my hives are behind the bushes in the back yard.'' "You don't say!" said Sam; "but just you come out to the barn with me : some one has tried to spite us both." Thither the two started. They both came to the conclusion that an enemy, jealous of their enterprise, had done this, and that the perpetrator of the mischief to both was one and the same person. Something ought to be done. "Let's present the matter to pa. He is just entering the gate now."' When the latter had joined the boys, each told the story of his grievance. Mr. Green listened in silence, and said : " The damage done to the barn and its contents is comparatively small. The most that was done, as nearly as I can discover, was the amount of mud thrown. It it hard- ly worth while to think of obtaining a re- dress by law ; and, besides, I am not sure that it would be wise or Christian. The evi- dent purpose of the perpetrator was not so much to damage as to provoke and anger us Retaliation would do no good, and pos- sibly would result in harm. It would tend to make an enemy a worse enemy than be- fore. If we can find out the name or names of the guilty persons, perhaps a remon- strance delivered in a Christian-like way should be made to them, and at the same time they should lie told that there must not be a repetition of the offense, or we 1888 GLEANINGS JN BEE CULTURE. 61 shall be under the necessity of commencing action to recover damages." " I think it \v;is Jake, the fellow who broke our windmill before, and it would make me feel awful good to black both his eyes,'" said Jimmie. " I don't cave any- thing about your law." "Yes," said Sam. •'I agree with Jim- mie." " What ! you, Sam V " said his father, in surprise. '"Do you think it woidd be the best way?" Sam nodded his head rather feebly. " At any rate." said he, "■ I should feel better." "I do not doubt that," said his father ; "but I was only questioning whether you thought it was right. As to Jimraie's bees, this is more serious. There is a heavy penalty attached for stealing honey from colonies. 1 believe that in this State it is a penitentiary offense.'" " Whew ! what did they put it on so heavy for ? Seems to me that's purty tough. I'd just like to see the fellow what meddled with my bees while F was at school go to State's penitentiary. No, I guess I'd rather black his eyes. after all.'' " Yes," replied Mr. G., *• 1 do not question your preference ; but really, boys, such re- taliation is not right, justifiable, or manly." " But we'd feel a mighty sight better for a while, any how," still persisted Jimmie. "I think I shall have to get mother to talk with you further on this question. You both have utterly wrong ideas as to the best means of bringing about the ends of just- ice." "Well, pa, why do they make the penalty so heavy for robbing bee-hives ? You don't say they could send a man to penitentiary if he stole only 50 lbs. of honey from a few colonies ? '' "That is just what I mean," said his father. "The value of the honey stolen from a hive of bees is usually small. But the damage occasioned thereby in the apiary is incomparably gieater. The colony robbed and pillaged by human hands will be at- tacked tenfold more vigorously by the bees from other colonies. The residt is, the whole apiary will be in an uproar if the owner or some one else does not happen to be on hand to arrest the mischief. For in- stance, suppose some one should steal hon- ey from three or four of my colonies in the Valley apiary, where no une visits them but once a week ; suppose, also, the thieves should leave the combs mutilated, the hives uncovered, just after the honey-tlow had ceased. It w^ould be the ruin of a good many colonies, and the whole apiary would be demoralized. A gain of a few cents' worth of honey to the thieves would mean the loss to me of perhaps several hundred dollars in bees, valuable queens, and dam- aged section comb honey ; honey which would otherwise have brought me full price, now only half price. If the mischief ended where the human robbers left off, the case would be different.'' "Everything was (juiet when I left my bees a little bit ago. There wasn't no rob- bing nor any thing of the kind," said Jim- mie, " Yes," said Mr. G.; " but it has rained all the afternoon, has it not ? Bees will not start to rob in the rain, though they will some- times continue, if not raining hard, when once started. You may count yourself for- tunate in having the shower." Mr. Green then went into the house, leav- ing the boys standing. "Say, Sam, we'll find out who done that, and then we'll— you know. I'll see you to- morrow." So saying, Jimmie hurried off home. jaYE^mE iiE¥3FER-Be;^. ' A chlel's amang ye takin' notes; An' faith, he'll prentit. " SANTA CLAUS. Santa Claus brought me a dress and a pair of shoes, and acorn-popper; and ho broug-ht my little sister a cart and a plate, and she thinks they are very nice. Peaui, Passage. Stark, Mich., Dec. 2t;, l.'-ST. BEES AND CAIIP-PONDS. We have about 60 swarms of bees. We put them in an underground cellar on the 19th of the month. Our cellar is 1~ feet under the ground. We have three carp-ponds, with tiO flsh. They are frozen over now. We are having a nice Christmas. The ice is eight inches thick. • John Wiltse. Falls City, Neb., Deo. 25, 1887. TOO YOUNG TO KEEP BEES. My papa and my uncle are bee-keepers, but only tor pleasure, for they have no time to tend to the 50 swarms. I wish I could help my papa about the bees, for I love them, but papa says I am too young yet, but that he will give me a swarm as soon as 1 can tend one by myself. Sophia Lang, age 10. Joelton, Tcnii. Tell your papa that we think you are quite old enough to have a colony, and man- age it quite successfully now. "A STUNG on my NOSE." Here is another letter from a young friend, which is quite original in composition as well as spelling, so we reproduce it just ex- actly as he wrote it. We hope, therefore, he will not take it unkindly, as there are lots of big folks who do not write or spell any better. Mr root, dear sir i am a boy 13 years old we have 50 swarms of bees and was in a good shape for to get a lot of honey but it was so dry the bees was just began to work nice but it was to drj- we got about 300 lbs. of honey my father works at the stone mason trade and i and my mother is at home i watch the bees when they swarm i catch the qeen wich is cliped and put her in a cage the bees will sat on the tree and i will stand and look at them and when I see that they are getting restless i will put the queen in the hive and will watch her. sumtime she wijl come out agin then i will put hir in agin and it is fun to see them march in the hive they hury to get in and sometimes I get a stung on my nose but I due not mind it and work on my way oiy sister is watching the cows all summer in 62 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. winter i pick up bees in the snow and put them in a can and under the stove i have got a little swarm all redy i have got them in a box upstairs near the stove pipe i look at them and i see that they have got young brood and hatching bees all ready and good Italian at that. yours truly Michal,i>. Now, little folks, see how many correc- tions you can make. Copy the letter, put- ting in capital letters where they belong, and making such other corrections as may be necessary. Then show the letter to your mamma or to your teacher. FROZEN DEES REVIVINfJ ON THE FOURTH DAY. I saw your problem for juveniles in the Nov. 1.5th No., and I will now make the following report. On the morning of Dec. 1, pa assisting me, 1 placed some bees in a cage and others in the snow, as re- quested. Dec. 1, 7 p. M., the lour revived. •' 2, 7 A. M., " " " " 2, 7 P. M.. " " 3, 7 A. M., " •' " " 3, 7 p. M., 2 from cage only. " 4, 7 A. M., not one out of a dozen. On the second day there came a thaw, but the beos were kept on snow and ice. I will tell you that pa has 23 swarms of bees, all nicely put away for winter in your portico hives, with chaff at sides and on top. He wintered eight- een last winter and lost none, and no dwindling in spring. We had it so dry here all summer that pa did not remove the crates until fall, so the bees could carry down what they mll'ht need for winter, and then we got 400 lbs. surplus. Pa has your ABC, and takes Gleanings. He says he would not be without these for three times their cost. He gets all his supplies from you. Worthington, Ind. D. S. Stough, age 14. Your experiments were well conducted, and we send you the knife. You did not do (luite as well as grandpa Whiton, as record- ed on page !)50, Dec. loth issue. lie made them revive on the .5th day ; still you did (juite well. Thanks for your kind words. We always appreciate them, especially from the little folks. FROZEN BEES REVIVED AFTER TWO DAYS. I began trying to see how long bees would revive after being in a chilled condition, Dec. 26, 1887, at 11 A. M.; and 6 hours after, I took up 1.5. They all revived— the ones from the snow first. The next morning I tried 20 more, but none revived. The only thing I could think of is, that I must have put I hem In too hot a place ; then I toqk 25 more, of which 20 revived. In 12 hours I tried 10 more, and all came to life. About 48 hours from the time I com- menced, I took 15, of which 9 came to life; 24 hours after, I tried 25 more, of which none came to life again within half an hour, and I thought they must be all dead. Charlie Seabright. Blaine, Ohio. So none of yom- bees revived after two days. There seems to be quite a difference in results. In one report we find that the bees were brought to in .5 dnys ; in others, one, two, and three days. It is possible that the difference in locality makes a difference. A real dry severe cold, say where the mer^ cury showed 20- below zero, might maintain )jfe in frozen bees much longer. Will soqae of the little folks in these real cold places try the experiment as outlined in the Nov. loth and Dec. 15th issues? AN interesting LETTER FROM A LITTLE GIRL IN MASSACHUSETTS. We have not had any snow yet— only about two inches, which all went away the next day with rain. Yesterday at 7 A. m. the thermometer was 22° ; at 2 p. M., 25°. The wind is blowing very strong to- day, and it is so cold I can not play outdoors. Fa- ther has taken in his Simplicity hives, but his chaff hives are all on their summer stands. I hope we shall get some honey next year. We did not get enough to put on a ))iece of bread this year. Fa- ther sets his hives out when it is warm, and the bees have a nice fly. He had a frame of comb with honey that was dabbled up some, which he clean- ed up and put on the landing board for the bees to carry in. He has a way of calling the bees out (when they are not flying) by lapping light Ij- on the landing-board, to call their attention to what be wants. 1 think the bees must like him, for he hard- ly ever gets a sting. I have seen father do so, and of course you know I must do as father did. So I walked up to the hive and I guess 1 rapped too hard; for before I could get away from in front of the hive one came straight out into my face and stung me almost in my eye. It did not swell up very bad, because I held a wet cloth over it and it was soon gone. I suppose I shall have to get used to it if I want to be a bee-keeper. Father says experience is a good lesson, and I believe it is true. You may be sure 1 won't do that again, for I know the bees don't like it. I like bees, and 1 want the bees to like me. Father says, after I learn the different dispositions of bees I shall know how to handle them better. Don't you think I have a pretty good father'/ I think so, for he lets me read Gleanings, and I like that continued story about the " Boys' Bee-hive Factory." When it is time for Santa Claus to come around he never forgets to stop at our house, even if there aren't any children here but myself. I have one brother but he is living in California. He says there are lots of bec-raTiches there. He is 26 years old. When father goes to the fair again with the bees, he is going to buy me a hive of al- binos. What do you think of those';' They say they are very pretty bees, and I should like to see them very much. Flossie .1. Eldridge. New Bedford, Mass., Dec. 31, 18S7. Thanks for your kind letter, friend Flo.s- sie. So you didn't get even enough honey to put on a piece of bread. I suppose you mean surplus. The old folks tell us. tluit what man has done man ciin do ; but I guess it does not always follow that what man has done, little girls can do. At least, you did not find it so in your case, did youV Do you know of Josh Billings V Well, he was a kind of funny-wise innn who didn't spell very well. lie said, " Egsperience teaches u good skule, but the tuishion is rather hi." The young bee-keeper general- ly findg out, sooner or later, that Josh is right, and, like yourself, they find that, if thetuishun is not ''hi,'' the bee is "hi ''tem- pered, when not used right. Yes, I think vou have got a real nice papa, especially if he takps fTLEANT:^Gs. • 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 68 0a^ JlejiEp. Whoso sshall offend one of these littk- ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a mill- stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths uf the soa.— Matt. 18:6. 'E have just had a revival at our church, and quite a number, young and old, were taken into the church last Sun- day. The ceremony was one of the most sacred and impressive of any I ever attended before. Our minister did not preach any sermon ; in fact, there were so many to be received into the church that there was not time for preaching. But I don't think I ever heard any preaching in my life that struck such heavy blows on the head, and, I trust, on the heart as well, of your old friend A. I. Hoot, as did this service without any sermon. Before me, on the right hand and on the left, were those I had known and worked with, from the age of ten years and up. Among them were quite a number I had prayed for ; and sometimes 1 had prayed with a very small amount of faith, I assure you. There were those among the new converts whom I had scarce- ly dared hope would ever stand up publicly before men and accept the cross of Christ. I had not only been well acquainted with these young friends, but the parents of some of them were intimate friends of mine, even before these children came into this world of ours. Some of them had worked for me in years gone by, in the relationship of employ- er and employe, and I had had opportunities of seeing their weak points, and they had no doubt noticed my weak points. A great many times I see faults and failings among those around me, that are of such a nature that it seems to me I can do nothing but pray for them ; and sometimes ( I am asham- ed to acknowledge it) it has seemed to me as though it were no use even to pray for them. 1 am afraid I get into the same atti- tude of mind as did a good old deacon, when, during a severe drought, they met at the church to pray for rain. Our friend was a careful observer of the weather ; and, after stating the points of the case as it lay before them, he gave his deliberate opinion some- thing like this : " Dear brothers and sisters, I am really afraid there won't be any use of praying for rain so long as the wind holds so steadily in the northeast.''' Very likely our good old friend was thinking they had better go home and wait for a more propitious time. Well, I have very often gone off by myself, and prayed, as well as I knew how, for some one who, it seemed to me, was just about absolutely contrary and evil-minded. Some- times I am shocked and pained beyond any thing I can tell you, by hearing that some young friend, in whom! had begun to have considerable faith, had been indulging m profanity, or, may be, in obscene talk. In anguish of soul I have said to my informant, •• Vvhy, dear friend, can it be possible that I have been so misled ? Did sucli words ever pass the lips of this young friend from whom 1 had been hoping so mucli V Alas! it was Ijut too true. While I thought 1 had been sowing seeds of purity and godliness, the enemy had sown these foul lares, which were taking root and growing and spreading. ''But, brother Uoot, even if they have united with the church, is it absolutely cer- tain they will ^ive up this bad talk, or these selfish or dishonest practices V '' No, my friend, it is not absolutely certain. I shall have to confess that even church- members are sometimes guilty of bad talk and dishonest practices; but do not, my dear friend, I pray you, be in haste to turn your back on the" religion of Christ Jesus, and to decide that it does not cleanse from all sin. Because you have seen a few cases of this kind, do not, I beseech you, say that the Lamb of God does not take away the sin of the world. The act of joiuing tiie church, even tliough the person be honest and sincere at the time, does not, of itself, make sure of this better life whicli we are hungering and thirsting to see ; but I will tell you what jn sure. After these young friends, who are addicted to evil ways, have united with the church, if you can induce them to attend regularly our young people's prayer-meetings, and take part by repeating texts of Scripture, helping to sin^ verses of our inspiring hymns, giving occasional testi- mony as to the progress they are making in Christ's service, and, as they get a little older in the Master's service, taking part in prayer in their own simple language, this sort of thing does save. I have never seen it fail, ft is as sure and certain as that the child at school will, by diligent attention to all requirements, succeed in getting an edu- cation. Yes, it is more certain ; for some pupils may work hard, and yet be so dull of comprehension that they never make even fair scholars (that is, once in a great while we find such cases). But he who tries to fol- low Christ Jesus, never makes a failure- no, never ; and may God be praised that it is so. Well, the powerful sermon that the Holy Spirit poured down on mj^ head and into my heart was this ; and it seemed like a voice from heaven, saying, " A. I. Root, on you rests a heavy responsibility ; all the more heavy, because you have, at different times, exhorted these young ones to turn away from earthly allurements, and to choose Christ Jesus for their portion. On you the responsibility rests of watching over these young ones ; of extending a helping hand ; of giving them even now, as oppor- tunity presents, a word of welcome. Tell them just what you think of this act of theirs— this act of their own free choice. Tell them, too, of the work they will have to do ; of the struggles and conflicts, of the discouragements, the falling-down and the getting-up again. Tell them how wily is Satan ; for you know by personal experience and personal conflict, ;/ any one does. The very fact that you have prayed for them makes the obligation and responsibility heavier on your shoulders. If you have planted the "seed, now bestir yourself to watch over the crop, and see that no tares take root and spoil the good work so well begun. There is no escaping the obligation laid upon you. The fact that you note discover that unchristianlike feelings have been lurking 64 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. in your heart toward some of them makes the obligation all the heavier. A little soul lias just started — has just begun to take root and grow, for Christ Jesus ; be careful how you, by any careless act, shall tear this young plant from the new soil in which it has begun to take root. Be careful how you in any way discourage or hinder, or how^ you even by a sin of omission let one of these little ones settle back and turn to other ways.'' These thoughts passed through my mind until, in almost anguish of spirit. I breathed again ;uid again the little prayer, "Lord, help I Help thy poor unworthy and unprofit- able servant in this, his hour of greatest need. Help him to feed thy lambs.'" Peace came after this prayer ; and as I looked from one face to another, reading their little minds as I have learned to read them through long acquaintance, lovable traits and pleasant memories came up from the past and gave me greater faith and greater hope ; but for all that, I felt the power of that service without a sermon, still, and I feel that it is not only the little band here in Medina who are resting greatly on my poor self, but that it is perhaps hundreds of others far away, who read Gleanings, and whom I know nothing of (although they know me), and who are perhaps learning to depend greatly on my poor self. In view of this I want to ask you to pray for me, dear friends ; and I feel like saying, too, with an earnest- ness and sincerity that I never asked before, that I fear I am not fitted for the responsi- bilities that are fast gathering about me. I am only a very, very poor and imperfect sinner at best." I do love righteousness, however, and purity in thought and in deed : and I do love Jesus, and 1 am trusting and hoping, not in my own self, but in the blood freely shed for me. L want you now, dear readers, to go back a little, arid come with me to East Saginaw, Mich. I was up early, had breakfast at the hotel, and was hunting for greenhouses de- voted to vegetables and market-gardening. For some reason or other, they had put new men on the street-cars for drivers ; and one of these new men started me off on the wrong line. The drivers were new, but the horses were old. The street-car route lay along liy the river, and soon we came to a bridge. Now, the track branched so that one route was across the bridge, and the other was straight along the river-bank. I had been admiring the intelligent-looking horse that made the bright new car fairly spin on that bright frosty morning. All at once the horse, without orders, turned off in a strangely ec- centric way, and began pulling sidewise on the car. It fact, he persisted to such an ex- tent in this strange manner that the mo- mentum of the car pulled him backward, al- most, for a distance. What should possess a bright and intelligent horse like this one to make such an ungainly maneuver as this. right when the car was at full speed V The driver woke up from a sort of sleepy indif- ference, pulled his lines with a tremendous jerk, called the horse a fool, while he gath- ered up the ends of the lines and gave him a big cut, and then berated him with loud, unkind words. Just then it became appar- ent what had caused the mistake. The horse liad evidently been in the halnt of go- ing straight ahead ; and in order to go straiglit ahead, he, instead of letting the car turn off by the bridge, had been taught to pull strongly over toward the side of the straight track. This he did of his own ac- cord ; but witli the new drivers the routehad evidently been changed, and the switch on the track placed so as to swing the car out across the bridge. The driver liad been told of this, but he was too stupid or sleepy to give tlie horse notice of the different ar- rangements on this bright winter morning. Poor horsey ! His bright, intelligent, wide- awake look was gone. The head that had been lield proudly aloft as he carried his burden, was now lowered in shame and dis- grace. The blows from the lines hadn't hurt him much ; but the sting of the words had evidently sunk deep into his horse feel- ings. His ears were dropped back as much as to say, " There is no more enjoyment to- day for me." And, dear friends, I can im- agine that thoughts something like these were passing in his mind. Don't you think that horses have thoughts? Well, I do; and this is what our poor dumb friend was thinking, if I interpreted him rightly : '' Oh ! why did he scold me when J surely was not to blame in that blunder V Why did he not with lines or words indicate in some way, at least, that, instead of going straight ahead, we were to cross the bridge this morning ? I don't mind hard work, for I love to serve the children of men. I do not mind so very much if I go sometimes with- out food and water for a time. I can also bear to be made to go when I don't feel well ; but, oh I do hate to be scolded, and called a fool. I love this busy world ; I love to see the improvements that are going on in it; I love the great bridges built by the hand of man ; I love to see the lumber com- ing down in great rafts ; I love to help carry it to the mills, and then away from the mills to the bridges that are to l)e built ; I love the locomotives and the great railways ; I love to see buildings go up, and to see the march of progress and improvements, even though a thousand things are involved that horses are not permitted to understand. I admire my masters's superior intelligence, and I am willing to bow my head to him meekly, as his servant. I accept my posi- tion, and rejoice in it ; but oh ! I wish he would not scold me when I am exercising the best judgment that God gave me. I do not mind being scolded or wliipped when I am contrary or stubborn ; but for many years I have prided myself on being not only a good horse, but aii intelligent one. 1 have studied my work, and felt proud of be- ing able to do it without so much as even a suggestion. Of course, 1 love to be appre- ciated. I love a kind word and an encour- aging pat on the neck when I have com- prehended what was wanted of me, and have been able to do it without telling ; but I can get along and be happy without these words of encouragement. If he had not called me a fool I could have forgotten all the rest, My old master, wbom they 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 65 have taken away, knows that nothing in the world would make me run away, or disobey orders. He knows I never flinched on a load, no matter how heavy or how unreason- able it may have been ; but why didn't they tell this new man how Jmrd I had worked for a good reputation V And then to have me cut up that ridiculous figure before all those passengers in the car — those intel- ligent and well-dressed men and women ! Women are always kind to horses, so far as I know ; and I am sure that, if that driver had been a woman I should not have been called a fool before somebody inquired into the matter and explained tchi/ I did not understand my business. Many "people think that horses can not have things explained to them ; bi;t as the world is improving and progressing in so many ways, I wonder if it is not possible they shall some time know us better than they do now, and. maybe, when they know us better they will love us more. Oh ! why did he not wait a little be- fore he — called— me — a.— fool V An hour or two after the above facts were passing through my mind, the mayor of the city of East Saginaw gave us a little talk at our bee-keepers' convention ; and as it was not quite noon when he closed his talk, he suggested that, if any of the bee-men would care to see some of the machinery that moves the great city, he would, Avith" great pleasure, wait on them. Of course, we glad- ly accepted his kind invitation. The first sight that was shown us was the fire depart- ment ; and he said that, as it might be new to some of us, he had arranged so that, in a few minutes' time, a signal of fire would be sounded. This signal would be given from a part of the city over five miles away, and we would have the pleasure of seeing how the boys, the horses, and all the machinery worked. The boys were supposed to be up stairs in bed. They slept with suitable clothing for jumping up at a second's notice. Electricity plays an important part in the work, for it sounds the alarm, turns up the gas, opens the stable -doors, and lets the horses rush to their places, even before a man or boy is on the spot. The horses are confined in stalls, without any halters ; and at the alarm of fire and the opening of the doors they evidently Xry to be on hand before the boys are. Well, every thing went off as we were informed it would go off. With the crash of the alarm and the sudden blaze of gas, the doors flew open and the horses came with a plunge right under where their harnesses hung. One horse attracted my attention particularly. Before putting his bits in his mouth, as he was taught to do. he took time to give his companion a friendly nip in the neck, as much as to say, ''Now we are going to have some fun." He was quick enough, however, to have the bits in his mouth as soon as the boys came tum- bling down a brass rod quite near the horses' heads. They slide down this brass rod in preference to coming down stairs, because they can come quicker. One slid right down over the other, so it looked like a live stream of nice, healthy, handsome-looking boys. The mayor told us to look at our watches, 9,nd see how many minutes it took them to get under way. Why, dear friends, my Waterbury watch did not say any minutes at all. The engine was off like a shot, before the minute-hand of the watch showed scarce- ly any time at all. After the horses came back, I petitioned to take a better look at them ; and for the sake of letting us see just how they behave themselves, the mayor invited the bee-keep- ers to stand at the back of the stalls. These stalls, remember, were open at both ends. The fire-alarm doors closed the space at their heads. The other was permanently open ; therefore when they came back after being unharnessed, it was their custom to go right througli the stall, then turn around in the passage back of the stalls, then go back with their faces toward the aforesaid doors. They started in as naturally as if it were an every-day occurrence (which is really the truth, for they go through the above jirogramme everyday at noon), until the playful one before mentioned happened to look up and see a lot of strange men back of his stall, in the passageway. He stood with his ears pricked up, looking at us for a moment, and then, evidently being bashful, or a little afraid of so many strangers, he concluded to see if he could not turn about inside of his stall. The stall was too narrow, however, and I began to think he might get stuck, or perhaps injure himself. His mas- ter, however, getting his eye on him at just this crisis, called out, " Why, Sam. 1 am ashamed of you. These men won't hurt you. Come in here and see them." The master was one of the nice young boys I have before spoken of. The horse looked at the boy a minute, then looked at the crowd as some bashful boy or girl might have done ; and finally, in obedience to the word of command, came up to us. He sniffed a little ; but being assured by his keeper that we were good men, he evidently took it for granted, and let us pat him and talk to him. But he could not restrain the vein of fun that seemed to be a part of his horse nature. For as he turned, he gave a playful nip toward the region of the ribs of one of our bee-men who was in the f oregroun d . At this so many questions were asked, the keeper called to him, " Come out here. Sam. They want to see you perform some of your tricks.'' Obedient to the word of command, Sam walked out and followed his keeper. After several tricks, the boy removed his cap and said, "Now, Sam, let the gentlemen see you kiss me." Sam gave us another look, as much as to say he didn't really like to show his affection before so much company ; but finally he put up his lips, opened them a lit- tle, and gave the boy a caress on his cheek, as it were ; and as if to indicate to us that it was not all a form without any heart in it, he also gave his master a loving lick across the forehead with his soft tongue. The boy was a nice clean boy. He looked brisht and intelligent; and as the horse gave him this caress, I felt a greater admiration for my fellow-men, in one line at least, than I ever felt before. This horse and this boy under-- stood each other perfectly. They could a.h most talk with each other. 66 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. -Ian. May be what I have told yoii is an old story to some ; but I am STire there are oth- ers like myself to whom it will be new ; and I tell you, my friends, it was a real pleasure to meto stroke that great powerful Sam on the neck, and tell him that I not only ad- mired him, but that 1 loved him from the bottom of my heart. And although I did not say it out loud, I said to myself that I loved God more, after the experience of that morning, and I felt like thanking him for these dumb friends of ours, the House. He paweth in the valley, and rejoieeth in his strenjrth; he goeth on to meet the armed men.— Job 39:31. Now. then, friends, there is nothing said in our text about offending a horse, or hurt- ing his feelings by harsh, unkind, and un- deserved words ; but there has been a feel- ing growing up in my mind for years past, that we shall be surely called to account — some of us— for the unkindness we show toward oiu' dimib brutes. Sometimes I have fairly burned with indignation to see a man whip and scold a horse because the horse made a mistake. Instead of feeling gratitude in his heart to God for having giv- en him a dumb servant that can understand so much, the brutal driver abuses the horse for not understanding something that has never been explained to him at all. I do wish that something might be done to bring about a reform in this matter. I have sometimes thought a man ought to be fined and imprisoned for letting his temper lead him to vent his wrath on the horses that could not answer back or retaliate ; but, ray friends, such acts that stir us all are not to be compared with scolding or punishing a child for something the child did not under- stand or comprehend. And now, dear friends, have mercy and compassion for me Avhen I tell you that, during that service at church, I fairly trembled for fear that I should myself be guilty, sooner or later, in saying something or doing something that might discourage these little ones who are just starting in the path to the eternal city. Now, friemls, one more glimpse and I will close. After my visit at East Saginaw, I am al- most home. The train is rounding the last curve, and the factory buildings are in sight. As we slacken up at the depot, John and Ernest are on the platform, ready to welcome me. After the first salutations are past. John says, " We have good news for you." " Yes." adds Ernest, " the best news you can think of." I looked at the boys inquiringly. They both smiled. I stood still. What could it be — the best news I could think of ? Dear parent, wjiat would be the best news that ijou could think of V What should be, if it is not, nearer the parent's heart than any thing else in this world V While the boys were watching me I made an inventory of my life and my all. For a time there was a dim and vague thought that I could not quite grasp. Little by little it began to shape itself around our fifteen-year-old daughter— the one whom you have known as Blue Eyes. I had been praying a good deal for her lately. Shall 1 tell you w^hy V She is a wide-awake girl, and alive to all that is going on in the world. She has been a great reader. In fact, she has read a good many books that I rather preferred she should not read. During the past winter she has been inquiring about the outside world quite a little ; and as different things came up, she has been inclined to query some, why her mother and I could not con- sistently consent that she should attend eucher-parties, theatricals, and even public dances, that many of her schoolmates were in the habit of attending. I explained the matter as best I could, but she did not seem quite satisfied. Not very long ago she made a remark something like this : " Why, pa, if Christian people can't have any fun at all, I am not really sure that I want to be a Christian." That is the most she ever said in that di- rection ; but I felt afraid of the allurements of this world. Dear father or mother, have these questions ever come up in your own home V Now, while the boys were looking at me smilingly, I felt like thanking God that the dearest wish in my own heart, and the best news that this world could fm-nish, was to the effect that ( •onstance had made Christ Jesus her choice. I suppose these thoughts passed tlirough my mind in a lit- tle more than a second. 1 opened my lips and said interrogatively. '•Connie?" Er- nest replied, •■ Y^es, father, you are right. We have had a great revival, and she is one of the new converts." It was indeed true. While only a few weeks ago we almost had to drive lier to meeting, now nothing could keep her away from the meetings that were held daily ; and as [ sat there beholding that service without any sermon. Blue Eyes was among the rest; and this voice that "had been labor- ing with me said, "Behold the answers to your prayers. Now make sure that nothing in your words or actions shall undo the work of to-day, and offend this one just get- ting a bright, "happy, an ♦ •! For Clubbing Bates, See First Page of heading Matter. ivdiEiDi:^-^, T-^3sr. IS, laes. A riKhteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the ten- der mercies of the wicked are cruel.— Prov. 12 : 10. I EXPECT to attend the York State Convention. GLEANINGS AND ABC CLUBBED. We will club one year's subscription to Glean- ings with a cloth ABC, postpaid, for $2.00; or pa- per bound for $1.75. don't send any more back numbers. Our notice for back numbers of Gleanings has brought us an avalanche, and we can not use any more at present. We can not, therefore, pay for any more after this notice goes out. AT WHAT temperature DO BEES FLY? I KNOW exactly, for I have just been out this 6th day of January, and watched the bees which were pouring out of the hives in different directions. As the sun did not shine at all, and there was no wind, I had an opportunity of getting a pretty fair test. A few started out when the thermometer stood at .")0°, but there was not a general flight until it stood at about 55. Had there been sunshine it would have made a vast difference; but as it was, they flew from entrances pointing to the north just as freely as if they were facing the south. WHERE shall THE FIRST NEW HONEY COME FR(>M ? Mr. Editor;— I sent you a bunch of roses and tiekl-tloHers during the holidays, as a holiday present. I see to-day many heads of white clover in bloom also. Grasshoppers and but- terflies are sporting in the warm sun. and 20 bees per minute went into one hive, heavily laden with pollen. But little win- ter yet. ' .1. W. Winder. New Orleans. La.. .Tan. 8, 1888. Thank you. old friend. The roses, etc., were s(unewhat dried up, but they were a curiosity for all that. Is it not unusually early for white clover, even in your locality? It seems to me you stand a good chance of being able to report the first new white-clover honey on the market, unles.s, indeed, some of our Florida friends can do a little better still. I should be very glad indeed to make you a vi.«it just now if it were possible. THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. The first numbei- of the Brc-Keeprrs' Review has come to hand. A careful perusal assures us that our friend W. Z. Hutchinson has earrieii out the plan which he outlined in the advertisement which appeared in this journal. It is emphatically a re- view on the subject of bees. In the first issue, the subject of disturbing bees during winter is discuss- ed by R. L. Taylor, E. M. Hayhurst, James Heddon, J. H. Robertson, H. R. Boardman, J. H. Martin, Eugene Secor, Dr. A. B. Mason, and others. The editorials are carefully written, and contain a good many valuable suggestions. Friend Hutchinson is a terse, able writer, and a practical bee-keeper, if he can carry out the plan he has outlined as well as he has done in the first number, his journal will surely fill a"niche"in apicultural literature. We wish him every success. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. m gPECI^Ii pi6¥ICE^. bOSPEL HYMNS, WORDS AND MUSIC. We have the following- Gospel Hymns, not in- eluded in our book-list, which we desire to close out: Two copies Gospel Hymns No.l, words and mu- sic, paper covers, -5 cts. elicli. Eight copies Gospel Hymns No, 3, words and m\isic, paper covers, 3.5 cts. each. Four copies Gospel Hymns No. 4, words and music, board covers, 30 cts. each. The above will be 5 cts. each extra it' sent by mail. Also 23 copies Gospel Hymns combined, Nos. 1, 3, and 3, words and music, paper cover. .50 cts. each. It sent by mail, 10 cts. extra. Besides the above, we keep regular- ly in stock Gospel Hymns consolidated, Nos, 1, 3, 3 and 4 in paper covers, 138 pages, words only, at 5 cts. each; by mail, 6 cts. The same in board cov- ers, 304 pages," 30 cts. each; by mail, 23. The same in board covers, words and music, 75 cts. each; by mail, 85. SECOND-HAND BARNES COMBINED SAW FOR $35.00. We still have the Barnes combined foot-power sawing-machine, mentit)ned on page 810, Nov. 15, Gleanings, 1887, to dispose of. It is now at Ox- ford, Iowa. We had made arrangements with one of our customers to take it. but he has changed his mind and is making other arrangements, and we again offer it for .sale. "The saw is a combined Barnes (worth when new $40.00), used three years, and is in perfect running order, with two saws and two mandrels; bought last summer all the run- ning-gears new (drive-wheel and cogs, belts, etc.), making it virtually almost as good as new, except the saws, which are not good for much." This is the description given us of the machine, and we can recommend it as a bargain at $26.00. Of course, having been made three years ago, it is not the improved pattern now made by Barnes, but the old style. Still, a great many prefer the old pattern to the new, and would not buy the new if they could get the old. THE "ORAND RAPIDS" LETTUCE. I HAVE finally succeeded in getting half a pound of the seed of the above. For particulars in regard to it, see p. 953, Dec, 1887. We will at present offer it for sale only in 5 and 35 cent packages. With each package will be included full directions for cultivation, especially in greenhouses, given by the originator of the new variety. In our ne.xt issue we expect to give a nice cut of it. It is fully as desirable for outdoor culture as for greenhouses, and it is now about time that it be started, either in the greenhouse or in boxes in the window, or hot- beds or cold frames, especiallj' if you want to get it on the market before lettuce is to be found which is ordinarily raised in the open ground. In fact, the way to make a success of this lettuce is to have it before everybody else has got hold of it. I paid Mr. Davis *15,C0 for giving me full particulars in regard to raising lettuce, besides the fifty (hillars I paid him for only half a pound of serd ! CONVENTION NOTICES. The next regular meeting of the Stark Co. Bee-keepers' Soci- ety will be held in Oranere Hall, C^anton, C, Feb. 4. 1888. A full attendance is desired. Business of importance will be consid- ered. M. Thomson, Sec'y. The fourth annual meeting of the Wisconsin State Bee-keep- ers' Association will be held in the Capitol building, in Madi- son, on Wednesday, Feb. 8 1888. PRi lOKAMME. President's Address— C. A. Hatch, Ithaca. Notes from American Bee-Convention -F. Wilcox. Mauston. Kcliction lit the producer to the commission merchant^-A. V. i)isho]p. Milwaukee. The Heddou hive, and how to use it— W. H. Putnam, River Falls. How to build a bee-celiar— D. I). Daniher, Madison. How to get the best extracted honey— E. France. Platteville. Comb or extracted honey, which?— F. Mhmick, N. Freedom. The nineteenth annual convention of the N. Y. State Bee- keepers' Association will be held at Bagg's Hotel, Utica, N. Y., January 17. 18, and 19, 1888. PROGRAMME. Tuesday, January 17, 2 P. M. Reading the minutes of last meeting. Reports of Secretary, Treasurer, and Standing Committees. Discussion: "Does it pay to cultivate plants especially for honey?" Miscellaneous topics. EVENING SESSION, 7 P. M. Receiving members. Discussion : " Does it pay to use full sheets of foundation in the brood-chamber?" Opened by G. M. Doolittle, followed by a general discussion as to the value of foundation. Artificial fertilization— Prof. N. W. McLain, Aurora, 111. AVednesday. January 18, 9 A. M. Appointment of tlie various committees. " How can we orti\uiizc an intirnalional bee-keepers' associa- tion that will best piniiiotc Ihf intLicsts of bee-keepers?" Es- says by Dr. C'. C. Milli r ami H. 1). Cutting, followed by discus- sion led by Capt. J. E. Hetlierington. Miscellaneous matters. AFTERNOON SESSION, 1 P. M. Receiving new members. Election of oflicers. President's Annual Adui-ess. Discussion: -'Best management of the apiary to produce comb honey." Led by Julius Hoffman. Discussion of questions from Question-Box. Miscellaneous communications. EVENING SESSION, 7 P. M. Discussion: "How can we increase the demand for honey, and maintain present prices?" Led by L. C. Root. " Marketing comb hune.v." Led by N. N. Betsinger, followed by a general discussion on " Marketing our products." Thursday. January 19, 9 a. m. Reading essay from K. f'. Holterman. Discussion: "The cuininn' bee for business. Discussion: Scientilic ventilation of bees in winter reposito- ries. Led by P. H. KUwood, followed by a general discussion on wintering, AFTERNOON SESSION. 1 P. M. Question: " How can we awaken agricultural-fair managers to the importance of our industry'" C^ R. Isham. Reports of committees. Miscellaneous business. -Adjournment. ti. H. Kniokerbockek, Sec'y. DADANT'S FOUNDATION FACTORS, WHOLE- SALE AND RETAIIi. See advertisement in another column. Hht.fd Nothing Succeeds Like Success. I have been successful in the production of Comb Honey for the past ten years, and my little pam- phlet "How 1 Produce Comb Honey," briefly explains the method I pursue. By mail, 5 cts. per copy ; per 100, $;i.0». My illustrated price list of General Sup- plies, Bees and Queens, free. Address, GEO. E. HILTON, Fremont, Mich. THE Bee-keepers' REVIEW! For January is now out, and contains the following original articles: " Disturbance Not Necessarily In- jurious," R. L. Taylor; "Bees are Summer Birds, ' E. M. Hayliurst; "Disturbing Bees in Winter," Jas. Heddon; "A Niche that Needs Filling," M. M. Bal- dridge; "Daily Visits no Disturbance," J. H. Rob- ertson; "Bees Winter Well in a Swinguig Tree- top," P. Boomhower; "Keep the Bees Quiet in Early Winter," H. R. Boardman; "Continued Dis- turbance Injurious," J. M. Martin; "Light Not a Disturbance," Dr. A. B. Mason; "Disturbance Not Injurious, if Other Conditions are Right," Eugene Secor; " Bess Undisturbed by Light," H. D. Cutting. Following the above come editorials upon: Price of the Review— Wood or Tin for Separators — Is the Latter "Colder " than the Former 'i'— "Not Accord- ing to Nature " —Mr. Heddon and the Review — Disturbing Bees in Winter Seldom Injurious — Temperature to be the Special Topic of the Next Issue — Unfinished Sections vs. Foundation — A Modern Bee-Farm. After the editorials, room is given for the follow- ing extracts: "Modern Bee -journalism," M.; "Brine for Soaking Dipping-boards," M. M. Bal- dridge; "Less Afraid of Disturbance," Dr. C. C. Miller; " Injured by Passing Trains," G. M. Doo- little; " Stamping on the Floor Above a Bee-cellar," Dr. A. B. Mason; "Disturbing. Bees Out of Doors," G. M. Doolittle; "Handling Bees in Winter," F. Boomhower. Price of Review, .50c a year, in advance. Samples free. THE PRODUCTION OF COMB HONEY. A neat little book of 45 pages; price 25 cts. The Review and this book for 65 cts. Stamps talien, either \J. S. or Canadian. Address W. Z. HUTCHINSON, lOtfdb Flint, Mich. DADANT'S FOUHDATIOM PACTOET, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. See advertisement in another column. 70 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Jan. V*B§|"r To All Seed Buyers ■iHliH Our complete illus- ■ Rlkktrated Anna 1 1 of Tested Seeds, Bulbs, Tools, | ete., tells all about seeds and Kardeniiig. Colored Plates, gardening. i;olorea f lates. A.W.IilVliSGSTON'SSONSj DO YOU WANT SEEDS th-ices low for reliable seeds. I Sold last season lo Thousands of Farmers and Gardeners and no J complaints. We are Growers ii-; well aa Dealers. Ortelnators of Acme I Favorite and OEAl'TY Tomatues. j.r Box ^73, Colnmbns, O. SEEDS GIVEN AWAY! A package Mi.xcd Flower-sieeds (5()0 kind!^) _^.^__^^__„,^,.^ with Pakk's Fr.niiAi. Guidk, all tor- stamps. Ever.v tlower-lovpr delighted. Tell all your friends. G. W. Park, Fannettsbiirg, Pa. f;^~Be prompt. This offer appears but once more. Western BEE-KEEPERS' Supply Factory. We iiuuiufaeiure Bee-Keepers' sup- plie.. uf all kinds, best quality at St prices. Hives, Sections. idation, Extractors, Smokers, es. Veils, Feeders, Clover Seeds, Buckwheat, etc. Im- I p.irted Italian Queens. Queens aud Bees Sample ( npv of our Bee Journal, "The Western Bee-Keeper," and latext Catalogue mailed ' Free m Bee-Keeiiers. Address JOSEPH NYSEWANDER, DE8 MOINES, IOWA. BEES, Queens, Hives, Given Comb Foundation, Apiarian Supplies, German Carp, Small-fruit Plants. Send for catalogue Iree. E. T.Flaaigan, Belleville, Ills. 1 ^'4db. LOOK HERE I A complete hive for comb honey, loronlj' $1.30. Planer-sawed, V-groove sections a specialtj-. Price li.stfree. .T. M. KINXIIC A; €0., ITtfdb Kocliester, Oaklatiid ^'.o., ITlleli. DAD ANT'S FOUNDATION is asserted by hundreds of practical and disinterest- ed bee-keepers to be the cleanest, brig-htest, quick- est accepted by bees, least apt to sag, most regular In color, evenest, and neatest, of any that is made. It is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111. ; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich.; Dougherty & Wiley, Indianapolis, Ind.; B. J.Miller & Co, Nappanee, Ind. ; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis. ; Smith & Goodell, Rock Falls, 111.; Ezra Baer, Dixon, Lee Co., 111.; E. S. Armstrong, Jerseyville, Illinois; Arthur Todd, 3123 North Front Street. Phil'a, Pa. ; E. Kretchmer, Coburg, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula. La., M.J. Dickason, Hiawatha, Kansas; J. W. Porter, Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Va. ; E. K. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y. ; D. A. Fuller, Cherry Valley, 111.; J. B. Mason & Sons, Mechanic Falls, Maine; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O., Jos. Nysewandor, Des Moines, la.; Aspinwall & Treadwell, Barrytown, N. Y.; Barton, Forsgard & Barnes, Waco, McLennan Co., Texas, W. E. Clark, Oriskany. N. Y., G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wis.. E. F. Smith, Smyrna, N. Y., J. Mattoon, and W. J. Stratton, Atwater, O., Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and numerous other dealers. Write for gamvUs /ree, and price list of supplies, accompanied witti 1 50 Complimentary and ttnso- Hcited testimonial a, from as many bee-keepers, in 1883. We guarantee every inch of nur foundation et/uaJ lo fiample in evei-y rexpect. CHAS. DAUAIVr \. SON, 3btld lluinilton, IliiiK-ook Co., Illinois. Price of seed: 4 oz., *1.00; 10oz.,f3 00: 1 pound, $300. Larger quantities by express, at reduced rates. Sow very early in the spring, or late in the fall. It vegetates in a low temperature. I have twelve acres that will bloom next spring. I shall sow two acres this fall. It is a success. He Sugar^le Sugar-Busn THIS IS A NEW BOOK BV IPI^OI^. -i?^. J. COOI^, AUTHOR OF THE BEE-KEEPEH'S GVIDE, INJURIOUS IN- SECTS OE MICHKiAN, ETC. The name of the author is enough of itself to rec- ommend an.v book to almost any people; but this one on Maple Sugar is written in Prof. Cook's hap- piest style. It is -« PROFUSELY ;- ILLUSTRATED,e<- And all the difficult points in regard to making the very best quality of Maple Syrup and Maple Sug- ar are very fully explained. All recent inven- tions in apparatus, and methods of making this delicious product of the farm, are fully described. Published by A. I. Hoot, Mesiita, Ohio. If you Wish to Obtain the Highest Price for Honey THIS SEASON, WRITi: TO HEADQUARTERS, F. U. STKOIIMEYEK & CO., 17-4db AVlioIexalc Honey Mercliants, laa Water St., New York. Costs less tlmn !i iwiits per week. THE CANADIAN BEE JOURNAL. THE FIRST DOLLAR WEEKLY IN THE WORLD. THE D.A.JONES CO., PUBLISHERS, BEETON, ONTAEIO, CAN. D. A. Jones is its editor, and this fact is a guaran- tee of its worth. It is thoroughly practical and con- tains weekl.v excellent articles from leading bee- keepers in the United States and Canada. Fifty-two numbers make a volume of 1040 pages. American currency and stamps at par. Samples free. HOW'S THIS? 33-3d H. CHAPITIAN, Versailles, N. Y. G. B. LEWIS & CO. We make the best Bet-Hives, the best sections, the best shipping-crates, the best frames, etc. We sell them at the lowest prices. Write for free illustrated catalogue. C. B. LEWIS & CO. WATERTOWN, WIS. itfdb. S. p. YoDEK, E. Lew- istown, O., has a few choice pure -bred P. Hock and L. Brahma cockerels for sale at $1.. 50 and *3 each. (Wt. 8 to 10 lbs.) Can l)f ri'iiniud if not satisfurtoiy. Speak in time. ON 30 DAYS' TRIAL - TH8S NEW V, .ELASTIC TRUSS 'U-.lh a I'ad diirerrnt from all others. IS cup t;liai>e, with Self- adjustint? Ball in center, adapts itself to all pusitions of tho bodywhilo the ball inthecup / presses back the intes-> — ,^ fines just as a person does with the finger, with light pressure the Her- nia is held securely &xy and nigrht, and a radical euro certain. It is easy, durable and cheap. Sent bv mail. Cir- culars free. EOGLESTON TUUS3 Co., Chicago, lU. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 119 Contents of this Number. Bees and Borries 121 Bees and C'oldrs (Q.B.) .138 Bees Safe Near Railroad. . . .136 Bees Between Koeks .-..136 Bees and Nemhliors 135 BeesN..t Hint li\ Light 132 Bee-rave, l)..,)lit'tle's 123 Bee-eellar. Kint:'^ 124 Bible. Karts Aliout 148 Bovs- Hi ve-f artory 140 Buinljle-hees, To Destroy. . .142 Carniolans ill U.S...;'. 13,5 Chaddnck Pi.'tnre of 127 Chaff Hi v.-s K,i \ . .red 137 Chapniaii-pLant Se.dFree. .110 Convention in Cmtou 136 Crops on Poor Ground 145 Drinking-t'ount 134 Drones, Lang.stroth on 125 Editorials 146 Essay by A. B. Mason 10 Florida, Invitation to 135 Foundation-mill, Improved. 115 Heads of Grain 1.34 Hermaphrodites, Again 133 Honev by the Bushel 134 HuneV, Extracted 130 Honev, How to Market 130 Honey, Prices of 122 Husband-; .\dvice to 128 Killed oil Kailroftd 13.5 LifXht ill the Cellar 132 r,i u'li I K i 1 1 i n>r Bees 124 Oliio Cent] Exposition 126 Our I iwn .Vjjiary 14.') Paiutinn- Hives (Q.B.) ,i:,9 Pollen as a Food 121 Queen, Removed in Harvest. 1^1 Question-Box II 8 Reports Discouraging 137 Reports Encouraging 137 Reviving Bees 1^1 Sections in Potato-boxes 134 I Snow at Entrance. . . . (Q.B.) .138 S(ati-ti<-s 134 \V,-itcil..r Poultry 134 Woin.iii's Work 128 Yellow-jackets, To Kill 112 CONVENTION NOTICE. •a Be The second annual nieeMng of the Southwestern I keepers' Association will be held at the Court-house at lied Oak, March 6th and 7tli, 1^'8S. All bee-keepers are cordially in- vited to attend. E. AV, Pitzer, Sec'y. Hillsdale, la. CIRCULARS RECEIVED. The following have sent us their price lists: Christian Weckesser. Marshallville, O,, a 20-page circular of Italian bees, queens, garden-seeds, plants, etc. G. D. Black, Brandon, la., an 8-page list of Italian bees, comb and extracted honey. A. E. Maniim. Bristol, Vt,, a 12-page price list of high-cl.ist; poultry, bees. etc. E, L. Blake \ Co., Peabody, Mass., send a 4-page circular of seed-drills ,iiiil ,\ineiic.an hives, M. H. Hind, I'.ell Branch, Wayne Co.. Mich., a 12-pape price list of bee-keepeis' suiiplies. Till' novel feature of this cata- logue is. that friend Hunt ]miehascd a pi in!iii!.:-outtil , set the type, made the display lines, and printed his circular himself, lie writes, that he never sjient au hour in a printing-office. For a novice, he did well. •■ Hut," he writes, " it was rather ex- pensive." Next year he will do it cheaper Mrs. Lizzie E. Cotton, W cular and price list. The ■ t.ii- me she charges foi; the good- 1m classed with regular supiil.N -'!• il' a colony of Italian bees in iiei book, '■ Bee-keeping for Prolit." does all she agrees to. A 20-page circular of hce-snpplies for B. J. Miller & Cj., Nap- panee. Ind.. was ijriiue.l ai iln-- offii c. i a 16-page cir- ■ 111, ikes ,111, i iiie prices ml, loiliid her being ' -111! eh:ir^vs t'2ll,fl0for .liable liive, with her believe, however, she Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our usual rates. All ad's intended tor this department must not exceed 5 lines, and you must say you want your ad. in this de- partment, or we will not be responsible for any error. You can have the notice as many lines as you please; but all over Ave lines will cost you according to our regular rates. Of course, this- department is intended only for boiia-tlde ex- changes. WANTED.— Bee-help for 1888. One man with ex- perience and one wishing' to learn the business. 3U0 colonies, 30 j-ears' experience. S. T. Freeborn, Ithaca, Wis. WANTED.— To exchange new Simp, hives for fur- skins, either red- fox or sliiunk. Address A. P. Sharps, Exeter, Luzerne Co., Pa. WANTED.— To exchange Wheeler & Wilson sew- ing-machines (new) for honey, bees, or sup- plies. J. A. Green, Dayton, ill. 'aotfdb WANTED.— To exchange bees in Langstroth or Simplicit.v hives, for disk-harrow and band seed-drill. I also want seed-catalogues. Address W. H. Putnam, River Falls, Wis. TTT ANTED. —Correspondence on apples, potatoes, Vt seed-potatoes, cabbage, onions, small fruit, and fruit and jiroduce generally. Consignments solic- ited. Will (juote market at any time. Eakle Cuckenger, 4tfdb General Commission Merchajit, 117 South 4th St., Columbus, Q. WANTED.— To exchange sample sections, and price list of apiary supplies, for a two-cent stamp. Will also exchange supplies for founda- tion, and a few colonics of Italian bees, delivered at Clintonville, Wis. Address 3-4d W. H. Cook, Clintonville, Waupaca Co., Wis. WANTED. — Correspondence with parties who have strawberiy-plants and wisli to exchange for red-raspberry-plants. E. Clickenger, 4-5d 117 South 4th St., Columbus. O. WANTED.— To exchange our Price List of Bee- Keepei'S' Supplies, etc., for your name on a postal card. Address 4-.5-6d J NO. Nebel & Son, High Hill, Mo. WANTED.— A. position in large apiary for the coming season. Address 4d E. L. Pratt, Marlboro, Mass. WANTED.— A bee-keeper to take charge of my apiary, on shares. Robert Blacklock. Kilgore, Boyd Co., Ky. V17ANTED.~By an experienced man, a position as VV apiarifit and queen-breeder. Have had an ex- perience of 10 years, or as foreman of several apiaries. Address T. S. Half,, Calhoun, Gordon Co., Ga. ^17"ANTED.— A situation for the season of 1888, as Vt assistant in apiwry ; .3 years' experience: New England or New York pi-eferred. Address A. L. Trowbridge, Willimantic, Wind. Co., Ct. w ANTED.— Situation for 1888, by an expert bee- keeper. B. F. Howard, Hoyt's Corners, Seneca Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange Gregg raspberry-plants for comb fdn., lib. sections, alsike and white Dutch clover-seed. Address Thompson Brown, Cloverdalo, Ind. V17 ANTED.— To buy or hire a small place, in a good VV location, for keeping boes; must be in the western part of Vermont, or eastern part of New York. F.C. Fuller, Wendell Depot, Franklin Co., Mass. T\7 ANTED. —To exchange B-flat cornet, made in VV Paris; two crooks, two straights, second-hand, in good Older; case and instruction-book, lor sec- tions, fdn., or any thing useful to me. Geo. W. Miijii.s, Teepieville, Craw. Co,, Pa. I will sell my entire apiary of S.'jO colonies of Ital- ian bees, in good Langstroth hives, cheap, or any number of colonies, to suit purchaser. Unsurpass- ed facilities for shipping bv i-iver or railroad. Cor- respondence solicited. Address 4d J, ^V. T^'INDEE, New Orleans, L.a. OW TO KAISE COMB HONEV. See F<\s- ter's advertisement on another page. 4-1.5dh Vy ANTED —To exchange pure P. R. cockerels, or VV eggs from prize - winning stock, for alsike clover-seed or ferrets. Eggs.f a 0(1 for 13 or f 3,00 for 30. 45d B. D. StowELi;, Flushing, Belmont Co., O. DADANT'S FOUNDATION FACTOR?, WHOLE- SALE AND KRTAIL. See advertisement in another column. 3htfd THBS NEW 'Has a Pad dilferent from al' others, is cun shape, with Self- adjusting Ball in center,adapt,i itself to all positions of th(! body while the ball in the cup ' presses back the intes- — „, tines just as a person does with the finger, with Ughtprossuro the Her- nia is held securely d-ay and night, apd a r.adical cure certain. It is easy, durable and cheao, .Sent by mail, CiPr cularsfreo. liGGLESTON TRCS3 CO., Chicago, UU 120 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. PejSIEY C6MJIN. ciTT markets: Ckicago.— Hodey.— The demand is rather light, and prices are barelj' steady; offerings liberal. We quote: White clover, small pkgs, 1-lb. sections, 16@,18; same in larger pkgs, 3-lb. sections, 12@15. Dark, 10@13. Beeswax.— In moderate supply, but there is a moderate inquiry at previous prices. We quote: Good to choice yellow. 20@21; dark-colored, 1,5®17. G. Lasher & Son, Feb. 9. Chicago, 111. Milwaukee.— Hoiiej/. —This market continues dull and slow on comli honey, and inay be quoted weak at former quotations, and really lower prices are a necessity to sell. We quote choice white 1-lb. sections, l.'-^il'gc; 2 lbs , ]5(ffli6; 3 lbs., ]4@15. Dark and broken, not quotable. Extracted in fair de- mand. White in kegs and tin, 9@9Hc; in bbls. and 1/2-bbls., 81/(59; dark and mixed. 6(5,7. Beeswax.— Nominal, 22(5*25. A. V. Bishop, Feb. 4. Milwaukee, Wis. St. Louis.— Honej/.— We quote our market on honey, light demand in small way. Comb, white clover, 1-lb. sections, 18c; good to fair, 14@16. Wild Uower and buckwheat, 11(V'13. California white sage, 2 and 4 lb. sections. 12(7/ 14. Extracted honey, in cans, white clover, >-oi '.». Hbls., 6y2@.l. Southern, bbls., 4'/4(rtl.5'/2. Beesiritx. —Vvime, 20c; selected on order, 2(gi3c more. W. B. Westcott & Co.. Feb. 9. St. Louis, Mo. Columbus. — Honcj/.— Honey is dull, and moving slowly at the present time; selling at 1.5(S'18, as to quality. Extracted honey in better demand, selling at ]2(§)'l4c per lb. Beeswax.— None to speak of in this section. Earle Clickenger, Feb. 8. 117 South 4th St., Columbus, Ohio. Entoii'.s Tinproffff Latest and Best. Send for free catalogue. Address FRANK A. EATON, 3d Bluffton, Oliio. THERE tS MONEY IN IT! Seventy-Five Colonies of Italian Bees and capacity for 130, to any person who will b\iy a house and two acres of land lor its i-eal value. The bees and house and bee-house are in good order. Write for particulars to M. K. NICHOLS, 3tfdb Weaver's Corners, Huron Co., Ohio. DADAITT'S F07ITDATI0K FACT0B7, WHOLESALE andSETAIL. See advertisement in another column. ."tfhd WRITE TO JOHN CALLAM & CO., LUMBER DEALERS, KENTON, OHIO, — I'OIi PRICES ON- ALBANY.—Horjej/.— Honey-market is quiet, prices easier all around, especially for medium grades of clover. Buckwheat sells best at the prices. Some more movement in extracted. Advise bee-keepers to put honey in mess-size sections, and sell early. H. R. Wright, Feb. 9. 328 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Cleveland.— J3o?iey.— Our honey-market contin- ues very dull with but little demand, prices ranging from lH@18c per lb. for the best white-comb 1-lb. sections. Some call for extracted at about 9c per lb. A. C. Kendel, Feb. 8. Cleveland, Ohio. Chicago.— Honej/.— The market has changed but little if any, from our last quotations. The offer- ings are large for the season, and considerable pressing is being done, which has a weakening ten- dency, but we are of the opinion that the best lots will be sold at good figures. R. A. Burnett, Feb. 8. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Detroit.— Honey.-Best white comb honey, in one-pound sections, continues to be quoted at 18(3)20 cts. Extracted, 9(g,10. Beeswax. 22(g)23c. Bell Branch, Mich., Feb. 9. M. H. Hunt. Boston.— Honey.— Honey is slow. Sales at IG®!! for 1-lb. sections. 14@15 for 2-lb. sections. Extract- ed, 8(^9. Beeswax, 25. Blake & Ripley, Feb. 10. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. St. Louis.— Honey.— Choice comb, 18@20; strained, very scarce; in barrels, 6(a;7i4; extracted, in bar- rels, 5'/2@8. Cans, 8@!lO. Beeswax, mi@.M. Feb. 9. D. G. TUTT & Co., 206 N. Commercial St., St. Louis, Mo. New York.— Ho?i6y.— Honey is moving slowly. Fancy white 2-lb. sections are selling at 15((^16; fan- cy 1-lbs. are selling at 17(g)18. Thurber, Whyland & Co., Feb. 9. New York City. New York.— Ho7iey.— We have nothing new to re- port in the honey-market; limited demand, and a fair stock. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co., Feb. 9. 132 Water St., I^. Y. BEE-HIVES, SECTIONS, And General Supplies for Bee-keepers JVcii' Factory. Low PiHces. Gncd Worh. 3-14 db NEW HIVE CIRCULAR NOW READY. ADTHiKSS JAMES HEDDON, Dowagiac, Mich. gTbTlewis &C0. WE make the best Bee-Hives, the best Sections, the best Shipping-Crates, the best Frames, &c. l^^We sell them at the Lowest Prices. Write for free Illustrated Catalogue. G. B. LEWIS & CO., Itfdb WATERTOWN, WIS. WANTED.— To exchange 125 P. R. fowls. Have bred carefully for five years. Am offering fine chicks for $1.00 each ; per pair, *1.75. Eggs for hatching, 75c per 14. Will satisfy you. Mrs.C. E. Hatch, Kentland, Newton Co., Ind. If you Wish to Obtain the Highest Price for Honey THIS SEASON, WRITE TO HEADQUARTERS, F. «. STROHMEVEK A: CO., Wholesale Honey ITIerciiants, 17-4db 122 \¥a.ter St., Newlfork, Nothing Succeeds Like Success! I have been successful in the production of Comb Honey for the past ten years, and my little pam- phlet -'How I Produce Comb Honey," briefly explains the method 1 pursue. By mail, 5 cts. per copy; per KXl, $3.00. My Illustrated price list of General Sup- plies, Bees, and Queens, free. Address GEO. E. HILTON, Fremont, Mich. DADANT'S FOUNDATION FACTORY, Whole- sale and retail. See advertisement in another column. 3btfd Yol. XTI. FEB. 15, 1888. No. 4. 10 or more,75cts. oach. Single num- \ published semi-monthly by -1 r,.i^:'''V ber. 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be Clubs to different postofBces, not less cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the and Canadas. To all other coun- les of the Universal Postal Union. 18 To all countries ^t^^I^iro^^'^''^''''}A. I. ROOT, MEDINA. OH/OA^^^^^^^^.^^Sr^^ REMOVING THE QUEEN DURING HAR- VEST. ALSO SOMETHING ABOUT BEES AND BERRIES. fN page 810, 1887, friend Perkins thinks 1 would chang-e my opinion if I could visit his place where are three acres of raspberries. I had nearly the same amount on my place at one time, friend P., and bees and berries go nicely together so far as the bees are concerned; but the trouble is, the busy time of each comes at the same time. Mr. Perkins says, " I can tend all three, bees, berries, and poultry, and yet have time to play." Yes, and so you could add blacksmithing and tailor- ing and cobbling, making six lines of business, " and yet have time to play," providing you do little enough of each. During the busy season, a man can take care of only so many colonies of bees; but there are other times when he has some " time to play." What is wanted is not something that will come just when his time is already full, but some- thing to fill up his play time. In this view 1 think Mr. Perkins is making a success with poultry, but not with berries. CAN THE QUEEN BE REMOVED TOWARD THE CLOSE OF THE HARVEST SO AS TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF SURPLUS HONEY? Referring, friend Root, to your remarks oi) page 55, 1 have had considerable experience in this matter, but am not sure that I know mupli about it for sure and certfvin. I have taken away as manj- as a hundred queens in one season, from colonies when they were busily storing, and I never saw ^ case where I knew that they immediately slacked up in their work. For all that, there might have been a difference, for it is not an easy thing to look at a colony and say whether it is doing more or less than it did the previous day. Although I am not sure that any immediate slack- ing up occurred, I think there are cases where the bees stored less some time after the queen was taken away than they would have done if she had remained. The fact that such men as EUwood and Hetherington practiced taking away queens during basswood bloom is an argument in its favor. I do not know whether they still follow the practice. Those who favor the plan, argue something like this: A bee does not go to work in the field till it is 16 days old, which, added to 21 days from laying- the egg to hatching, makes 3T days from the laying of the egg to the time of working in the field. Now, in localities where basswood closes the harvest, or even where the harvest continues three or four weeks later, no egg laid during basswood har- vest can produce a bee that will gather any honey to put in the surplus apartment. But if the queen continues to lay during this 37 days before the close of harvest, and lays 1500 eggs per day, she will fill about 8 feet of comb. If, instead of 8 feet of brood,we had, by the absence of the queen, 8 feet of comb honey or its equivalent in sections, it will be seen what an addition we should have to our surplus crop— at least 30 or 40 pounds. But it is generally rather unsafe to rely on plans figured out on paper, without asking the bees what they will do about it. Actually put to the test, no gucb surprising gain is 122 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. achieved. I think I can see some reasons against taking away the queen, and there may be reasons I do not see, as well as some reasons favoring the plan. From the minute a young worker gnaws its way out of the cell, it becomes an active factor in the workings of the hives. It helps to keep up the heat of the hive, and before many hours commences its duties as nurse and chambermaid. This sets free older bees that would otherwise be kept busy at housekeeping, and allows them to engage in field labor, and thus every young bee hatched out is practically an addition to the field force, although itself may never gather a drop of nectar. But this holds good only for such bees as hatch during the honey-tlow; for what profit is therein adding to the population at a time when ail are con- sumers instead of producers? So, instead of taking away the queen 37 days before the honey-flow ceases, we make the time 21 days. Whether we gain or lose by having the queen absent during the last 21 days of the honey-flow is a question worthy of discussion and experiment. Is the mere pres- ence of the queen a stimulus to labor under all circumstances, or under some and not others? Ditto brood? Some of my observations point in one direction and some in the other. With my present light I think I would not remove a queen unless to prevent or control the swarming fever, and I do not know that removal for such a cause is a profit- able operation. C. C. Mili.er. Marengo, McHenry Co., III. Friend M., you hit the point exactly that I would make, toward the close of your ar- ticle. A queenless colony will, a great many times, go ahead very well. Especially is this the case with Italians, while they have plenty of unsealed larvse. But my experi- ence is, that, as soon as the larvte are all sealed over, the amount of stores begins to decrease very fast, while colonies through- out the apiary, with a queen and every thing else all right, will keep on storing honey rapidly. This is an important matter, and we should be very glad to have facts from ex- perience from those who produce honey largely ; and especially should we be glad to have friend P^llwood tell us if he still prac- tices removing the queen toward the close of the season, as you have put it. PRICES OF HONEY. EXTRACTED A STAPLE, AND HOW TO MAKE IT SO. T NOTICE, on page 844, that Mr. Heddon, in con- 1^ eluding his article on "The Present Prices of ^t Honey," says: " Honey is not and never will be "*• any thing like a staple commodity; and the moment the price is run up, consumers at large give it the go-by." Of comb honey this is very true. It will always remain a fancy article, to say the least; but of extrncted honej' I think dif- ferently. Eight cents is a fair price for extracted honey; and where can you get a good article of gyrup for less? As there is to be an attempt to get a "corner "on sugar, prices of sugar, molasses, etc., will very likely rise from 10 to 50 per cent more than present prices; so if the coming season should prove to be a good one for honey, I expect to gee honey sold cheaper than any other sweet, except- ing, perhaps, glucose. Being as cheap, if not cheaper, than sugar, molasses, syrups, etc., a large number of people who have heretofore used the latter will buy honey for that very reason, and in that way our product will gain favor with the masses; and very few, after using a good article of extracted honey, will want any other sweet where It can be obtained. If we want our product to become a staple article we must produce a good article and place it on the market in convenient shape for both retailer and consumer to handle. Barrels art not to be recom- mended. Some smaller package must be used. The 60-lb. tin cans are excellent. Consumers can either furnish their own pail or other vessel, or the retailer can deal it out in water-proof paper pails, such as oysters, molasses, etc., are retailed in. If you prefer to put it in small packages for home trade, or to sell to the retailer, small tin pails, holding from 1 to 10 lbs., are most desirable; or. If something very nice is wanted, use a glass pail or bottle. Always label your goods, and say on the label just what it is. Don't label a package of buckwheat honey " White-clover honey." You may get a little more for that particular package; but any person who knows any thing about honey will keep his "weather-eye" on that label. But when folks get just what is represented they call for that brand every time. When you have more honey than you can sell in your home market, and desire to sell to retailers, avoid shipping to commission men. Go yourself. Take a sample of the different kinds, and get your price for it. Never let them beat you down. Sell direct to consumer and retailer, and you get the profit the commission men would otherwise receive. The honey must be well ripened be fore it is placed onthe market. After extracting, it is an excellent plan to place it in earthen crocks holding about 50 pounds. Tie a rag ov^x the top to keep out flies, dust, etc., and keep in a warm dry place for a few weeks at least. Do not extract from combs that are but partially sealed; wait till they are all sealed over. Again, do not extract from combs containing unsealed larvae, because it is impossible to throw out thick honey without throwing out more or less larvae or larval food, which can be quickly detected. If we want honey to become a staple we must produce a gilt-edged article. Yes, sir, Bro. Heddon, honey will become a staple; and if It doesn't— why, I'll stand treat. C. S. Lewis. Santa Monica, Los Angeles Co , Cal., Jan. 28, 1888. Friend L., the corner in sugar and molas- ses may possibly run it up 10 per cent ; but I don't believe it can 50 per cent. The re- sult of these corners, especially on the great staples, is only transient. The bubble must burst sooner or later. It is like dam- ming up a brook because it bothers you when you are digging ditches. A dam is a very nice thing until it gets full of water ; but unless some other channel is opened it will eventually overflow and burst, and then you will have a worst state of affairs than ever, until the water settles down to its normal state again. I do agree with you, that extracted honey, and possibly comb honey too, is getting to be at least a certain sort of staple. GLEAjflNGS IN BEE CULtUEE. 123 DOOLITTLE'B BEE-CAVE, ILLUSTKAT- ED. FURTHER PARTICULARS AS TO HOW THE ONE DE- SCRIBED ON PAGE 888 FOR LAST YEAR IS MADE. Xp FTER the appearance of the article in 9f]^ the heading, it occurred to us that Mr. ]N[ Doolittle's bee cellar, or cave, ought ■*^ to have been illustrated with an en- graving accompanied with suitable diagrams. In a letter to friend D. we ex- pressed this opinion, and suggested that it would not be too late to have them yet. We accordingly requested him to make, or get some one who was handy with the pen- cil to make the two or three sketches, and send them to us, so that our engraver could reproduce them for these pages. Mr. D. complied, and the result we append below : If the reader will turn to page 888 of Gleanings for 1887, and page 7 for 1888, reading those articles in connection with the following illustrations, I think all will be plain. Fig. 1 represents the out- |r= [^ ^^ i ^ m ^S 1 ^^H ^Si '■"Wm M WK^M^ ^fii^^B 1 1 1 H I ^B ^bv H ^H^^H ^fc ^^9 H mH^rA ^^PM^S ^H ^H 1 ^1 BmB H Kj^'iij'^ ^Mh hhhi ^E HP ^ '''n "n^P 1 ■ 1 ■ '"Hj ^IhI i^Sf OUTSIDE VIEW OF DOCJLITTLE'S BEE-CELLAR— FIG. 1. side appearance of the cellar, as viewed from the southeast. The ground should gradually rise from the foreground up to the fence, the back end of the roof at the peak being lower, or as low, as the ground opposite to it, on each side. The outer roof is boards (hemlock) battened. In Fig: 2, 1 rep- resents the window in the gable end of the ante- room, so 1 can have a little light after I go in and shut the first door. In this ante-room (see Figs. 2 and 3) I light my candle, have the sawdust to carry in to spread on the floor, etc. In Fig. 3, 1 is the upper drain, or water-course, to carry off all sur- face water coming from the roof and elsewhere, it being made in a large scoop form, by taking dirt out to go between the two roofs, as illusirated in Fig. 1. The fence is shown in the rear. This causes the snow to drift on the roof. In Fig. 3, 6 shows the ventilator at the back end of the cellar. Figure 3 represents the front view, also ground- plan of the ante-room and doors. 1 is the casing that the outer door hangs on and shuts against; 3 is the outer door which swings in and clear around against the south side of the ante room; 3 is the first door toward entering the cellar; and in opening, it swings out and around the north side of the ante- room, finding the position when open as represented. 4 is the next door, two feet further in, which in open- GHOUND-PLAN OF BEE- '"^ '^'s'^ Swings Out and CELLAR. around against No. 3, as shown; 5 is the door enter- ing the cellar; and in opening, it swings into the cel- lar around against the south wall, unless the cellar is full of bees, in which case a stop is so placed that it shall not hit the hives. In entering the cellar I first go into the ante- room and shut the door, as I have explained; then I open Nos. 3 and 4, and step in to the last dead-air space, closing No. 4 after mo, but allowing No. 3 to remain open. I now open No. 5, and quickly step into the cellar, closing 5 after me. Thus it will be seen that very little change of air can take, place by my entering, especially when I say that all is covered overhead and on all sides with dirt, ex- cept the ante-room. BEE-CELLAR WITH ROOF TORN AWAY— FIG. 3. Fig. 3 represents the inside of the cellar. 1 rep- 124 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb. resents the floor, or cellar-bottom. Thi.« is always quite dry, as there is a drain under the wall, and below the bottom all around, being 8 inches deep at the southwest corner, and 20 inches deep at the northeast corner, or outlet. 2 represents the south wall. The hives are put up along both walls and ■, 1888. You may rest assured, good friend, that when we do go to Florida we shall certainly take advantage of your kind offer; but with present responsibilities we do not see our way clear just yetu history of carniolans in the u. s. I find that Carniolans were, in 1879, 1880, 1882, usu- ally called " Krainor bees," and some colonies were received here under that name; but in 1879 a dozen queens labeled " Cyprians " arrived in New York, consigned to bome one with a German name in Iowa. They were not Cyprians, but Carniolans, as the shipper afterward confessed. Can any reader advise me who got these Cyprians? Or does any one know of an earlier importation of Krainer bees? I should be thankful for an early answer direct to me, and Gleanings will very early have the benefit of it. S. W. Morrison, M. D. Oxford, Pa., Jan. 27, 1888. "Krainer'' is simply the German for " Carniolan," friend M. bees and neighbors ; a suggestion. Would it not be well for bee-keepers to supply their neighbors within a radius of a mile or so around them with honey at a reduced price of, say, 20 per cent or more, or less, according to the near- ness of those neighbors? Would it not cause them to feel that our bees were not in their way, and ISh GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Eeb, create a better feeling g-enerally toward us and our calling? I offered honey, and sold some to begin last year, at eight cents, to my near neighbors, when the price was ten in town. But the season Boon closed, with no surplus honey, so I had to re- fuse to sell anymore at any price; but I went far enough to see that my neighbors were likely to be- come good customers. Jas. A. Stone. Bradfordton, 111., .Tan. 1«, 1888. Friend Stone, with what experience I have had I am inclined to think you would succeed only in establishing the price at 8 cts.. and everybody else would have to fol- low you, and the result would be that your neighbors would not kn()w\ or would fail to remember, that you had been trying to do them a kindness. I believe it is better to ask the regular market price for every thing we have to sell. You might say, '' Neigh- bor A, honey is selling in town at 10 cts. a pound ; but as you are a neighbor, I will charge you only 8 cts." In this way I think it would be appreciated ; but you want to be sure, when you say so, that it is the exact truth of the matter. THE CANTON BEE-CONVENTION. The Stark Co. Bee-keepers' Society met in Grange Hall, Canton, O., on Saturday, February 4. The President, Jacob Oswald, of Maximo, being absent, W. S. Kline, of Bolivar, Tus. Co., was called to the chair pro tem. Owing to the very dangerous condition of the roads and streets, only a few bee- keepers were present; but notwithstanding this fact, a verj' pleasant and profitable time was had. A committee, consisting of Henrj' Beatty, of Mas- sillon, and J. H. Smith and L. J. Wise, of Canton, was appointed to wait on the directors of the Stark Co. Agricultural Society to ask for a revision of the bee and honey premium-list. After the questions from the query-box were answered, the society adjourned to meet on the second Wednesday in April next. Mark Thomson, See. A COLONY OCCCPYINQ A CREVICE BETWEEN TWO ROCKS IN CALIFORNIA. 1 have not met with a single progressive bee- keeper in this part of the State, yet I have bought in the stores some very fine honey gathered here by " wild bees " as the natives call them— that is, bees living wild in rocks and trees. While out deer- hunting I came across a very large colony occupy- ing a crevice between two rocks. The combs were weather-beaten, but the bees were too strong to be fooled with in the dry season, so T did not disturb them. As soon as the willow blossoms, I will re- move them to better quarters. R. S. Green. Cayucos, Cal., Dec. 1, 1887. BEES NEAR A RAILROAD, NOT DISTURBED. I have seen frequent statements, both pro and con, as to bees being disturbed by passing railroad trains, and I will, now state my case. I have now had my apiary for ten years, located within 100 feet of the main line of a railroad where, on an average, about 40 trains pass at full speed every ^ hours, and I have never been able to detect any harm or disturbance from the jar or noise. Last winter I went out where the ground was frozen hard, and put my ear to several hives when trains were pass- ing, but could not perceive that it caused any buzz- ing or disturbance to them in any way. A. A. Fradenburg. Port Washington, O., Feb. 6, 1888. ]S[0TEg ji^B Queried. LOOK OUT FOR HIM. fN page 110 I notice you say, " Look out for him!" Yes, I think you had best do so, friends. William Connelly, of Ogden, Boone Co., Towa, is the man who advertises chick- ens, eggs, stock, and I don't know what else: holds his property in his wife's name, and pays his debts by saying he sent the money by postal notf : at any rate, that is what he did for me in the spring of 1886, to the tune of f.5.00. T had the mat- ter investigated then, without any result, only as above stated. Abbott L. Swinson. Goldsboro, N. C, Feb. 6, 1888. Weather is cold— from 10 to 30° below zero; no rain, and water scarce for stock. Some have to drive a mile to get water for their stock, but I thank the Lord that it is no worse. J. S. Willard. Bedford, Taylor Co., Iowa, Jan. 19, 1888. the prospects for TEXAS THIS YEAR GOOD. My golden Italians are working hard on meal and flour that I have been feeding them. They usually get natural pollen by this time. Prospects were never better for a honey crop, as the ground is al- most covered with horsemint, and that is our main honey-plant here. L. B. Smith. Cross Timbers, Texas, Feb. 3, 1888. auger-chips for SMOKER FUEL. I observe with interest the recommendation, in Gleanings, of pine leaves as smoker fuel. I can add to the list, white-oak auger-chips, which I find very good fuel for my Clark smoker. Probably auger-chips from other kinds of wood would do well also. W. W. Lenoir. ShuU's Mills, N. C, Jan. 13, 1888. 14% LBS. OF .lAPANESE BUCKWHEAT FROM A 5-CENT PACKAGE. I thrashed my Japanese buckwheat, which I raised from a 5-cent packet. I raised 14?^ lbs. It grew .5 and 6 feet high. It was blown down when it just began to fill, so I didn't get a full crop. Frances Taylor. Fall City, King Co., W. T., Jan. 28, 1888. A correction. Your printers or somebody made surely a mis- take in publishing my report for 1888 in Jan. num- ber, page 3.5. In place of 160 gallons it ought to say 650 gallons for I certainly could not have sold the 160 gallons for *.S00; but I did sell 650 gallons, and the net proceeds were $300, after deduction of barrels, freight, etc. If you think proper, please correct the report. J. W. Ross. Phair, Texas, Jan. 36, 1888. the blizzard over. We have a change from the cold blizzard weather, which has held high carnival for the past thirty days, to more spring-like weather. My bees have enjoyed the change by having a good cleansing flight, and so far have wintered very nicely. On examination of a few colonies this 38th and 39th of January, 1888, I find my Italians and Carniolans have eggs In one and two combs, from 3 to 4 inches square. J- B. Kline. Topeka, Kas., Jan. 30, 1888. 1888 GLfiAKlKGS IK BEE CULttjRE. 13"? l^EP0]^Tg ENC@ai^^6I]\[6. MY REPORT. T STARTED with 79 stands of bees this spring; |Mp lost three during- the summer by losing their ]lt queens; had two new swarms, and divided one. ■*■ T had my bees in three places— one two miles and a half southeast, one three miles north, both in the basswood timber. From the southeast and at home I got nothing, and had to feed; and from the north one T got about .50 lbs. of honey. Bees are all in the cellar in fair condition. I am not in the least discouraged. I think ne.\t year will be good. A. L. Kildow. Sheffield, HI., Jan. 1, 1888. FROM 3 TO 9, AND 4.50 LBS. OF HONEY. I had 2 stands of bees to start with this spring, after shipping them 200 miles— 75 by rail, 125 by wagon. I increased to 9, got 4,50 lbs. of comb hon- ey; left over 30 lbs. in each hive. C. C. Bartlett. Vernal, Utah, Jan. 23, 1888. FROM 13 TO 17, AND 600 LBS. OF HONEY. T Started with 13 colonies of bees in the spring of 1887. I increased to 17, and got 200 pounds of honey in the comb, and 35 gallons of extracted. I think that is doing pretty well for such a dry season as this was. Sam Hebb. Breeds, Ills., Dec. 29, 1887. FROM 10 TO 23, AND 300 LBS. OF COMB HONEY. I went into winter, 1886, with 14 swarms, packed in chaff hives on summer stands. I came through the winter w;th 10 swarms. I increased to 23, and took 300 lbs. of comb honey. My bees are in good condition for the coming winter. Lawrence Goodrich. Smyrna, N. Y., Dec. 21, 1887. 18 LBS. SURPLUS per COLONY. The 2 ounces of Japanese buckwheat I got from you last spring did well, considering the great drought. I got 6 quarts. It will do well in our dry hot climate. Our honey crop was light— 18 pounds of surplus to the hive, spring count; last year it was .50, and plenty to winter on. Joel Hiser. Edgar, Neb., Dec. 23, 1887. FROM .50 to 80, AND 2000 LBS. OF HONEY. The season has been a fair one. Clover and bass- wood yielded fairly well. I increased from .50 col- onies to 80, and took 2000 Ib.s. in 1 and 2 pound sec- tions, and 600 lbs. e.xtracted. I fed 1000 lbs. white sugar, to make sutHcient stores to winter the 80 col- onies. I placed bees in the cellar Nov. 10. N. A. Blake. Smith Mills, P. Q., Canada, Dec. 19, 1887. FROM 10 TO 19, AND 450 LBS. OF COMB HONEY. My spring count was 10 colonies, and I increased them to 19 by natural tmir((l in the hmg run to keep hivea irell painted, e young hopeful, " I saw 1000." His mother continued to narrow him down until he stuck to it that he at least saw the tracks of one dog. A BOY WHOSE P.\ HAS 300 COLONIKS IN THE CELLAR. Pa has kept bees since he was 15. He has now 300 swarms in the cellar. He gave my brother and me each a swarm. We are going- to learn to take care of them. I" like bees, and don't mind the stings. I help my pa work in his yard. Clarknce Yates, age 9. Randall, Montgomery Co., N. Y. THE BEES WKNT OFf. We have three swarms of bees. We bought two swarms. They both swarmed two times. The first was a big one. They came out and flew awhile, and alighted on a tree near by. We got a hive and sawed the limb off, and shook them off on a sheet. They marched in the hive as fast as they could. Tliey liegan to work, and in a day or so thej' came out and went oft'. The next one came out the same day, and went back. They came out in a week or so, and alighted in two different places on the same tree. We have one of them yet; the other one, the worms got in and ate them up. The combs were all moldy. One of the other colonies did not fly as it should. We looked at it, but we could not see any thing in it. One of the old hives got cracked, so we put Them into another hive, and they went off, but we did not see them go. I have seen them gather stuff from sunflowers to make their combs out of. They get honey from the yellow flowers which groxv in low wet ground. I have seen lots of them buzzing around niiiong them. John HowEii, aged 10. Miicy, Miami Co , Ind., Jan. 35, lSt-8. I am glad to see you aiaking observations, friend John ; but you are drawing wrong conclusions. The stuff the bees gathered fiom sunflow^ers was not to make combs of. It is the pollen, or bee-bread ; and Prof. Cook tells us the old bees eat bee-bread and honey that they may be able to secrete rich milk for tlie baby-bees. That is what the stuff is for that you saw. DO BEES HEAR? WHERE DOES P. BENSON LIVE ? Have bees got ears? I want you to tell me the address of P. Benson. I like to read his letters. We have got 35 hives of bees now. We have not got any honey for winter. Pa has doubled up a good many. We have got a bee-killer. It is a bird. We call it the king-bird. Cora E. Lampson. Pierpont, O., Dec. 8, 1887. It is pretty well established that bees hear, though it is not so certain that they have ears corresponding to ours. Some of the big bee-men think their antenna?, or feelers (perhaps you will call them their horns) answer the purpose of ears. — P. Benson lives way out west. He doesn't want his address published, because it would bring him too much correspondence, and he doesn't care to be bothered with let- ters of inqniry from common folks like you and me. Since he has got him a wife in his " Pallace Home," he won't write any more. HOW TO DESTROY BUMBLE-BEES' AND YELLOW- .JACKETS' NESTS. Take a jug; fill it about half full of water, and set it down gently as near the nest as you can. Then take a pole, say six feet long, and poke them up. The more you poke them, the more they will go into the top of the .iug. They will go buzzing around the top, and pretty soon they will go into the top of the jug; then when you take it up to look at them you vvant to be sure to look for the queen; and if you find her it will be sure to destroy the nest. P. S.— Then stamp the nest when they are out of it. KoBEKT D.\wsoN, age 10. East Dayton, Tuscola ('o., Mich. But, friend Robert, why should we de- stroy bumble-bees' nests V They do no real harm ; on the contrary, they" are a real benefit to farmers. Onlv the other day L was reading an item in the paper, that the Australian government had or was going to take measures to have the American bum- ble-bees imported to their country. These bees are to fertilize the red clover, so that they may be able to raise good seed. Your method "of catching bumble-bees has been mentioned befor^^ FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE. A prisoner, condemned to solitary confinement, obtained a copy of the Bible; and by three years' careful study he obtained the following figures: The Bible contains 3,586,489 letters, 773,693 words, 31,173 verses, 1189 chapters, and 66 books. The word and occurs 46,377 times. The word Liird occurs 1855 times. Tbe word reverend occurs but once, which is in the 9th verse of the lllth Psalm. The middle verse is the 8th verse of the 118th Psalm. The 3Ist verse of the 7th chapter of Ezra contains all the letters in the alphabet except the letter J. The finest chapter to read is the 36th chapter of Acts. The 19th chapter of II. Kings and the 37th of Isaiah arealike. The longest verse is Esther 8: 9. The shortest verse is John 11:33. The 8th, 15th, 31st, and 31st verses of the in7th Psalm arealike. Each verse of the i:36th Psalm ends alike. There are no words or names of more than six syl- lables. CHAUNCEY I'^ATES. Randall, N. Y„ Jan. 33, 1888. Very well done, my little friend. Who will be the first to remember these facts? But why do you say the 26th of Acts is the finest chapter to read? Haven't millions read the oth of Matthew, 14th and 17th of John , and the 2d of Acts, a great deal more than the 2()th of Acts ? But I think that, instead of having one favorite chapter that towers up above all the others, like a mount- ain above the plain, we should learn to love all tlie other chapters more and more until wegettlio plain ;is high ;is liie mountain. Every chapter has its own us", like the members of the body, and shuuld be used in the way God designed. 1888 GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE. i4i5 dui^ pejvLEp. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them ; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and thou in me, that they may be perfect in one.— John IT: 2~, 23. T SUPPOSE that most of tlie readers of m Gleanings have noticed the wonderful ^t way in whicli a cok^ny of bees works to- ''' jielher for the good of the multitude that fill their particular hive. JSIo doubt you liave remarked theo?K'?ie.s's of feeling' and sentiment that seems to pervade their little bodies. If an enemy comes on the scene, no bee stands back and suggests that some of his comrades give their lives for the sal- vation of the home. The first bee that gets a gJimpse of the intruder, recklessly throws his life away, as it would seem. The others, as fast as they catch a glimpse of what is going on, do the same thing. If you should fall into the fire, you would not think of putting your hand behind you to save the hand from being burned, and thus allow your face or vital portions of your body to encounter the fiery element. The hands are thrust forward to shelter the rest of the body, especially the face and eyes, without a particle of retlection as to what may be the fate of the hands. Every part of the body is used to its utmost in defense of its other members ; and so this wonderful lit- tle commonwealth inside of the bee-hive uses its separate members in the same way. With many of you, doubtless, during these February days, the bees are going forth for pollen, and possibly for new honey. The bee that gets the first load of nectar by no means thinks of saving it for himself, or for, perhaps, a few particular acquaintances. He puts out his tongue to the first bee he meets, and so on to the rest as far as it will go. If I am correct in my conclusions, it is by this means that he makes known to his mates that honey is to be had again abroad in the fields. The same way with pollen when pollen is scarce. It is divided np so as to be spread among as many needy ones as possible. In fact, I am not sure but that a single load of pollen gives a taste to almost every bee in the hive. Their joys and sor- rows are shared in common. When the queen is lost they all set up a mournful re- frain (I do not know whether the drones participate or not— tliey are queer chaps any way, and we don't know very much about them). In fact, a hive of bees is a most complete picture of unselfish devotion, and by a rule in nature, teach the art of order to a peopled kingdom. There is no ambition, no greed, no jealousy, no envy, no strife, among the members of any one hive. The inmates of the hive do steal sometimes, it is true, but they do not steal from each other. Every one of the forty thousand that may possibly make this little populace, is a true soldier. He could no more quarrel with his brothers and sis- ters than your right hand could quarrel with the left, or feel jeahnisy or bitterness. Last Sunday evening, at our young peo- ple's prayer-meeting I was almost startled by a remark something like this by one of the younger ones. I can not remember the exact words, but the idea was something as follows : "■ A new thouglit has come to me during the past few days, that I will try to tell you. It is this : Jesus has need of me; yes, even my poor self, in just the same way that I have need of my two eyes. Without my eyes I could do comparatively nothing ; and in the same way, without us Jesus could do but comparatively little. We are a part of him, in the way our eyes or hands or feet are a part of our bodies." I confess that I felt somewhat inclined to think our young friend was a little off the track right here, or that she had presented the truth she had in mind, almost too strongly. I was still more surprised, how- ever, to hear first one and then another in different parts of the room repeating differ- ent texts of Scriptnre, backing her up, as it were, in her position — in fact, clinching nails, to make the truth stronger. Per- haps I can remember a few of the texts : For as the body is one. and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.— I. Cor. 13: 13. And, again, in the same chapter, verse 21 : Tiie eye can not say unto the hand, T have no need of thee: nor again the head to the I cot, I have no need of you. At this point an elderly man — that is, elderly in years, but not in the love of Christ Jesus (a new convert)— arose and said, with imperfect English, for he is a German by birth,— " My friends, since I have been one among you I "have been pleased to notice how Chris- tians seem to be tniited, either in joy or sor- row. A few weeks ago, when so many of these younger ones united with our church, happiness beamed from every face, from the youngest to the oldest ; and a week or two later, when a terrible calamity fell upon one of the members of our church, every face showed sadness and sorrow. What affects one of us, seems to affect us all." Just then a boy at my elbow, and one who has lately come into the church, repeated verse 2(3 of this same chapter : And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honored, all the members rejoice witli it. Now, friends, 1 hardly need point out to you the resemblance between a hive of bees and the churcli of Christ; that is, if we could have a model band of Christ's follow- ers, so perfect that the spirit of Christ and nothing else should actuate each and every member, then we should have a little com- monwealth like a hive of bees. What a power such a band of workers would be here on earth ! Wheie you see real, healtliy, live, active church-members, you get a glimpse of the possibilities in this direction. A few months ago our people took up tlte matter of saloons in our town. There had l)een revival meetings in all the churches ; yes, more : there had been for some time regular gospel temperance meet- ings. Christian people from all the churches joined in. People who loved temperance, sobriety, and truth, who were not members of any church, came ami took hold of the 144 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Feb, work also. Different sects and denomina- tions were forgotten ; different political convictions were either forgotten or dropped for the time being. We worked for deliver- ance from the common enemy, just as bees work against an enemy that threatens them. What was the result? Why, the saloon- keepers w^ere routed by a tremendous ma- jority. Now, 1 do not mean to say that the churches of Medina have got to such a height of Christian unity that they are free from sins common to humanity. In one sense they have got only a little way toward perfection through Christ Jesus. But in going even so far we have done a great work ; and as I think of it I get glimpses of the greater and mightier work that may be done through a Christian unity that sliould pervade our whole nation. May God speed the day when not only denominations, but all the" world, shall unite in saying, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, even on earth as it is in heaven.'' Well, now, if these young Christians taught me a great and val- uable lesson by their faith and their Scrip- ture texts, oui- good pastor astonished me still more at the close of the meeting by an- other wonderful application of the text which I had never before fully understood. I do not thiok I fully understand in now, but I do think I get a w^onderful glimpse of a great, great truth. In the 17th chapter of John, .Jesus says, " And now, Father, glori- fy thon me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world w^as." I have often wondered what that glory meant, it was something bright and grand. I feel sure. Just think of it, dear friends — what a stupendous thought ! My stenographer suggested, as 1 repeated the verse, that " before the world "' was a great while ago. Well, this matter of Christ's glory — '"a glorified Savior,'" and "to the honor and glory of Christ." and such like expressions, are very frequent in the Bible. What does it mean to glorify Christ V Every young Christian knows what it is to honor Christ. It is to so act and so do that the cause which we profess to love may be honored. You may use the word " glorified '" in the same sense, if you choose. We glorify Christ by our own lives, by our own actions, and by our own behavior : not es- pecially by living lives free from sin, for this is a pretty hard matter for average men and women, "and boys and girls. We are sinful, and perhaps always will be ; but w^e honor Christ and glorify him, by being truly penitent when we find w^e have sinned. We are told that David was a man after God's own heart. Well, now% David, at least once in his life, was a very bad and wicked man ; in fact, he committed terrible crimen; but after those crimes he glorified God by honest, true penitence. lie bowed his head sub- missively to the terrible punishments which God saw fit to visit upon him. He glorified the Savior when he said, "Create in me a clean heart. O God, and renew a right spirit within me." He glorified God l)y the con- fession that his heart was all bad ; that it needed Christ's renewing power before he could ever again be tit for any thing. David did not know Jesus then as we do now ; but I can readily believe that Jesus was the in- teicessor for David even then, as he is for us. Now. friends, if Christ is to be glorified by our poor lives, think of the responsibili- ties that rest upon us. If the glory he pray- ed for in that wonderful prayer of his near the close of his life was dependent on the way those whom he came to seek and save shall behave themselves, what a responsi- bility rests upon us! Perhaps all we can do is simply to accept him, to bow at his feet, and confess him as the Christ, as the son of the living God, as Peter did. He is glori- fied, even by this act. Yes, even though we be poor, weak, and sinful. Why, dear brothers and sisters, the penitent thief, shut in by the walls of our penitentiaries, may glo- rify "him by honest, true penitence, by con- fession and restitution, where the latter is possible, for I believe there can be no hon- est penitence without restitution, so far as the latter may be possible. In that same prayer, Jesus says, " I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil.'' He is to be glorified through the faithful- ness of these poor huml)le followers. And, again, he says, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also wiio shall believe on me through their word." We glorify Christ by accepting him when he has been presented to us by our fellow-men. And, again, " That they all may be one ; as thou. Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us." And. again, "And the glory which thou gavest me 1 have giv- en them." Why, dear friends, the glory is not to be his alone, but it is to be ours too. And now I have got down to my text—" I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one." The last half of the verse reads as follows : "And that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." Now, I hope you will have patience with me, dear friends, if I give you the whole of this chap- ter ; but keeping in view wiiat I said in my opening words about the bee-hive, and the remark of the young sister at prayer-meet- ing, see the following : " Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am ; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me." You see, even this glory which he speaks of we are to share with him. And now comes a w^ondrous thought that is almost too great for the human mind to contemplate : " For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." It seems to me right here that Jesus begins to get glimpses of things he had not known before, just as we get glimpses of heavenly things as we approach the close of a life that has been given to .Jesus. There is only one more verse at the close of this w^onderful prayer. Some intidel writ- er has said, in speaking of Christ, that he was a poor disappointed and discouraged man— disappointed at every turn ; and I do not knoAv but that he uttered a greater truth than he knew. Jesus was not disappointed in himself, nor was he disappointed in any ambitious thoughts he may have had. The 18§8 GLEANINGS IN BBk CtlLf UHE. 145 disappointment, dear friends, was in us. He came liere to this world to save us ; and he thought that, by pleading with us personal- ly, and giving his life for our poor unworthy selves, we certainlv could be induced to turn from darkness to light. He found us, per- haps, harder-hearted than he had anticipat- ed, for he was human as we are. In some respects he was disappointed and discour- aged. In that last verse of the prayer he says, "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it ; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and— I— in— them." GETTING GOOD CROPS I'ROM GROUND NOT W^ORTH OVER A DOL- LAR AN ACRE. WHAT A VISITOR SAW TO INTEREST HIM ON OUR GROUNDS. ■^r OW^please commence my Gleanings again. IB|* and do not stop until 1 tell you to. I can't do ^1^ without it, as I keep bees, and raise vegeta- ^ * bles for a living. I have a greenhouse, 18x30, built on the plan of yours. A year ago last summer I made a trip to Medina on purpose to see your greenhouse, after looking in vain to find something that suited my fancy, and I was not long in deciding yours was what I wanted. You were away from home, but Ernest showed me the build- ings, then we yisited the apiary, the carp-pond, and so on, over to where the White Plume celery grew; and such celery I had never seen before. Although It was not later than the first of August, its beauti- ful white leaves were almost fit for market; and the sight of those vegetables growing then was a wonder to me. I have been a gardener for a number of years, and always thought that light sandy soil was nec- essary to grow good vegetables; but here were all kinds of vegetables, and it seemed to me they were just jumping, and every plant looked as though it were trying to outgrow the one next to it, and all this on soil that I would not pay one dollar per acre for, for gardening purposes. Well, it proved to me that " eternal vigilance " would accomplish any thing, fori could see what had been done to bring that hard soil to the right condition. T felt well paid for that trip to Medina, and have always felt that I was under obligations to you for what I learned that day. My greenhouse was a perfect success. I raise two crops of lettuce each wiater, besides starting plants for early vegetables. Last year we carried the first home-grown tomatoes to the Elyria market, and they brought overdue dol- lars per bushel. I raise the Grand Rapids lettuce, and have had the seed two years. I think it is the only lettuce that will grow perfectly healthy under glass. The description j'ou give of it in December Gleanings is perfect, and I do not wonder you were clear carried away with the sight of it. I have raised single stalks in the greenhouse this winter, weighing 13 ounces. Out of doors the heads will weigh a pound and over before running up to seed. If you want me to, Twill tell you how I raised S10.80 worth of this lettuce on a piece of ground 12 feet square last summer, out of 6or^ x 18, and smaller. Value 87.00. Will sell for $5.50. No. 9. .\t Hieginsville, Mo. One 4 H. P. engine and boiler complete, used only five months. Worth new, $275. Will sell for $19.3. No. 10. At Aplington, la. 10 two-story portico hives in flat $9,00 1 ](XI mttalcornered frames 2.20 | 100 wide frames 2.00 ] 200 tin separators 3.00 I Value $24 60. 600 sections 2.40 \ Will sell for 200 sections. h%y.iyi 1.00 $20.00. 3 lbs. thin foundation, 49 c 1.47 7 lbs. brood foundation, 39 c 2.73 ] 10 enameled sheets 80 I No. 11. .\t Johnson City, Washington Co., Tenn. One honev-extractor that will take frames IIM x 16, or smaller. Value $7.00. Will sell tor $5.00. No. 12. At Caribou, Me. 900 sections, 4)^x5x1 'is wide, open on all four sides. Value $4.50. Wiil sell for $2 50. No. 13, At Eul'aula, Ala. One lOinch foundation-mill, never taken out of the box it was shipped in from here. Value $20.00. Will sell for $17.00. No 14. At Lima, 111. One lO-inch foundation mill; has been used a little. Is in good order . Will sell for 815.00. No. 15. At Rockdale, Mass, 1000 sections, 4}<; x 4K X 1^, open all around. Value $4.60, Will sell for 83.00. BEES, Queens, Hives, Given Comb Foundation, Apiarian Supplies, German Carp, Small-fruit Plants. Send for catalogue free. E.T. Flanagan, Belleville, Ills. l-34db. BE SURE To send a postal card for our illustrated catalogue of APIARIAN ^^T^ern^^iZ SUPPLIES tains illustrations and descriptions of every thing new and desirable in an apiary, AT THE I^OWEST PRICES. FOB SfiLE IK CPORP! On account of the death of the proprietor, J. D. Enas' ranch of 240 acres, part in fruit, 80 stands of bees, steam machinery for the manufacture of sup- plies, a well-established business; land will be sold in 40 or 80 acre tracts. Stock, farming implements, and a large stock of apiarian supplies. For par- ticulars address JTIRS. J. D. ENAS, 30-6d Box 306. Napa City, Cal . Costs less tlitiii '' rents pvr ii'et'k. THE CANADIAN BEE JOURNAL. THE FIRST DOLLAR WEEKLY IN THE WORLD. TEE D. A. JONES CO., PUBLISHEKS, BEETON, ONTAEIO, CAN. D. A. Jones is its editor, and this fact is a guaran- tee of its worth. It is thoroughly practical and con- tains weekly excellent articles from leading bee- keepers In the United States and Canada. Fifty-two numbers make a volume of 1040 pages. American currency and stamps at par. Samples free. HEADQUARTERS For Cards and Sta- tionery for Bee-keep- ers and Otiiers. Besides our beautiful eight-color chromo card, we have other neat designs, also a fine selection of fancy address cards, for old and young, for business and amusement. Also two and three letter mono- grams, all at low prices. See Here, .'iO fancy print- ed cards, 1.5 cts. ; 300 envelopes, 300 letter-heads, printed, $1. Package 25 assorted cards, 10 cts. Neat box of cards and hone.v candies, 15 cts. Circulars free. Address J. H. Martin, Hartford, N. Y. 20tfdb xT,ii.Xji.a.isr 2tfa J. C. SAYLES, ||»rtf9i*d, "Wasbington Co., Wis. HERE I GOME To say that E. Baer, of Dix- on, 111., has sold out his sup- ply business to the Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., who will sell V-groove basswood sections at from $2.75 to W.OO per M. Other supplies correspondingly low. Sam- ple s and circular free. Ad- dress the GOODELL & WOODWORTH MFG. CO., 3tfdb ROCK FALLS, WHITESIDE CO., ILL. SEEDS. Pkt. new kind Tomato Seed, very choice, 3c. Catalogue free. F. B. Mills, Thorn Hill, N. Y. 3-4-5d NEARLY THIRTY TONS DADANrS FOUNDATION SOXj3=> IIV XSSV. It is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111. ; C. F. Muth. Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich. ; P. L. Dougherty, Indian- apolis, Ind.; B. J.Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind.; E. S. Armstrong, Jersey ville, Illinois; Arthur Todd, 2133 North Front Street, Phil'a, Pa. ; E. Kretchmer, Coburg, Iowa; P. L, Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., M.J. Dickason, Hiawatha, Kansas; J. W. Porter, Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Va.; E. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y. ; D. A. Fuller, Cherry Valley, 111. ; J. B. Mason & Sons, Mechanic Falls, Maine; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wis.; J. Mattoon, and W. J. Stratton, Atwater, O., Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Free- burg, 111.; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1409 15th St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Hock Falls, 111.; J. A. Roberts, Edgar, Neb., and numerous other dealers. Write for free samples, and price list of bee sup- plies. We yuarantee every inch of our foundation eqvMl In Ktunple in every respect. Every one who buys it is pleased with it. CHAS. DADANT & SON, 3btf4 H^mlltoni Hanpoclt Co., I)ItnotN> 1S8S GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 149 NEW YORK. FOREIGN ORDERS SOLICITED. EASTERN ^ DEPOT NEW JERSEY. {Bees.) {Qucnis.) EVERYTHING USED BY BEE-KEEPERS. EXCLUSIVE MANUFACTUEEE OF THE STANLEY AUTOMATIC HONEY-EXTRACTOR. Dadant's Foundation, Wholesale and Eetail. WHITE POPLAR OR BASSWOOD SECTIONS. One-Pieoc, Dovetail, or to nail. Any aaantity, any Size. MASS. COMPLETE MACHINERY-FINEST WORK. Srnd fur llandsami: IUufMi<;s, IMuclei anid Queens / ^ At Living Bnteti. vp Send for Circular and Price List to C. V. VAlHiHIN, ■5tfdb Columbia, Teiiii. MUTH'S HONEY-EXTRACTOR, SUIJAKE OL.A«S HONEY-JAKS, TIN BUCKETS, »EE-HIVES, HONEY-SECTIONS, A:c., &:c. PERFECTION C01.D-B1.AST SMOKERS. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, O. P. S. — Send 10-cent stamp for " Practical Hints to Bee-Keepers." Itfdb I ARISE to say to the readers of Gleanings that DOOlilTTLE has conclud- ed to sell BEES and Ql'EEJNS in their season, during 1888, at the following prices : One colony Italians, on nine Gallup frames, in light shi])ping-bo.x.$ 7 00 Five colonies 30 00 Ten colonies ,50 0(1 One untested queen 100 Three untested queens 2 00 One untested queen reared by natural swarming 1.50 Three ditto 3 00 One tested queen 2 00 Three tested queens. . . 4 00 One tested (jueen by natural swm'g 3 GO Three ditto H 00, Tested (j ueens. 1887 rearing, each 4 00' Extra, selected for breeding, two years old 10 00 I also have at Arcade. N. Y.. 200 colonies, strong and healthy, of the Heddon noted strain of brown German and hybrid bees, on Baldwin frames, which I will sell, free on board the cars, nine combs each, in shipping-boxe.';, safe arrival gunranteed. during the month of Ma.y, as follows: 1 to 10 colonies, at $5.00 each: 10 to 50, at ?;4.75each; TO to 2(iii. at .s^i .50 each. If they are preferred in hives, add $1.00 each for hive. Circular free, giving full particulars re- garding the bees, and each class of queens. Ad- dress G. M. nOOLITTliE, 5-13d Borodino, Onondaga Co., N. Y. FOR THE LATEST, BEST, AND CHEAPEST WINTER BEE-HIVES, Horn y-srotions. Section Honej -boxes, to fit any hive, also Coml) Foundation, Fruit-evapmalors, all sizes, fiom $6.00 up, address LICONIER MFC. CO., Ligonier. Ind. Italian Queens and Bees liy the Colonx-. Nucleus, and Pound. Dealer in Beo-kcepcrs' suiqiiics Ad- dress OTTO KLEINOW, (Opp. Fort Wayiu- (i.-iio, Detroit. Mich. MUSIC! Taught by the United States Music- Chart, with moving tone-ladder. Chords, Sharps, Flats, Transposition of Major and Minor Scales. Equals ayearin music. New, and useful to all. Bymail25c. C. A. C.llTIP, Paiiiesville, Ohio. APIARY-:-FOR-:-SALE. 45 STOCKS OF BEES. Italians, Hybrids, and Blacks, in Chatf and Simp. Hives— 10 chaff, 5 one-story chatf; the rest in Simp, hives; one honey-extractor (Novice), as good as new; wide frames and Moore crates for all the hives. A good bargain for some one. The bees must go. My work is away from home, and keeps me from 7 A. m. till 8 p. M. Write for price. (My bees are within 5 minutes' walk of depot. Conic and see.) ELBERT GREELEY, Lorain, Lorain Co., O. FOR SALE. General Country Store, with ur without stock, and apiary. Store and stock, about $3000. PostofBce in the store; apiary close bv; splendid location. For further particulars, write to POSTMASTER, 5d Esofea, Vernon Co., Wis. BEES m QUEENS READ'S' TO SHir. Friends, if you are in need of Italian bees and queens, reared from imported mothers, 1 can ac- commodate you at the frillowing lowprices: Italian bees. i41b., 75 cts.; 1 lb.. $100; untested quteiis. $1.00; tested, $2.00. Hylirid bees. V^ lb., 05 cts.; 1 lb., 90 cts. ; Hybrid queens, 75 cts. Prices by the quan- tity will be sent on application. AV. S. C.VITHEN, Pleasant Hill, S.C. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 157 Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our usual rates. All ad's intended for this department must not exceed 6 lines, and you must say you want your ad. in this de- partment, or we will not be responsible for any error. You can have the notice as many lines as you please; but all over five lines will cost you according to our regular rates. This department is intended unly for buna-tide exchanges. Ex- chantfi's for cash, or notices offering articles for sale can not be inserted iincler this head. For such our regular rates of aoe a line will be eliarged. and they will be put with the regular advertisements. WANTED.— To exchange new Simp, hives for fur- skins, either red-fox or skunk. Address 3-5db A. P. Sharps, Exeter, Luzerne Co., Pa. WANTED.— To exchange Wheeler & Wilson sew- ing-machines (new) for honey, bees, or sup- plies. J. A. Green, Daj-ton. 111. SOtfdb WANTED.— To exchange bees in Langstroth or Simplicity hives, for disk-harrow and hand seed-drill. I also want seed-catalogues. Address Ittdb W. H. Putnam, River Palls, Wis. WANTED. — Correspondence with parties who have strawberry-plants and wish to exchange for red-raspberry-i)lants. E. ("'ryiCKENOKW, l-od 117 South 4th St., Columbus, O. WANTED.— To exchange our Price List of Bee- Keepers' Supplies, etc.. for your name on a postal card. Address 4-5-(id Jno. Nebel & Son, High Hill, Mo. WANTED.— A bee-keeper to take charge of my apiary, on shares. Robert Blacklock. 4-8db Kilgore, Boyd Co.. Ky. WANTED.— To exchange Gregg raspberry-plants for comb fdii.. lib. sections, alsike and white Dutch clover-seed. Address Thompson Brown, 4-5d Cloverdale, Ind. WANTED.— To buy or hire a small place, in a good location, for keeping bees; must be in the western part of Vermont, or eastern part of New York. F. C. Fui.i,E[{, 5-6d Wendell Depot, Franklin Co., Mass. "I17ANTED.— Correspondence on apples, potatoes, Vt seed-potatoes, cabbage, onions, small fruit, and fruit and produce generally. Consignments solic- ited. Will quote market at any time. KAKI^E CV.ICKENr.ElJ, 4tfdb General Commission Merchant. 117 South 4th St., Columbus, O. WANTED.— To exchange 2."»0 colonies of bees, for horses, mules, wagons, buggies, and 4 h. p. en- gine, or any thing useful on a plantation. 21tfd Anthony Opp, Helena, Phillips Co., Ark. WANTED.— To exchange silverhull buckwheat; also nurserv-grown transplanted Scotch pine. Norway spruce, red cedar, and bearing-sized Con- cord grapes, for alsike clover-seed and brood fdn. 3-5d R. A. Lewis, Cherokee, Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange for good standard hooks, back numbers of bee-journals (some are out of print); poultry-journals; 6 or 7 years of the Cnuntry Gentleman ; .50 or 60 copies of the Cen- tuni Ma^nzine. All in good order. Speak quick. 5d J. P. McEr.RATH, Asbury, Warren Co., N. J. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees, queens, or eggs,froin my noted strain of Wyandotte fowls, for one or more female ferrets. Address F. BOOMHOWER, Gallupville, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange 100 crates, filled with Vt l-lh. sections, with fdn. starters. Value 30 cts. each. Will exchange for brood-frames or any thing I can use. Everyone wishing early queens, send address on postal. R. H. Campbell. M Madison, Morgan Co., Ga., Lock Box 31.5. WANTED— To exchange for any thing of a stan- dard market value, full colonies of Italian bees on 8 L. or Simplicity frames, in shijjping-boxes, at *4.00 per colony. W. A. Sanders, Oak Bower, Hart Co., Ga. WANTED.— Persons who intend buying Italian VV queens this season, to know that they should be cautious as to the strain of Italians they get. I have those that are gentle, prolific, and as good as there are in Italy. Write for prices, or send your address on postal. .5d R. H. Campbell, Madison, Morgan Co., Ga. WANTED.— To exchange bees, queens. Simp, hives, or other supplies, for small printing- press and outfit (self-inker and power press pre- ferred), and a good type-writer. Describe fully what you have. J. M. Jenkins, Wetumpka, Ala. WANTED.— To exchange bees and queens for a printing-press and outfit, or offers. Circulars free. G. D. Black, Brandon, Iowa. WANTED.— To exchange one first-class incubator, the " Perfect Hatcher," for bees or wax. H. O. Salisbury, Geddes, Onondaga Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange Leghorn and Wyandotte eggs for Japanese buckwheat. 5d W. K. James, Loudon, Tenn. WANTED.— To work wax and exchange fdn. for bees, eggs of best strains of poultrv, and straw- berry-plants. C. H. McFadden, Clarksburg, Moniteau Co., Mo. WANTED.— To exchange back volumes of Glean- ings and Am. Bee Journal, as good as new, for alsike and Mammoth red Clover, or pure Plymouth Rock or Brown Leghorn fowls, or Japanese or com- mon buckwheat; also a part of the proceeds of an apiary, for a practical man to run it. J. W. Barlow, Belfast, la. WANTED.— Second-hand Pelham foundation-mill. State size you have, and price. Must be cheap. 5d Jno. S. Reese, Winchester, Ky. 30 swarms of bees (hibrids) in fine order, three dol- lars per swarm, on board cars. Shipping-cases will answer for temporary hives. Bees on eight Sim- plicity metal-corner frames. Will sell all or a part at above prices. Also new frames, feeders, etc. A 1.50-pound spring scale and other fixtures, at very low figures. Write at once. J. P. McELRATH, Asbury, Warren Co., New Jersey. A iiia<-ltiiie lor piittins togetlier one-piece sections. It will pay for itself in one day's use. No bee-keeper can afford to be without one. Send to your supply-dealer, or to Wakeman & Crocker, manufacturers. Price S^.'J..50. Lockport, N. Y. Cor- respondence with supply-dealers solicited. E. W. PITZER, HILLSDALE, IOWA, Producer of and dealei- in Italian Bees, comb and extracted Honey; also M. B. Turkeys, Toulouse Geese, Langshan, P. Rock, and White R. Comb Leghorn Chickens. Our breeding stock is first-class, and judiciouslj' mated. Send for price list. .58db ONE-PIECE SECTIONS, $2.50 PER 1000. 5d Vermontville, Eaton Co., Mich. WANTED.— Bee-books, supplies, bees, combs, ex- tractor, incubator. Will give cash. Eggs at *1.00 per 13, of L. Brahmas, Rose C, B. and S. C. W. Leg.. P. Rocks. W. P. Rocks, .^3.00 per 13. Male pup, !4 Shepherd, ;» Skye Terrier. Strawberry and Red- rfispberry plants. W. W. Kulp, Pottstown, Pa. 158 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. P0NEY 06MJ1N. CITY MARKETS. Kansas City.— Honey. —We quote choice white 1- lb. sections, 18@30c; dark, 1-lb., 16(5)18. White, 2-lb., 18c; darlf, 10. Extracted, in cans, white, 9c: in bbls., 8c. Calllornia, 3-lb. sections, 18c; extracted, in 60-lb. cases, 8(a9c. Beeswax, 18(§)20c. Supply of honey is larger than the demand, and sales are slow; the trouble seems to be, that prices are too hiffh. Clemons, Ci.oon & Co., Feb. 24. Kansas City, Mo. CcNCiNNATi.—Hojiew. —There is a g-ood demand for extracted honey, which brings 4(5iftc on arrival. Comb honey bri rig's 16(g'20O in the jobbing way. De- mand for the latter is slow, while bup|)ly is larger than usual at this time of year. Beeswfj.r.— There is a good home demand, which brings 20@22c for good to choice yellow on arrival. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Feb. 20. Cincinnati, O. New York.— Homcj/. — The honey market contin- ues dull. We quote: Fancy white 1-lb. sections, 1.5@18o; 2-lbs.. ]3(r/l.''.: btickwheat, 2-lb. sections, 10(5), 11; 1-lb., 11@12. Extracted, white. 8@9; dark, oVi@.f>. Bees waj;.— 22(0*23. McCaul & Hildreth Bros.. Feb. 21. 28 & 30 West Broadway, N. Y. Chicago.— Ho/iej/.— Working off more freely at prices that are ranging from 16(gil8c for best grades, while the less desirable are slow at a lower range of prices. Extracted steady, but demand limited. Becsit'aa^.— 22@25c. R. A. Burnett, Feb. 21. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Albany. — Honej/.— Market is quiet. Buckwheat comb honey clearing out, and market rather over- stocked with medium grades of clover and mixed honey, which may have to be sold at buckwheat prices, as the season for luxury honey is nearly over. Some more movement in extracted. Consignments solicited. H. R. Wright, Feb. 21. 328 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Cleveland.— Ho?iey.— Market is very dull. We are offering the best white- jomb lib. sections at 16c, with but very few sales. Demand is very dull. A. C. Kendel, Feb. 21. Cleveland, Ohio. Boston. — Honey.— ^Ve quote: 1-lb. sections, white, 16@17; 2-lbs., 14@16. Beeswax. —2:^0. Sales slow. Blake & Ripley, Feb. 24. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. New York.— Honey.— We have nothing new to re- port in the honey-market; limited demand, and a fair stock. F. G. Strohmeyrr & Co., Feb. 21. 122 Water St., N. Y. St. Louis.— Honej/.— Extracted and strained hon- ey scarce and in demand, at from 6i/4@Ti4 in barrels. Comb, 18@20c. BeesuJaa:.— Prime, 21i4c. Feb. 24. D. G. Tutt & Co., 206 N. Commercial St., St. Louis, Mo. Detroit.— Honejy.— Best white comb honey, in 1-lb. sections, 17(5' 19c: extracted, dy^CaiQ. Market weaker, with only a fair supply. Beesumx.—2'2(fTi2Sc. Bell Branch, Mich., Feb. 22. M. H. Hunt. You who are in need of a few cans of choice hon- ey, 65 lbs. to the can, 8c per lb., address J. B. Murray, Ada, Hardin Co., Ohio. ALSIKE. I sold more alsike seed last season than all the supply-dealers combined. Write to headquarters for prices. No poor seed in stock. Also 2') large pkts. of garden-seed, fresh and No. 1 in all respects, for 65 cts., pnstpaiil. Write for further particulars, to C. M. GOODSPEEl), Box 27, Thorn Hill, N. J. Be sure and name Box 27 in answering this adv't. FOUNDATION, 10-lb. lots or more, 35 cts. per lb. J4S. iTfcN^i]^, itudf^on, N. y. DO YOU KNOW that I am headquarters for Cliieen ITIotliers, and full Colonies? 12 years in originating a superior strain of Italian Bees. If you mean business, I will cheerfully respond. Price list free. F. BOOITIHOWER, Galliipville, N. ¥. foTiJOK, nmi nmm co„ ill, MAiJUFACTUEEE OF AND DEALER IN APIARIAN SUPPLIES, AND ItREEDEK OP Send for Price List. WE have sold and made tons of FOUNDATION. Not one dissatisfied customer. 36 cts. a lb. New Jersey Hive our specialty. $2.'t{) buys one. ITI. B. HIVE CO., AV. Flilla., Pa. ITALIAN BEES AND QUEENS. 1 untested queen .fl.OO; three for .s2.(l0. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Send for price list. a. «. FRAME, 5-15 d North Maiicliester, Iiid. MINNESOTA We are selling 100 all-wooil L. brood-frames, for $L00. Langstroth hives with supers, for .")5 cents. When sending for circular, make out a bill of what you will want for the season, and we will quote prices to suit the times. 5-6d WM. K. BRIGHT, Mazeppa, Minn. He Supple Sugar-Busli THIS IS A NEW BOOK BY IPI^OI^. ^=^- J. COOI^, AUTHOR OF THE liEIS-KEEPJSR'S OUIDJE, IX.TURIOVS IN- SECTS Ol' MIC Hid AN, ETC. The name of the author is enough of itself to rec- ommend any book to almost any people; but this one on Maple Sugar is written in Prof. Cook's hap- piest style. It is ->s PROFUSELY 4 ILLUSTRATED, s<- And all the difficult points in regard to making the very best quality oif Maple Syrup and Maple Sug' ar are very fully explained. All recent inven- tions in apparatus, and methods of making this delicious product of the farm, are fully described. Published by A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio. Cash for Beeswax! Will pay 20c per lb. cash, or 2;ic in trade lor any quantity of good, fair, average beeswax, delivered at our R. R. station. The same will be sold to those who wish to purchase, at 2.oc per lb., or 28c for hc»i selected wax. Unless you put your ntuiie on the hox, and notify us by mail of amount sent. 1 can not hold myself responsible for mistakes. It will not pay as a gen- eral thing to send wax by express. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio, Vol. XTI. MAE. 1, 1888. No. 5. TERMS: S1.0C Pbe ANNUM, DJ Advance; ■) T? ,,+ riJ\l -i t't'OAt'fe/C*/ VlV ±0 t O 10 or more, 76 cts. each. Single num- \ ber. 6 cts. Additions to clubs may be f made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postopfick. r Clubs to different postofflces, not less I than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the J U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- I tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 k. I. ROOT. MEDINA, OHIO. V^SiSild''^!^%TdZ':^^yl'.n^i. rUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY ARE BEES EVER INJURED BY HAVING THE HIVES COVERED "WITH SNOW P OEO. GRIMM REPLIES A MTTI.E MOKE AT LENGTH IN KEGARD TO THE iMATTEIl. fRTEND ROOT:— In reply to your request, I will say that I can not always stop to give my reasons lor the answers I send. Usually they are prompted by my individual experience, and may differ widely from others who have managed in a different manner and under different surroundings. My answer to question No. ^M was not "yes" by mistalic. I meant yes, and meant thereby what Dadnnt&Son in their answer more fully expressed. The body of the hive may be covered, but the entrance should be kept open at any event. True, I remember that, in the winter of 1880(1 think it was Vennor's eleven-foot-snow win- tev), I had one hive buried for a month from two to three feet under the snow, and it fared no worse than the others that I had left outdoors. It lived till nearly spring, then died. I believe the less snow, rain, or moisture of any kind, about a hive, the better. And the further you can keep your bees away from it, the better. For this reason I keep mj' bees in the cellar. I do not think the bees would ex- actly smother were the entrance to be closed for a time with snow; but I do think that such a condition of affairs would not conduce to the proper atmos- phere for the bees. Cold alone will not hurt a good colony of bees, nor injure the stores; but cold and dampness will. I have tried outdoor wintering to my heart's content, and have paid for my ex- perience richly; and because I can not secure the condition of affairs necessary to reasonable success, I have abandoned it. By the way, I seem to differ from a good many in regard to the relative cost and profit of comb and extracted honey. When I get time I will give you a description of my manner of raising comb honey, and perhaps it will show the reason of the differ- ence. George Grimm. Jefferson, Wis., February 21, 1888. Thank you, friend G. We valite your re- plies, because they are many times different from even those given by the veterans, and because we know they are prompted by con- siderable practical experience ; but it seems to me as though circumstances must be quite different in Wisconsin from what they are in Ohio. With us, when the snow banks up against the liive tliere is always a passage left for more or less air to get around the sides of the hive ; and our mild days are so frequent here that the heat of the hive, or something else, invariably en- larges this crevice between the snow and the hive. In fact, I have seen bees crawl along between the front of the hive and the snow, until they reached the surface ; that is, Avhen we have snow so liigh as to cover the entrance. Some liave spoken of melting snow forming a sort of slush of snow and water that runs into and clogs tiie entrance when we have a sudden thaw. As our hives are always set on four bricks, and the ground not only un- derdrained, but arranged so that water can run off quickly, we never have any snow- water high enough up to run into or close up the entrances. In view of this, I liave al- ways said I would not have the snow swept away from the entrances, even if someljody would do it for nothing. Very likely the difference in locality may have much to do with the difference of opinion. 160 uLeaNiKgs in bee culture. Mar. FOUNDATION FOR SURPLUS BOXES. FRIEND ELWOOD GIVES US SOME NEW PACTS IN REGARD TO FLAT-BOTTOM FOUNDATION. N looking over the last few numbers of Glean- ings I have been particularly interested in the discussion of the relative merits of flat-bottom and natural-base foundation, and the proper weight of the same for surplus honey. To have flat-bottom foundation pronounced impracti* cal, as a writer in Gleanings has lately asserted, sounds strangely to some of us who have used It by the ton, without making a similar discovery. We have been equally surprised to have some of your correspondents recommend a foundation as heavy as eight feet to the pound, if the extra weight be in the side walls. A flsli-bone will quite often be found at the base of these heavy ridges of wax; but no matter how well thinned by the bees, the wax is there in ol)jcctionable quantity, and beeswax is not flaky comb which separates in the mouth, while chewing the tenacious wax unites it into a compact mass. Very many complaints are made by dealers and consumers as to the great quantity of wax they find in some lots of comb honey. I venture the assertion, that nothing else has done so much to lessen the demand and the price for comb honey as the use of too heavy foun- dation. 1 think, had producers been as careful in this respect as they ought, the market would now take double the quantity, and at a much higher, price. The question should be, not how much, but how little beeswax can we use in suri)lus foundation. How light can we make it, and have it strong enough and yet retain sufficient side wall to make It acceptable to the beesV In answering this ques- tion, the merits of the flat bottom will come in, for it is plain that a foundation of this make is much stronger than one with the natural base. The sep- tum of the first is a plain straight wax sheet that re- mains perfect until weighted to its breaking capaci- ty. The septum of the natural base is a crimpled, crooKed wax sheet that fails when only enough weight is put upon it to commence the straight- ening - out process, while the same height of side wall strengthens the flat bottom more than It does the natural base. I am told, that, so great is the strength of flat-bottom foundation, no wires are needed with low brood - chambers, such as Heddon's. The side walls must br thin, but of good height, or the bees may too easily remove them if there is any poor honey weather before they are drawn out. I have seen samples of flat-bottom foundation from the West, with side walls so thin and low that a few ambitious bees could soon pock- et them, leaving a plain wax sheet, after which the bees would be more apt to gnaw it than to build it out. Thisis the kind that one or more of your cor- respondents have tried and found wanting. Mr. Cowan's experience has been difl'erent, for ho says, in his Guide Book, page 58, that for surplus honey " there if nothing to equal the thin flat-bottom foundation." It is claimed that a flat-bottom foun- dation as light as U ft. to the pound is strong enough, and yet retains sufficient side wall to make it acceptable to the bees. It is also claimed that it is not practicable to make or use a natural-base foundation as light as this. But surplus foundation must possess other good qualities than thin base and high thin side walls. It must be made of the finest selected wax. It is a mistake to suppose that discolored, hard, or burnt wax can be clarified so as to become fit to put into comb honey. It should be made with uniform but not excessive pressure. Much foundation is injur- ed by too much pressure in making. The sheets are cast too thin at one end and too thick at the other, and in passing through the mill but one place in the sheet has the proper pressure. In reading the objections to the Given founda- tion I observe that Tione of your correspondents, although some of them are foundation - makers, have yet learned the art of dipping sheets of uni- form thickness throughout. The l>est foundation- makers with us cast their sheets of the same thick- ness in all parts and of any desired weight up to 14 feet to the pound, and in no other way can founda- tion lie made of the highest degree of excellence. Before condemning any kind of foundation, many comparative tests by disinterested parties ought to be made, noting carefully the characteristics of each kind, with the age of the foundation, the maker's name, and the mill upon which it is made. I am not interested in the manufacture or sale of any kind of foundation, but I am interested in the honey market, and I think we can improve that very much by making it certain that the consumer has no cause to complain of hard unpalatable cen- tei-s. P. H. Elwood. Starkville, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1888. Friend E., although we have not arrived at the same concltision yoti have in this mat- ter, we are right with you, heart and hand, in regard to your closing sentence. We want' the truth to come out, let it strike where it may ; and you have given us some valuahle points in regard to tliis matter of foundation for surplus honey that have never before, to my knowledge, been brought out. The bee-keeper or bee-keep- ers who use foundation by the ton ought to know what is wanted, better than those of us who use so little of it that it is of no very great moment whether it is exactly what it ought to be or not. SMALL-FRUIT RAISING IN CONNEC- TION WITH BEE-KEEPING, ETC. ALSO SOMETniNG ABOUT CUTTING OUT QUEEN- CELLS TO PREVENT SWAUMING. 0N page 728 of Gleanings for 1887 I find these words from Dr. Miller: " Perhaps I may arouse Bro. G. M. Doolittle, by saying that I think he has made one of the worst combina- tions possible, in combining bee-keeping with small-fruit raising." Well, Dr. M , so fhould I think so, if my small-fruit ra sing were the same as you interpret it to be. But all the business of this kind I have ever done, except for family use, was along the line of seHi/ifif pkuit.s. As this part of the small-fruit business comes ill early spring, so far as digging and ship- ping plants is concerned, it does not interfere in the least with the bees; for at that time they are in the cellar, or require little if any attention when out- doors. Then, again, the rooting and caring for the plants comes mainly in August, after the hurry with the bees is over, so that it can be done about as well as not, by the man who wishes to economize all of his time. This plant-business, as above, can 1888 GLEANINGS IN Bee CULTUtlE. 161 be made quite a profitable item, as will be seen, when I say that, with very little effort, I did a busi- ness on this alone amounting to SlfiO a j'ear. When I gave up the subseri])tion-business I dropped plant- selling also, being obliged to do less work along these lines after the care of my father's estate fell upon me. However, if I were to choose any busi- ness to go with the bee-business, it would certainly be farming, for the reason that this gives steady employment nearly all the year; and at times when more is to be done along both lines than the bee-keeper could attend to, a man capable of doing farmwork could be hired very easily; while hired help along other lines, which would be at all satis- factory, is something not easily obtained. On page 823 of the same volume of Gleanings, Mr. T. D. Waller tells us of the excessive swarming of bees, where he took away the queen, and says, "They acted so persistent about it that I think they might swarm if they had no queen;" where- upon the editor says, " We are to understand, from what you say, that your bees swarmed without the queen." I do not understand it so, only that they might do so. Well, they might, for I once had a swarm come out without a queen, but in this case there were several queens out with other swarms, and I very much doubt if a queenless colony could be induced to swarm under anj" other circum- stances. But this was not what I particularly wanted to notice in Mr. Waller's article. He says, in answer to the question, " Why did you not cut out the queen-cells?" "I have done that, and then I have had them swarm out till there was not a quart of bees left." The trouble here was, that the queen-cells were not cut at the right time, for the cutting of queen-cells can be so done as to make a success of it, or a complete failure. By the old plan, of waiting only six days after swarming, or when a queen was taken away. It was nearly always a failure; for in this case the bees had jjlenty of larviv that were still convertible into queens, and the question of swarming was delayed only a few days; and as this delay gave them more strength, of course they would swarm all the more. Had he waited eight days, in case of a colony having swarmed, or ten days where the queen had been taken away, before cutting the cells, he would have had a perfect thing of it; for in that case the bees could not possibly have reared a queen to go with a swarm. Friend Root, I must object a little to the loose way you speak of the teachings of the Bible, on page 19, Jan. 1. The Bible either means what it teaches or else it is a book not worthy of our notice. It is either true or else it is the worst book in the world. There can be no half-way ground here. When it says, " Thus saith the Lord," who is to gain- say it? If "baptism " means to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, then no one has any right to be baptized with water; for Christ saj's, " Not one jot or tittle" of his word shall fail; therefore we should be very careful how we interpret his sayings, and what latitude we give to our views. The trouble is, that, instead of coming to the Bible, we trj' to bring the Bible to us— down where it will meet our views and notions regarding nearly all the events and wants of our life. One day, a few years ago, when I was very busy with the subscription-business, a stranger called, and it seemed that I could hardly spare a minute from my work; but I soon saw that in him I had no ordinary Individual, so I dropped all work, and in the brief time he stayed I learned many things. Among them this: He said that there was no reason for our going through the world not knowing whether we are right or not; for, said he, we have the gospel trii-square, and by it we can tell just where we arc. If we have any doubts whether right or wrong, lay on the square; if our life squares with it, all right; if not, all wrong. Lay on the try-square, friend Root, and see if your teach- ings on page li) square with it. See Matt. 5: 19. Borodino, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1888. G. M. Doolittle. Thanks for your explanation in regard to the small-fruit business, friend I). At our farmers' institute, we were addressed by Mr. Longnecker, of Dayton, O., and he gave us a most valuable talk in regard to small-fruit raising, and especially in the matter of sending plants by mail and ex- press. After the session was over, 1 ques- tioned a good deal about the amount of fruit he sold, lie did not answer very sat- isfactorily, and pretty soon he turned around and spoke something as follows : " Mr. Root, I suppose I shall have to con- fess to you that I don't raise more straw- berries than my family need for their own use, although I have two acres or more de- voted entirely tt) strawberries.'' I opened my mouth in astonishment, and he went on : '■'■ The fact is, I do such a large business in raising and selling plants that I have aban- dcmed fruit entirely." I found, upon further questioning, that he pinches off the fruit- blossoms in order to throw the whole force of the plant into runners, lie has a perfect- ed system for taking up the plants for pack- ing and shipping, and has trained hands for the business. In this way he does it better, and at much less expense, than when he sells both plants and fruit. I con- fess, tlie business as he described it seemed very attractive to me. Take such a strong plant as the Jessie, for instance, and push it for runners and little plants, and see how many you can get from one in a season. In a light soil, the number of strong healthy plants that can be produced is almost incred- ible.—May be I am a little loose, friend D. ; but I have seen Christians behave in such a very unchristianlike manner in regard to this matter of baptism, that I can not but feel that there is such a thing as laying too much stress on one of the points of Bible teaching, and ignoring others. Paul says, II. Cor. 8:6, "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." I like your ligure of the try-square ; and I believe with you, that the Bible, rightly used, will lead us unerringly. THE GRAND RAPIDS LETTUCE. SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS IN REGARD TO IT FROM FRIEND TERRELL. Ifp FTER reading the letter published on ^1^ page 14-5, I immediately wrote to jMf friend T., asking him how much seed -^^ he had to spare, and v/hat he would take for it. Below is his reply : Friend Root: —My greenhouse is full of this let- tuce. Some of it is almost readj' for market. Plants set December 29 are 9 inches high, and not a spot or a louse on them up to this date. I use no 162 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. tobacco smoke in my sreenhouse. One man here has five greenhouses, in two of which he raises let- tuce, and he has hardly a healthy plant in them. He raises the Black-seeded Simpson. A man at Elyria has a large house, half of it in lettuce, and he has made almost a failure of it. He raises Black-seeded Simpson too. My lettuce is a wonder to them all. Drop me a card, saying- what day you will come, and I will meet you, and show you all of the green- houses, and try to make the day enjoyable to you, and perhaps i^rofltable. O. J. Terrell. No. Ridgeville, O., Feb. 23, 1888. Yon perhaps know how hard it was for rne to forego the kind invitation ; but busi- ness is crowding so just now that I don't feel as if it would be right for me to desert my post for a single day. But I made him an offer for the seed, to which he replies as follows : Mr. Boot:— I have cleaned up my seed, and find that it weighs 13 oz. I am sorry you did not conclude to come. I am shipping lettuce to Cleveland now. It was set from the 29th of Dec. to the 10th of Jan. It is fully one foot high. Chandler & Kudd have my crop, at 30 cts. per lb. O. J. Terrell. No. Ridgeville, O., Feb. 33, 1888. I secured the 13 oz. of seed ; and if any of the friends want it in larger quantities than the 5 and 25 cent packets which I have been selling, I can furnish it, so long as the 13 oz. last, at the following prices: I'^g oz., 25 cts.; i oz., 40 cts.; i oz., 75 cts.; i oz., $1.25. HONEY STATISTICS. NONE LOST YET. The weather is cold; ice still on the streams. The bees had their first general fly to-day. They appear to be in good condition. I hflve lost none so far. Shaw's Landing, Pa., Feb. 23, 1888. J. M. Beatty. EXTRACTING IN FEBRUARY. Bees are doing well. I extracted my first new honey on the 17th of February. Who can beat that? I will send you a sample as soon as I get a vial suit- able. J. W. AViNDER. New Orleans, La., Feb. 31, 1888. OV^ER HALF THE BEES DEAD. Dcai- Sir;— I am satisfied that over half the bees in this county died this winter. I think I will order a queen this spring. My bees brought in pollen to-day, Feb. 12, which they gathered from alder. Silver Hill, Ark. W. R. Davis. PROSPECTS GOOD. My bees wintered well, and the prospects for a honey crop are good, especially for white clover. The majority of bee-keepers are about 40 years be- hind the times here. Wm. O. Heivly. Raymore, Mo., Feb. 24, 1888. PUTTING ON SECTIONS. We have had a mild wiater in this portion of country. Even two-frame nuclei have wintered suc- cessfully. Clover and other flowers are blooming. We have put on sections, and expect to have nice section honey as soon as the Northern bee-keepers take their bees from cellars. N. Alleman & Son. Centreville, La., Feb. 20, 1888. REPORTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCALITIES. N response to the foot-note on page 13-1, we have received the following postals in regard to the prospects for the honey- crop next season, how the bees have wintered, etc. Taken as a whole they are very encouraging, and certainly ought to make the bee-keeper look up orice more. The reports received thus far are as follows : HONEY FROM ORANGE-BLOSSOMS. I notice you want reports of the first new honey. My bees are just booming on orange-blossoms. I notice somebody reports white clover in bloom in New Orleans. We don't have any clover here, but I could extract quite a little new orange honey now if I wanted to. 1 have had drones hatching for a week. We have good prospects for a good honey year here. This spring is extra early. Bees began to bring in honey and pollen about the 10th of Jan- uary. O. E. Heacock. Emporia, Fla., Feb. 25, 1888. REPORT FOR WESTERN MARYLAND. So far as I can learn, bees have wintered reasona- bly well in Western Maryland. C. F. Sweet. Swanton, Md., Feb. 37, 1888. NEW HONEY AND SWARMS. I extracted about three gallons this season, Feb- uary 18th, from willow bloom. I also hived 3 young swarms of bees, one Feb. 19th, and one on the 17th. Our fields here are all getting white with clover- bloom. E. Stahl. Kenner. La., Feb. 23, 18S8. SEASON EARLY. My bees commenced carrying in pollen on the 30th of January, and have been very busy since. They wintered very well. Two stands starved out before I knew it. Some stands have young bees out. The season is early. S. G. Wood. Birmingham, Ala., Feb., 23, 1888. THE PROSPECT IN TEXAS FOR 1888. The bees have wintered nicely in this section, and have commenced rearing drones for swarming. I look for the first swarm in 30 days. The prospect for a large crop of honey here is better than for .5 years past. Our surplus is gathered from the first of April to the first of June. D. M. Edwards. Uvalde, Tex., Feb. 3L 1888. BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. We have had beautiful weather here for nearly a week. The bees have been out every day, and are rearing brood lo a greater extent than they did in March last year. I think nearly three-fourths of the bees in Washington County are kept in box hives; but eveiy year sees more and more of the Simplicity and chaff hives coming into use. England, Pa., Feb. 23, 1888. S. B. Post. A GOOD OUTLOOK FOR FLORIDA. Bees are breeding rapidly, though but little honey is coming in. More bees are in the hives generally than usual at this time of year, if neighbors' reports are correct. I do not think the bees have as much honey as usual so far this year, but the orange- bloom is now beginning to open, and is remarkably heavy. Even my nursery stock is preparing to bloom freely. So far as I can now judge, there is every prospect of a good honey season for 1888 in this section. W. S. Hart. Hawks Park, Fla, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 163 EDW^IN FRANCE. THE MAN WHO HAS 500 COLONIES, AND HAS PRO- DUCED AS HIGH AS 21 TONS OF EXTRACTED HONEV. IN 38 DAYS. AND NOT IN CALIFORNIA EITHER. 'E take great pleasure in presenting to our readers a picture and autobio- gi-apliical sketch of our friend Ed- win France, of Platteville, AYis. We consider him well worthy of this distinction. lie is one of our most exten- sive and successful honey-producers. He is a plain, practical wiitpr. and we believe he nev- er puts any thing before the public except every two or four weeks for over 40 years. He never had any pay for preaching, from those to whom he preached, but always said that God would^pay him for his work. Perhaps he did. He had a good property, and money out on interest. I lived with himl8!^ years. The spring after I was 16 years old my lather had me'come home, and put me at the furnace to learn the trade. I worked at the business four years, pretty steady. Then my father bought forty acres of timber land which was five miles from town. We built a log house upon the land, and moved the family into it. Father and I worked summers on the iilacc, tlcaring up the land and raising farm, EDWIN FRANCE. such as he knows to be well established from long experience. At our request he prepared a sketch of his own life, as ap- pears below: Frif ml Root :—lu reply to your letter of Jan. 23, I will give you a brief sketch of my life. I was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 4, 1834. My fath- er was a furnaceman by trade, molding and melt- ing iron. He had a large family to support, and never got much property ahead. I was the second child. An older brother died young, leaving me the eldest of the children. When I was eight years old my i)arcnrs sent mo to live with my mother's broth- er, who was a farmer and a Methodist preacher. He preached every Sunday— no regular appoint- ment by the conference, but he went where he chose. He preached in the county poorhouse crops. Wintei-s we worked at the furnace. My father died when I was 34, and I then became the main support of the family, consisting of mother and six children. I did the best I could, and made out to get plenty to eat. I gave up the furnace business, and worked a part of the time in making salt-bari'els summers, and cutting sawlogs in the winter. About this time I obtained a few hives of bees, and kept them on that little place in the woods. 1 lived there until 1 was 83, when I got the "western fever " and cnme hereto find a home. I traveled about in Illinois and Wisconsin, but finally settled in Humboldt Co., Iowa, leaving my mother and the other children on the place in New York, in care of my mother's lirother (not the preacher, but another brother). He was a single man, older than mother, 164 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. and was well off and able to care for the family. So, then, at the age of 33 I took to myself a wife from the settlement that I left in New York, and settled in Iowa on a 200-acre prairie farm. Here I beg'an life anew, and here again T obtained a few bees. 1 lived on the place in Iowa six years, farm- ing summers and trapping winters, until the war broke out. At first there was no price for farm produce. Accordingly, wife and I with our little boy, five years old, came to Platteville, on a visit to some of my wife's relations. We intended to re- turn as soon as times got a little better; but the war kept along, and we did not go back. I wanted something to do. I saw an advertisement in a pa- per, •' Agents wanted, to sell patent bee-hives." I wrote to the man, and was soon the owner of the patent for the county I lived in. I made the hives myself. At that time nearly every farmer had a few bees, and the business paid very well. I soon bought two more counties. In my trades I got some bees, and this is the way I got into the bee- business. I increased the bees until the winter of 1871, when I went into the winter with 12;J stands, and came out in the spring with 35, and the next spring with 14 colonies. I then made up my mind that my hive was too small, and accordingly made larger ones and learned more about bees. Since then I have had better success. We use the Metcalf hive, with standing frames, movable side, double-walled, chaft'-packed. We have about 100 colonies in Langstroth frames. For the extractor, I like the Metcalf hive best; but for comb honey, the L. frame is the best. In my opin- ion there is not very much difference in favor of the Italian bee over the brown, or German bee. Either, if handled right in a good season, is good enough for me. I think of trying the Carniolans next season. Myself and son have now 500 colonies of bees; ti apiaries— one at home, and live out from home— none out on shares. We hire help during the honey season; all board at my house. We do all the work ourselves, with the help we take with us. In good average seasons we get 100 pounds of extracted honey per colony, spring count. We winter all outdoors on the summer stands. We sold our Iowa land and bought 11 acres here inside of the limits of the city of Platteville, on which we have raised largely of garden truck and berries. Edwin France. Platteville, Wis., Jan. 39, 1888. Afterireceiving the above we wrote friend France, usking him to furnish us a record of his yearly yields, the number of colonies, the number of out-apiaries, his winter loss- es, etc., for a few years back. This he has done, and we append the figures below. These are facts, and the reader can see for himself what one of our most extensive apiarists has done in an average locality. FRIEND FRANCE'S YEARLY YIELD PER COLONY. In 1880 we had 134 colonies in the spring. We took 6000 lbs. of extracted honey, almost all basswood; no clover that year. The average was about 48' ^ lbs., spring count. We went into winter (juarters with 178 colonies. The winter of 1880 was a hard one; besides, we had extracted too closely. As a consequence, we lost a great many bees. We saved only 75, all told, many of them weak. The year 1881 proved to be a very poor one for honey. From the 75 colonies we obtained 2000 lbs. of extracted honey, njaking the averagp 36-,i lbs. We went into winter quarters with 157 colonies, all outdoors, on summer stands. We made sure to leave the bees plenty of honey to winter on this time. The winter of 1881 was a mild one. We lost 43 out of the 1.57. Two of the last were queenless. In the spring of 1883 we had 1.55 colonies distributed in three out-apiaries, and one apiary at home. We secured from the 155 colonies, 1.3,000 lbs. of extract- ed honey, making an average of about 83 lbs. We went into winter with 295 colonies, and lost very few during the winter. But the bees deserted bad- ly in the spring. We managed, however, to get into working order with 311 colonies. In the spring of 1883 we had four out-apiaries and one at home. We took, during the following season, 33,037 lbs. of ex- tracted honey from the 311 colonies, an average of 10414 lbs. per colony, spring count. We did not re- cord the number of colonies in the fall of 1883. In the spring of 1884 we had 290 colonies in six apiaries, from which we took 31,487 lbs. of honey, of which 306 lbs. was comb— an average of very nearly 109 lbs. spring count. We went into winter quarters with 455 colonies. In the spring of 1885 we had 330 colonies in six yards. From them we extracted 36,193 lbs. of honey, an average of 113 lbs. per colony, spring count. We went into winter quarters with 516 colonies. In the spring of 1886, after selling 58 colonies we had 395, of which the home yard had 61, the out- apiaries respectively 73, 60, 73, 80, and 50. From these we extracted 43,489 lbs. of honey, an average, very nearly, of 108 lbs. per colony. We went into winter with ,507 colonies. In the spring of 1887 we had 410 colonies, from which we took .5000 lbs. of honey— an average of 13 lbs. per colony. We went into winter with 514 col- onies—home yard 74, out-apiaries 105, 70, 91, 86, 88. All of the bees were in good condition for winter. But this is a hard winter so far. If we get good weather through March nnd .^pril I have no fears for the bees. I have given you figures back to 1880. Since that time I have been down to 75 colonies. Platteville, Wis., Feb. 9, 188.:!. E. France. Friend F., the above report is very valua- ble, and I think it extraordinarily Irnge for the number of colonies yon handled. I doubt if we have a record this side of Cali- fornia, for as many tons of honey and for as many pounds per colony, for as many colo- nies, owned by any one man. I think I have heard it estimated, that oU lbs. of ex- tracted honey per coloiiy, wliere the number runs up into the hundreds, may be called a pretty fair yield. ^ I ^— HOAAT MUCH LABOR IS REQUIRED TO MANAGE A SERIES OP OUT- APIARIESy friend FRANCE RECONSIDERS QUESTION NUMBER 20, ON OUT-APIARIES. N question No. 20, in Gi.eanings for Dec. 1, I was greatly surprised at some of the answers Wi there given— especially the answer by Geo, -^ Grimm. He puts the number of apiaries at ten, each with 100 colonies— in all, 1000 colonies, to be managed by one man with two assistants, Now. I am not going to say he can not do it; but I can not do it here in my location, and I don't be- lieve any other man with two assistants can work 1000 colonies in my location, AU the honey we get 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 165 hei'e comes with a rush. All we get is taken inside of four weeks, and three-fourths of that in two weeks. In 1886 we worked at extracting honey 28 days, and got 43,480 lbs. In 188.5 we extracted 31 days and obtained 30,079 jjounds; in 1884 we extract- ed 35 days and got 31,48:J lbs.; in 1883 we worked ex- tracting 31 days, and got 23,037 lbs. All our hired work with the bees this year, 1887. was all inside of a week. But we had only a very little honey to ex- tract. There is myself and son; and for the last three years we have employed eight assistants for about two or three weeks each year; the rest of the time we have no help, and for about eight months of the year the bees don't require any work at all. For the years of 1882, 1883, and 1884, we hired from two to three assistants; but then we did not have as many bees as we have now, and we then worked them over once in ten days; but now we go over them once a week. There are three of our apiaries eight miles from home. We have to travel those eight miles and return, and while there work from eighty colonies in the spring to 100 colonies before we get through the extracting reason. When we get fairly under way in extracting there are ten of us, and all live with me at my house. We carry our dinners with us. Our help is all boys from 13 to 18 years old. We have had two boys with us as old as 30 years for one season. We give our twelve- year-old boys from six to eight dollars a month. If we employ them after the first year, we give them about two dollars a month more each year as long as we hire them. Very few boys stay with us more than two years— some only one year. As soon as they are old enough to hire out on farms or learn trades they leave us, as our work is so short a, iob (from 38 to 35 days). So a part of our force each year consists of new recruits, and are young boj'S. Very likely we are not working to as good advan- tage as some others; but the way we are doing is what we have drilled into, and we don't know any better. Mr. Grimm doesn't say whether he would work his bees for extracted or comb honey, or work them to raise bees to sell. If to raise bees for market, perhaps he could manage 1000 colonies with two assistants. In that case it would not be nec- essary to see each yard more than once in ten days, and I think three men could work 100 colonies a day for that purpose. l!ut I sunpose the question had reference to raising honey. For my part I would give a big fee to learn how to work 1000 col- onies of bees in ten yards, for either comb or ex- tracted honey, the entire work to be done by three men. At the North American Bee-Keepers' Convention at Chicago, Mr. D. A. Jones had an essay on estab- lishing out-a]iiaries, which is published in the ^4. B. J., also in Gleanings. I think Mr. Jones is one of our most practical men in the bee-business. In reading his essay I tind he has seven apiaries, which I should conclude contained 100 colonies each, spring count. Now, about how many assist- ants has he? He says one man is required at each out-apiary during the season, for four to live months; there are seven men four or five months. Then, again, he says, speaking of the work this one man at the apiary has to do. He " never expects him to do all the work during the honey-flow," but gives him assistance in extracting. Again, he uses little boys and girls to carry the combs to and from the extractor; and two, a little larger and a little practiced, to do the uncapping and extracting; so we have at least four more at each yard, making five. Now, live times 7 is 35, at least a part of the time. Well, what is all the gist of this article? I don't want the idea to go out to the ABC class, or to those contemplating going into the bee-business, that one man and two assistants can manage ten yards of bees with 100 colonies each, and do all the work; tor if they try it, it seems to me they will be sadly disappointed. E.France. Platteville, Wis., Dec. 30, 1887. Friend F., I too was a little surprised at friend Grimm's answer; but we shall have to take into consideration the fact that the Grimms are all tremendous workers. Even Katie took charjje of an apiary, and extract- ed an amount of honey that would frighten almost any of our big stout veterans ; and, coupled with great endurance, the Grimms seem to have unusual tact in shortening and simplifying labor. We should be very glad if our friend George would give us further particulars in regard to the way he and his father managed, if he can get time from his arduous law duties. In tliinkiug the mat- ter over, I fell to wondering if our friend Katie is a bee-keeper still. May be her brother will tell us, and perliaps we may have the good fortune to get some sort of communication from the lady herself. A BIT OP BEE-KEEPING ROMANCE. HOW A YOUNG PRACTITIONER BEGAN BEE-KEEPING, AND HOW HE SECURED HIS QUEEN. N the winter of 1879, your advertisement, ^l" " Friends, if you are interested in bees or hon- ey," etc., caught my eye. I sent my name. Gleanings came. I saw, and was conquered. Its visits to my home have ever been pleasant and profitable. The first copy opened up to me a new field of thought and labor. I purchased a few colonies of bees, and begnn at once scientific bee- keeping, which was an entirely novel industry in this section. Old Texans, accustomed to obtaining small quantities of honey Irom rocks, trees, and boxes, when I invited them to look upon barrels of extracted honey, they shook their heads and said there was somethiug wrong here. After a moment of silence they would ask, "What did you feed your bees with? " They were years in believing the truth. With all my ups and downs, successes and reverses, I can truly say that bee-keeping, though not my only business (being a practitioner of med- icine), has not only given me much pleasant rec- reation, but we have kept our table well supplied with honey, and obtained many spare dollars be- sides. There is a bit of romance connected with my bee- keeping experience. But for Gleanings I should not have been a bee-keeper; and being a bee-keeper, I visited the International Convention of 1883, in Cincinnati, where, jierhaps, you remember me. Dr. L. B. Brown, of Eminence, Ky.,Dr. Brown, of Georgia, and myself were on a committee of work. Miss Ada Bowen, of Covington, Ky., the auburn-haired niece of Dr. L. E. Brown, was introduced to me dur- ing the convention, and little did she dream, or myself either, for that matter, that she would be- come the queen of a bee-keei)er, in the genial clime of Texas. But such was the fact. lu about a year from that time we were married. It was a case of 166 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Mar. love at first sight. She has not only become a good bee-keeper, but a good house-keeper as well, and has made me one of the happiest of men, all due to bees. Friend R., bees have made me a fortune. Just tell this to the boys who advocate bee-keeping along with other business. It will give them a good pointer. Here is another dollar inclosed, for which send us your clean-faced journal another year. Our report for this season is about 50 lbs. per col- ony, which, indeed, is a poor yield. Drought caused an early cessation of the honey-flow. Last winter was dry. The outlook now is fine. We had an abundant rainfall in September, which brought up the honey-plants. We are having plenty of rain now. With good rains in April we shall have a fine yield. The crops In this section, while not the best, were fairly good, and we have plenty to carry us safely and bountifully to the next. For these and all other blessings, we return our thanks to the Giver of all good. J. E. Lay. Halletsville, Lavaca Co., Texas, Dec. 33, 1887. Why, bless your heart, doctor, don't we remember you at tliat convention is 1882 V I have wondered several times why we did not hear from you oftener since. I don't re- member about the auburn-haired little wo- man, but I do remember how enthusiastic you were about the prospects in Texas over the horsemint honey ; and I remember, too, feeling sorry to think of the heavy expense it must have caused you to come all the way from Texas to attend that convention. I have wondered several times whether you were really paid for your pains and trouble ; but I shall never worry about it any more. Why, my dear sir, it may not have been a bad investment had you traveled clear around the world— yes, four or live times over. Ask the auburn-haired wife what she thinks about it. " Man shall not live by bread alone." Now, friend L., let us hear from you oftener. Tell us about the bees, and tell us wliat your wife says about our recent articles on bee-keepers' wives, etc. REMEMBER THE POOR. A SENSIBLE REMINDER FROM MBS. AXTELL. Tip S the cold of winter is again upon us, and 2f\lbi ^® ^^*^ comfortably housed from the inclera- j^P" ency of the weather, let us look around us ■^^ and see if there are not some who have not the comforts of life. Do not let us be con- tented by just giving them employment, or help- ing them to get employment. Often we can suggest to them ways by whi'^h they can better provide for their wants, or how to take better care of what they have. A family came under our observation not long since, of actual suflfering from cold; although they had a good plastered house and plenty of fuel, their bed-clothes were small. Being poor, they thought to economize by making short and narrow quilts. The father came in our house one severe cold morning, shaking as if he had the ague. He said he had nearly frozen t^e night before, al- though he had made several fires in their small Stove. We began to inquire into the cause, and found they had a sick child that must be kept cov- ered, while the father, with his clothes on, tried to keep warm at the back side of the bed against the north wall, with scant cover or sometimes no cover at all. Next day, as he was our hired man, I looked up some pieces of quilts and lounge tick, and sewed one to one side of each quilt. These quilts could then be put crosswise of the bed. The pieces 1 sewed on were long enough to tuck a foot or more under the straw tick at the foot of the bed; then with an extra small thick quilt thrown over the foot of the bed, the clothing was sufficient. Before this was done I had more straw put into the straw bed, as they had only straw to sleep upon. Then I made a long bolster and filled it with straw, reach- ing from the head to the foot of the bed, and pulled the bed out a little and threw the bolster back of the bed, which stood against the north wall of the house. The father did not know of this until he went to retire for the night. The next morning, when he came in to do chores, he seemed very thankful. He said he had not slept so comfortable and warm for a long time. The children's bed was also looked after and made more comfortable. Not every family would allow one to take so much liberty as the above; but when we err we had bet- ter err on the side of doing too much for the poor rather than too little. Some have said, " You will hurt their feelings by doing so and so; " but I find if we help the poor in the right spirit they will love us all the more. If each reader of Gleanings will find some poor family to personally interest them- selves in, how much good we shall do ! Jesus says, "The poor ye have with you always ; and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good." JAPANESE buckwheat. In regard to the .50 cts. worth of Japanese buck- wheat, Mr. Axtell thought it did well considering the very dry year. It grew taller than the other, and seemed of ranker growth every way. He hap- pened to sow it near a hedge, and not more than two-thirds of it came up; but from the 50 cts. worth he got 3 pecks by measure. He says he was more than pleased with it, and he believes it will do bet- ter in this climate tlian any other buckwheat he ever sowed, and he has had an experience of over 35 years. The bees in our home apiary, where we had buckwheat, gathered enough honey to winter up- on; but in our timber apiary, 4 miles away, where was no buckwheat, we had to feed some. Our other buckwheat yielded 8 bushels per acre; but if it had done as well as the Japanese, it would have amount- ed to 34 bushels per acre. A bee-keeper's SONG CALLED FOR. I wish some one could compose a good piece on bee-keeping that could be set to music, to be play- ed on an organ or piano— not a comic piece, but in- structive and useful— one we could use in our homes. I should like to play it for my company once in a while. Such a piece would be nice sung if played at our bee-conventions. I don't know but in some of our back numbers there are a few pieces that could be set to music, but we have dis- posed of our bee-journals, so we have none, or but few to refer to. Perhaps Rev. Mr. Clarke, of Cana- da, or J. P. Israel, of California, could give us some such poetry; Dr. C. C. Miller, with tune also. A bee-book of songs would not be out of place, with notes to sing the same. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 167 REPOKT OF 1887. Although this has been the poorest year for bees since we kept bees, yet we have no reason to be discouraged. They paid us for all labor put upon them, and expense, unless we except the interest on the money expended on the bees and fixtures; but good years they will pay all that back with compound interest. Taking one year with another, bees pay better than any thing else on our farm, either live stock or grain. Mrs. L. C. Axtell,. Roseville, 111. Mrs. A., 1 am afraid a great many will be tempted to say, that, if this man and wife could not stir themselves enough to get some old clothiug, or even some old news- papers, and snug up their beds, they ought to suffer. But how about the poor helpless children V And, again, has not the Master said, " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ye have done it unto me"V We certainly ought to alleviate, in the best and wisest way, suffering of any kind. I can not afford to sleep cold. It does not pay ; and if when I am at home, or when away from home, I hnd that I am getting the least bit chilly in the night, I get hold of every thing available to enable me to warm up. Newspapers will do tiptop if you can't do any better. Tuck them under you and over you. In our own home we have some spare quilts upon a shelf in a neighboring clothes-press, and I often skip up to that shelf and tumble over the bed- clothing at any time during the middle of the night or close to morning, when I feel that lam in danger of taking cold. It is true, poor people have not all these comfort- able conveniences ; but surely they can pick up old horse-blankets, coats, dresses, over- coats, or something of that sort, and, as you suggest, large bolsters or bags of straw." If they have not straw, let them get some of their neighbors. Perhaps I am not very familiar with the destitution out West; but I am sure that / could hunt up something to keep out the frost, no matter where you put me. -^ — • — ^ RECORD-BOOKS FOR THE APIARY. DR. MILLER DEFENDS THEM A LITTLE. ON page 931 of Gleanings for Dec. 1.5, friend Hyde tells us how to fill empty combs by rub- bing the hand over the comb. I have tried this, but it was such slow work in my hands that I gave it up. Moreover, in order to fill the last comb it was necessary that there should be a surplus of syrup, which was objectionable. SUGGESTION ON SMOKER. Friend Hyde's suggestion reminds me that, for the last two seasons, instead of using wet shavings or grass to put on top of shavings in the Ringham smoker, I have used a circular piece of tin, large enough to fit loosely in the smoker, and filled full of %-inch holes. A wire handle is attached to the middle of it, bent into a ring at the end. This handle serves the double purpose of lifting out the cover and of holding the cover tight down on the shavings. It works well. PINE CONES AND LEAVES FOR SMOKER FUEL. The mention of "pine straw " on page 954 re- minds me of our practice at the Belden apiary. This apiary is in a beautiful little evergreen grove of firs and pines, and the ground is covered with leaves and cones. Last summer was very dry, so that all we had to do was to reach down to the ground and fill up our smokers with leaves or cones, generally cones, and we had a good and lasting smoke. To those who can easily obtain them, I recommend dried cones. RECORD-BOOKS. On page 886 friend Swinson gives his plan of keep- ing records, and in your reply, friend Root, you give your objections to books. 1 suppose you much prefer tacks and tablets, and probably friend Swin- son couldn't do so well with them. Often it hap- pens that a man's own plan is for him his best plan, and he should have charity enough to believe that, for some one else, some other plan may be better. For 30 years or more I have kept record-books, and, of course, am prejudiced in their favor. One year I tried tacks for keeping record of queens, but con- cluded I liked the book better. I never tried slates or tablets, but there are some reasons why I don't care to try them. Some years ago I hung some heavy paper cards on my hives, and one day I found every one of them torn off. I never knew whether some animal did it, or some mischievous person; but Idon't want any way of keeping a record that allows the possihilitii of being so easily disar- ranged, although such disarrangement might never occur. But I will give you a ranch stronger reason for my preference. I like to have all my work planned ahead. In fact, it is often quite necessary that I should so plan it. Now, in laying out ray plans I must have in view what is to be done in all four apiaries, and I can hardly see how I could do that without having a record of all before me, and this I could not have with the tack or tablet plan. Again, suppose I have only one apiary, and a rainy day occurs so that nearly all the work for that day must be postponed. No matter how hard the rain pours down, I can sit or lie in the house and look at the condition of every hive in the apiary, and de* cide what demands attention the most imperatively and what can be postponed. But I need not enu- merate all the advantages that obtain from the ability to sit in the house and see just exactly what you would see by going around and looking at the tablets in four different apiaries. Now for your objections, friend Root. "You have always got to carry the book with you." Yes, but it never oc- curred to me that that was an objection. The book is part of my regular " kit " that I always have in my tool-box, and, instead of objecting to its com- pany, I find it exceedingly convenient, if I happen to find a queenless hive, to reach for ray book, with- out rising from my seat, to see just where I can get a queen, without running to several difl'erent hives. Yes, the book does " become soiled with honey, propolis, beeswax, etc.," but not so as to become il- legible, and don't know that it is objectionable, ex- cept that sometimes two leaves will be glued to- gether. I don't like that; but as I have a new book every season it doesn't get so very bad. " Second, the book is liable to get lost." Oh, nol it is 13 by 6 inches (costs 3.5 cents), and is always kept in the tool-box when not in use. "Third, with your book system the condition of the hive can not be told at a glance some distance away." Yes, sir; I have often told it at a distance of five miles away. Can you do any better with the 168 tJLEANiNGS lis J3EE CULTURE. Mar. tablets? Now, suppose Ihe case that j'ou mentiou on pag-e 913— a limited number of queen-cells on band, which must he given to the colonics which have been gueeuless the longest. The large date stands out conspicuous on your slates, so that you heed not " strain or squint the eyes, as the slates on the cover are examined one by one," but it takes time to go from one to another, even if you can see those large dates ten feet away; and before you have had time to examine half a dozen I will open to the page of memoranda and tell at a glance which hive or hives in four apiaries have been longest queenless. Now, if, after what I've said, you will fetill keep on using tablets, I'll— think just as much of you as ever. C. C. MiXjLEK. Marengo, 111. Now look here, friend C. C. If you keep 0:1 using your record-book, I am going to think just as much of you as ever, and — yes, 1 will go a little further— I shall think a lit- tle more of you than I did before, and also of the other friends wlio use tlie books, for I see more reason for their use than I did. I presume one reason why I dislike a record- book is, that so much of my work is among books and records that I become so thorougli- ly tired out and exhausted in heing obliged to consider them, it is a relief to me to throw them away and get out into the open air. You see, "circumstances alter cases. Now, I think tliat, even if 1 used a book— and you give us some very good reasons for so doing — I would have the slates also. Even if you have a book, you have to have numbers on your hives ; for why don't these same mischievous spirits that lurk around your hives scratch off the numbers just to bother you V ^ I ^1 IMPROVING TOMATOES. THE MIKADO; SOME VERV VALUABLE SUGGES- TIONS FROM W. J. GREEN, IN REGARD TO IM- PROVING VEGETABLES IN GENERAL. fRIEND ROOT:— I did not mean to be under- stood as saying that the Mikado, or any other variety of tomato, can not be improved by selection, but that I think there is a limit be- yond which we can not go. My belief is based partly on my own experience and partly on the ex- perience of others. So far as I am aware, all of the smooth-fruited sorts were such from the beginning. They may have originated by crossing, but when discovered were smooth, and by selection were in- creased in size. Mr. Livingston worked for some time to make rough sorts smooth, but met with no success. The Acme, and, ifi fact, all of his varieties, were smooth from the start; but by selection he Increased the size and earliness. If anyone has succeeded, by selecting the smoother specimens from fruit of the rough sort, I should like to hear of it. I am aware that varieties may be and have been Improved by selection; but that any rough- fruited sort has been made perfectly smooth by this method 1 am inclined to doubt, although it may have been done. It is not the office of selection to change types, but rather to fix and perpetuate such as seem de- sirable. Unless there is a tendency to vary in the direction toward which we are working, we soon come to a stand and are obliged to resort to some other means. If we find that a variety shows little or no tendency to vary in a desired direction, we may possibly cause the wished-for variation by crossing. The upright, or tree tomato, is quite late, and the fruit verj' irregular; but the plant is of a dwarf upright habit, which for some reasons makes it very desirable. Mr. Gofif, of the New York station, crossed this and some of our common sorts, and has succeeded in getting an early, smooth-fruited variety, with the upright habit. I will not venture to say that he could not have accomplished this by selection alone, but it seems improbable, for the reason that the habit or character of the tree tomato was so strongly fixed that it showed little or no signs of variation toward smoothness and earliness. The crossing broke up this fixedness of character; and from the varieties that appeared, one was chosen and its character fixed by selection. Usually we want fixedness of character in a variety, but vve maybe baffled in our efforts to improve a variety because of this fixedness. The Mikado is not a hopeless subject; but my plan is to cross it with one of the smooth varie- ties; and yet there is only one chance in a thousand that this course will give the desired results, for we knovv so little about heredity in plants that it is impossible to say what variety to cross upon it. We already have two distinct smooth-fruited va- rieties having the same general appearance of plant as the Mikado. One has fruit like the Acme, and the other like the Perfection. Both have smaller fruit than the Mikado, but are quite equal to it in vigor and productiveness. I regard them as more promising than the Mikado, but my ex- pectations may not be realized. You can hardly have had the true King Humbert, since it is quite smooth with us. The prices named that we obtained for tomatoes were for 1886. This is a hard market in which to sell rough tomatoes. W. J. Green. Columbus, Ohio. Many tlianks, friend G. You give us an insight into tliis matter of improving on our fruits and vegetables that I confess is new to me, and it may not only save myself but hundreds of others much "useless labor. I am very much obliged to you for having gone over the matter until it is evidently plain to us all. In saying we have two dis- tinct varieties having the same general ap- pearance as the Mikado, do you mean that tliese two are the Acme and Perfection V The smaller fruit would be a great objection with us ; and on our soil we have never found any thing tlutt had the vigor and pro- ductiveness of the Mikado. In fact, we get about as many bushels of smooth ones as from any other plant, with the rough ones thrown in. If you can get some seeds of the King Humbert tliat are round and smooth, 1 shall be glad indeed to get them. Ours were purchased of Rawson ; but I do not remember to have seen a single tomato like tliose pictured in his catalogue. They were oblong, like an egg, it is true ; but instead of being round they were cornered, as it were. A good many were also inclined to be double, or partly double. While they were not lobed, like many of our common tomatoes, tliey were irregular in shape, no two being alike. I notice that a good many of our agricultural papers of late advise GLEAKINGS lii BEE CtJLTUHE. 169 planting such vegetables and fruits as you have found to do well on your own land dur- ing former seasons. Is not this pretty good advice V and may it not explain so many widely different experiences V I thing it an excellent thing to try the novelties ; but try only a few, and label them carefully. When "you find something that suits you, enlarge the area, and so on. Very likely, with vegetables and fruits people have no- tions, much as they do in regard to bee- hives ; but when one succeeds in getting good crops and good prices, we can excuse him if he has a good many notions. THE WIFE'S SHARE. A BEE-KEEPER'S WIFE TAKES FRIEND TERRV TO TASK A LITTLE. j^l RO. ROOT:— I have just been reading friend ^i Terry's article, "The Wife's Share," page 86, ^^ and wish to say that I heartily indorse nearly ^^ all of it. I have seen many a wife who has shriveled into a mean and narrow character, or that has descended so low as to resort to decep- tion and even theft, rather than ask her husband for what she felt to be htrs equally with him. Again, I have seen them become defiant and quarrelsome, as well as the opposite— poor, little, wilted character- less creatures, from whom the womanhood seemed all taken away. My heart always goes out to them in loving sympfl,thy, because I am so blessed. My husband is one of those to whom friend Terry has "nothing to say." I can say from experience that the gentlemen will not have to complain of extrav- agance if the purse is made equally free to both husband and wife, providing she a!so knows every thing about the business. Women, as a rule, are not wasteful if trusted, but rather the reverse- saving and careful. The part of friend Terry's article which 1 object to is his unfortunate expression in regard to Paul. Now, I have not the slightest idea that he thinks of doubting the inspiration of our precious Bible; but I do think that the critical reader might arrive at this conclusion. Listen! "To be sure, Paul did say over 1800 years ago that the husband was the head of the wife: it wouldn't do for him to get too far ahead of the times in which he lived. Were he preaching in Ohio to-day I should expect very dif- ferent sentiments from'his lips." Hark, again ! " For 1 have not shunned to declare unto you aftthe coun- sel of God." " And how I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you"— Acts a0:30, 27. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accursed "—Gal. 1: 8. Could'Paul get too "far ahead of his times," when, guided by the Holy Spirit, he wrote for the u'/ioJcof this dispensation? Take friend Terry's own text: "Husbands, love your wives, even as CJirist also loved the church, and gave himself for it." This lesson of humility and self-sacrifice is touchingly complete. Every true Christian woman will take no excep- tion to the husband being the "head;" and he, if fulfilling Paul's command, will never assume un- christian authority over the " weak." The sacred- ness of our Holy Bible can not be presented to the mind with too much force. If we study it carefully, praying to be guided by the Holy Spirit, we shall be surprised and rejoiced at the flood of light beam- ing from its every page; and thus we can each one say, "The Bible is truly a letter from my heavenly Father to me." In these perilous times, when infidelity is rife in every quarter, even in our churches; when it is taught in our public schools, and the Bible is ex- pelled from them, we, as Christians, will do well to guard carefully our words, that even the weakest may not stumble thereby. Mrs. E. M. Hayhurst. Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 15, 1888. My good friend Mrs. H., may I suggest that we be a little careful about dwelling too much on one side of this matter V What I mean is this : I have seen husbands who were " shriveled into a mean and narrow character," and, in fact, who had "' descend- ed so low as to resort to deception and even theft," rather than go contrary to the wife's orders. Now, you and 1 and friend Terry know that, where Christ is foremost in the household, and self and all else is secondary, these sad spectacles are cured entirely. 1 think you are a little severe on friend Terry. No doubt many veterans in Bible study did smile a little at the way he ex- pressed it. Suppose I put it in a slightly different form : If Paul were at present here in Ohio, I hope and trust he would not find it necessary to speak to us as he did to the people in that early age. One of the most glorious things in regard to the spread- ing of the gospel, is, that it protects the weak ; and especially has it for ages uplift- ed woman, and placed her wher* I am sure God intended she should be placed. THE LAW RELATING TO QUESTION NO. 10 OF THE QUESTION-BOX. also to bees in general. fRIEND ROOT:— While perusing some back numbers of Gleanings my attention was at- tracted to several answers in response to your question: " If an employe discover a swarm of bees dui-ing working hours, do (would) the bees belong to the employe or to the employer?" This inquiry, though not certain on its face, seems propounded as a legal question. If the question, as worded, were put in issue affirmatively by an em- ployer, the employe might demur, alleging that the affirmation does not set forth what certain service the employe engaged to perform. If it be among his duties to discover and hive bees, or search for swarms, clearly then the products or fruits of his service " during working hours " would belong to the employer; but if otherwise, the legal title vests in the employe. Bees are, in law, qualified property, not fully reclaimed from their state; and the only title which can be acquired is actual possession- working in hives— or constructive possession— find- ing them as strays and within view of them. But in case a party finding bees not hived, and leaves them not hived, and loses sight of them, and an- other pary discovers them, the prior title is aban- doned, lost because identity by former finder can not be shown. If A finds a "bee-tree" on B's land, A may hold the bees if B has not discovered it; but as trees partake of the freehold, and the combs being attached to the tree, the comb and 170 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. honey becomes in law the same as any " fixture," thereby not movable, or subject to being lost or strayed. Again, if A pursues a swarm of bees from his hive he retains his title, constructive possession, so long as he keeps sight of them; but if he lose sight of them he loses his title by reason of losing identity, though he regains title if he finds them un- claimed, and that, too, no matter where; but if he do damage while pursuing or removing the bees from B's premises, B might recover for the actual damage. Those who gave an opinion to the said question had in view their notion of the equity of the case, the same as a ease submitted to arbitra- tors. My opinion herewith expressed is based on settled rules of law, regardless of equity rights. A Case duly submitted to arbitrators, their decision is riot subject to appeal nor rehearing, but is as final as any court of last resort in the whole realm. Civilized nations are in favor of yielding contro- verted claims to arbitration rather than declaring war. I have not consulted an attorney— don't have to. If you present this to Messrs. Bostwjck & Bar- nard, or to R. C. Curtis, Esq., attorneys, in Medina, they will, at a glance, concur with the writer. Richford, N. Y. C. J. Robinson. Very good, friend R. I believe, however. 1 would try to settle all such diiferences, and, in fact, almost all other differences, by giving waj-; that is. differences between neighbors and people who are ordinarily considered to be fair and honest men. Let a man liave his own way about almost any transaction that may come up, but decide in your mind that you think you will not deal with him in the futitre, if his ideas of things do not i)lease you. I have never heard the law interpreted as clearly as you put it; and 1 confess to a feeling of respect for our laws, if they are all framed with as much wisdom and care as this one in regard to bees, as you bring it out in the above. NUMBER OF COLONIES PER SQUARE MILE. SOMK VERY VALUABLE FACTS FROM FRIEND FREE- BORN. SR. miller wants to know how many colonies we should keep in, one apiary; so do you, Mr. Editor, and so does your humble servant. I I have been trying to learn the exact number for 30 years, and don't know yet; and I don't think any one will know unless he has the rest of the factors in the problem besides the number of colonies. The other factors would be. How many acres of clover or buckwheat, or basswood-trees within three to five miles? How much rain, frost, sunshine, and south wind? How much of the time does the thermometer mark the best temperature for the secretion of honey, etc.? If we had com- mand of all this knowledge, we should probably find that some years the profitable number would be 25; the ne.xt season, 100; and possibly the next, 500; and the next would be like the doctor's loca- tion last sea.son, when the answer would be, no profit in any number. Now, while it might be a fact that the extremes would run from none in a very poor year to 500 in an extra year, the prob- abilities are that somewhere between the 500 and 25 there is a number that, for a term of years, would pay us better than either e.vtreme; KiO to the square mile would be heavy stocking; even 100 would be large, if the honey-source were white clover, allowing 15 pounds per acre. I think this estimate high enough. I would give 100 colonies about 100 lbs. each— too small a quantity to supply the wants of the bees and give the owners much surplus. If we could divide the mile just right, one-half white clover, the rest soft maple, willow, basswocid, and buckwheat, we should have the model mile you speak of. In my 30 years of experience I have kept from 2 to 450 colonies, and have, in that time, within ten miles of here, tested the honey-resources at some 30 ditt'erent places. At one time I was keeping 350 colonies in 5 different apiaries— the furthest 7 miles from home. The greatest yield from these five lots in one year was 30,000 lbs. extracted hou' ey. As I attended personally to these five lots it kept me busy, and I had more traveling than I rel- ished. Finding that others kept larger numbers together than I had been doing, with good results, I concluded to condense mine to fewer places. In the spring of 1886 I had 300 colonies, located as follows: Home lot, 45; Pickard lot, 7 miles west, 97; Sextonville lot, 5 miles south, 158; total yield from the 300 colonies, 43,000 lbs. extracted honey, of which the home lot made 5000 lbs.; Pickard lot, 11,000; Sextonville lot, 26,000. It will be seen by this state- ment, that the largest number of colonies gave the best average. They were close to basswood timber, as were the Pickard lot. The home lot would have to fly 3, 4, or 6 miles, according to direction. The amount that the 158 colonies gathered satisfied me that I did a lot of useless traveling when I had 350 colonies spread in five apiaries. At present I have 300 colonies divided into two lots— 100 at home and 200 at Sextonville; and for myself I don't care to keep bees in a location that will not support 100 or more colonies. How many colonies to the square mile, would vary with the location. I have seen plenty of miles here, or near here, that ten colonies would over- stock. To make any location do its best in support- ing the greatest number, I should prefer that they have no competition nearer than ten miles: for bees will do quite a fair business, things being favorable, carrying honey five miles or more, though they would do much better with nearer pasturage. I also was much intei-ested in the account of Capt. Hetherington's operations, as given by the editor of the Biitish Bee Journal. I am sorry that the captain won't tell us all he knows; but it is just possible that he doesn't know any more about the yield to the square mile than the rest of us. And now, Bro. Root, when you get that square mile of honey-yielding plants fixed up so as to beat old Dame Nature's best effort, let us know, and I will try to go out and take a look at it. The California fellows will tell you that you will have to hurry to beat a mile of their white sage for quality or quantity, and we shall think here that, if you beat a mile of Wisconsin basswood in a good season, that you will have to stock your mile of ar- tificial pasturage with the most judicious selection of plants to secure succession for the season, or you will get left. Allow me to suggest, that, while you are taking the time to rig up the model mile, you come to Wisconsin and buy 640 acres of basswood already planted, and preserve it from the devour- ing a.x, and j'ou and Dr. Miller ship your bees out 1888 gLeanings in ^ee culture. 171 some year and enjoy yoiu'selves in seeing- them g-athcr a small portion of what is yearly lost in this State. S. T. Freehohn. Tthiica, Wis., Jan. -M, 1S8S. Well, old friend, you have given us just exactly the tacts we were after— especially the point where yon made 158 colonies in one locality do just as well, or better, than if yon had scattered them about in two or three localities. I liave long suspected that there was a very great difference in locali- ties as well as in seasons. Your suggestion, that we take care of the honey already go- ing to waste, instead of waiting for years to get Its a good honey-farm to order, is a good one. How much wonld that t540 acres of basswood, already planted, cost, pray tell V And do you have any idea that tlie bass- wood covers the ()40 acres any thing like as evenly as they are scattered over my ten- acre basswood orchard ? You speak about taking a trip to see my model square mile. Well, I would gladly take a trip to see a square mile of nature's own getting-up; but I think you wonld want more than IBU colonies to gather profitably the nectar. 1 think, as you say, that it would very likely take 600 during a good year for basswood. Will the friends of Gleanings please tell us if they know of a square mile of bass- wood anywhere — or, at least, where there is a square mile where the prevailing timber is basswood ? I think I would go further to see it than to see market-gardens and green- houses. FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, JAPANESE BL'CKWHEAT, TIERING SEPARATORS P'.TC. SOWED 4 oz. of Japanese buckwheat in drills, and think, if nothing had happened to it, I should have had a bushel; but just as soon as the kernels began to get about in the milk, the birds began to work on it, and they lived on it until it was harvested, and the mice destroyed a lot; but after all I got about a peck. It was a pret- ty sight when it was growing. Some was over five feet tall. It filled better than any other buckwheat I ever saw. The bees worked on it the same as on ailverhull. In my opinion it is a fine thing, and far ahead of the common kinds. I should like to ln(|uire how those who tier up the section-cases two or three high use the hive-cover made to cover only one case. I know some use cases the same size as the hive, and no outer cover, except on top, which is, of course, the cheaper hive; but I don't like that way quite as well. SEPARATORS OR NOT. I don't like separators, and don't think I should ever use any; but when cases are first put on in spi'ing, the bees are not apt to All a large case, and so will not build straight combs; but when a new swarm is hived, and crowded into the sections, it is altogether different. What sei)arators I have used have been of wood, and the bees gum them to the sections so much is the principal reason why I dis- like them. Perhaps tin would be better. I think two cases, large enough to cover the L. hive, would be better than one, and then one could be put on at first with twelve or fourteen sections; and, when the bees needed it, another, and so one would be finished first and taken off, and an empty one put in its place. I think this way would work well, and the bees not be obliged to occupy so much i-oom at once at the first of the season. I got but little honey last season, as it was so very wet. I never knew so poor a honey season before. 1 increased from 17 to 33, then doubled back to '21, to save feeding so many. ('. E. Watts. Kumney, N. H., Jan. 31, 1888. Friend W., I suppose you refer to our regular live-inch half-story cover. There is no trouble at all in tiering up, providing you use a Simplicity body. You can then tier up three high, which will be as many cases as you will probably want on a hive at one time. Of course, when there is only one section-case in the upper story there is a great deal of space left, and the ripening process of the honey can not go on as rapid- ly. If, however, a T-super cover be drop- ped right down on top of the section-case the dithcnlty will be remedied. When you desire to add another super, lift off the Simplicity body, raise the first super, and place tiie second uuder it. Toward the lat- ter portion of your letter, you suggest put- ting on only one ease at a time, and nrge, as a reason, that the bees will not be oblig- ed to fill more space than they need at once. If your colonies are as stroug as they should be at the beginning of the honey- flow, and the bees have entered the sections in earnest, 1 think you will lose some honey in not practicing tiering up according to the method I have given above. Of course, you must exercise judgment as to whether "a colony needs another super. When honey is coming in slowly, or toward the end of the honey-tlow, it will be a mistake to give the bees "auother super. WYRICK'S EXTEMPOIilZED HONEY-KNIFE. Below I give you an idea of a very useful article that any handy man with a few tools can make. Take a section from a Buckeye mower, or any oth- er mower that has large cutter-sections, or knives; get a section that has been ground to a i>oint. ^-Punch two holes, thus, and rivet a haiadle on thus, with the bevel, or ground side of section, on the under side, like the Bingham & Hethering- ton uncapping-knife. It is handy to lay on your uncapping-table, and will uncap honey faster than you might think. I used it last summer and I like it. So far as T know, the idea is original with me. Cascade, Iowa. M. Wyrick. Although I may be mistaken, I think that somebody else suggested making a knife out of a section of a mower cutter-bar. It is, in fact, Bingham's knife on a small scale. GLUED FOUR-PIECE SECTIONS. Iflnd in Gleanings for Jan. 1, question No. ~7, that, of those who answer the question, most of them favor the V-groove one-piece, and you say, in your foot-notes, that you sell three times as many of the V-groove as you do of the four-piece. Now, I was wondering if those favoring the one-piece sec- 172 GLEANINGS IN BEE CtJLTUtlE. Mar. tion because of their being' strong-er ever tried the beaiitilul lour-picce dovetailed section put together by llie niacliine called the "section-glucr." It is simple in c« nsl ruction, and easily operated by the foot. It leaves the sections firmly pressed together and pro])erly formed. It is very rapid in its work, from 800 to 1000 being an average day's work after a little experience. I have used the nailed and your beautiful one piece section, and have used the four piece devetailed section; and for strength none equal it when put together with this machine, and glued. D. Stoddard. Ballston Center, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Jan. 27, 1888. I suppose the slupt^ four-piece are very nice and strong; but tor all practical pur- poses do we need them so strong ? As for speed, instead of 1000 as a day's work with the glued section, the one-piece can be fold- ed at the rate of 1000 per hour. Some years ago a friend sent us a machine for putting together and gluing sections ; but as com- paratively few seemed to care for them to put up sections in that way, the apparatus was never used very much. PREVENTION OB" SWARMING, AND HOW IT IS AC- COMPLISHED BY ONE BEE-KEEPER. On page 23 Mr. H. P. Langdon wishes to hear from some one practicing the non-swarming plan. 1 have practiced it for years. I commence about April 1, with one story at the bottom, or stand, where the bees have wintered. By this time that story will be full of bees. I place thereon another story filled with empty frames. Within about ten days that story will be filled with bees and brood, when I place another story on top. I continue placing them in that way as long as the queen will till with bees, getting them three and four stories high, sind have had to build up to six stories, depending on the proliflcness of the queen. I never place emp- ty ones at the bottom. The combs are sure to be empty at the bottom, if there are any in the hives. By so doing they scarcely ever get the swarming fever. If I find one building cells I immediately divide it and that ends the swarming fever, taking the old queen with the new colony. The ol)ject in doing so is. I have a bushel or two of bees to gather honey when the season comes on; and after the season is ov-er I divide as many as I wish; and, also, I can V)e away from them and attend to them at my leisure, if necessary. Albert Wells. South Pittsburgh, Tenn., Feb. 6, 1888. Friend \V., your plan of preventing swarm- ing will usually work, I believe. It is, in fact, the plan recommended by the Dadants, to get extracted honey. Give room by pil- ing up stories ; and when the season is over, extract the whole at one time. PURNISHINO wholesome READING FOR THE DES- TITUTE. Jiriither jRoof;— Realizing ironi the facts of the pa'St, that GLEANINGS is read and lovedby many hun- dreds of kind-hearted people, I would, with your permission, avail m.vself of this medium to appeal to its philanthropic and intelligent readers in behalf of the people in this section of country; and lam sure 1 may confidently expect jour hearty co-oper- ation. In this new country are many persons who could be induced to read, and also to think, but whose facilities for obtaining reading- matter, espe- cially that of a wholesome kind, are limited indeed. and my plan is this : Being engaged in an itinerant business (selling medicines), I would gladly take upon myself the duty of distributing any books, periodicals, or papers, kindly sent to my address at Arnoldville, I. T., and shall think myself fully com- pensated when I shall have handed them around where needed. G. C. Stokely. Arnoldville, I. T., Dec. 18, 1887. Fiiend S., you are undertaking a noble work indeed, and 1 liope tiie friends all over our land who read Gleanings will mail you suitable reading-matter for your people. If you should, in answer to this, get more than you know what to do with, }ou can tell us and they will hold on a bit. May I suggest that you look out that no foul seeds be al- lowed to get in with the wheat. In all sim- ilar enterprises it has been found necessary to put the matter, so furnished, through a sort of fanning-mill. if I may be allowed the expression. It is a fearful thing, by a blun- der to sow tares where we intended to have only good seed. — Many of our readers will remember friend S. as the one who wrote the brief and touching letter in regard to the reception of Gleanings while his wife lay dead in her coffin. A single bee hovered over the last earthly remains of the queen of his home. In working for the Master in the way he suggests, he is certainly laying the very best foundation for meeting that loved one again. HOW HUTCHINSON'S METHOD OF PRODUCING COMB HONEY WORKS WITH AN A B C SCHOLAR. I have had no trouble, except with two swarms, and they seemed bent on building drone comb, so I had to contract the brood-chamber to two empty L. frames and one empty comb, and added empty frames as fast as they needed them, so they built worker comb. The queens were young. I found no use for the wood-zinc slatted honey-board, but use plain wood-slatted honey-board, and the queen never troubled the sections. I generally hive them on the old stand on five empty frames and one empty comb. Put on slatted honey-board and the T super of sections, and all is well done. I believe that it would do to leave off the section the first day, or till they start brood. I think the book would have been worth the price, even if I had had but one swarm this season. A QUEEN GNAWING CAPPING OFF BROOD TO GET A CHANCE TO I,.4Y. I saw a queen do something that the older heads have never seen. Last year, the first Italian queen I reared I found gnawing the caps off the brood. In a few days she began to lay. They have not swarm- ed this season, but are making lots of honey. If I mistake not, you say you never saw a worker-bee sting a drone. My bees began to kill out their drones about the first of the month; and I saw, but a few days since, several bees stinging drones, and one of them left his sting in the drone. There is no mistake about this. C. F. Grubb. Jubilee, Dav'n Co., N. C, Sept. !», 1887. I think you are mistaken, friend Grubb, in thinking the queen was gnawing the capping in order to get a chance to lay. Either she did not know what she was do- ing, or else she supposed there was honey under the brood-capping. Young queens, before being fertilized, often cut up queer capers. I once saw one, the very day she 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 178 was hatched, go around to the empty cells and insert her body in cell after cell, exactly as a laying queen "does. Of course, she did not lay any eggs— she only went through the motions. I concluded she had got her little head muddled somewhat in regard to the order of exercises on tiie programme laid down for her by good old Dame Nature.— A good many have reported as you do, seeing worker-bees in tlie very act of stinging drones, since what I wrote. ROACHES, AND HOW TO GET RID OF THEM. Although I use all protection possible, somewhat resembling- P. Benson, When I get all my "flxins " on, yet the little rascals pop me eveiy chance they can get. I should like to know if there is any way to get rid of roaches. Why do they infest hives? Do they eat comb or honey? There are always dozens of them in each hive, and catching them is something like catching the Dutchman's flea— they are quick, I tell you. 1 expect to Italianize my stock this spring, and this is my plan: Put a frame of eggs, from my Italian colony, into each of my native stocks, removing the queen at the same time. How will this do? Or will it be better 1o give them a queen-cell from the colony I have, or purchase a select tested queen and use her eggs? You will please give me advice in this matter. D. C. McCampbell, M. D. Harmontown, La Fayette Co., Miss. Friend M., some of our Southern readers will have to answer about the roaches. We never have any thing of the kind around here. The plan you suggest for Italianizing, we would not advise. The bees are more likely to start queen- cells from their own eggs and larvae than from the frame that you give them. None of the plans you sug- gest are just the thing ; but as the subject is quite a lengthy one. we think you had better consult the AB C book or some other text- book, in regard to Italianizing. THE BEE-SPACE, AND WHY THE BEES FILL THE LOWER AND NOT THE UPPER ONE. It looks like a foolish question to ask, but I can not see why the bees would n(jt build comb in the bee-space, as much so as they would in the one next to the brood-nest. S. W. Touchton. Havre de Grace, Md., Feb. 13, 1888. It is a little curious, friend T.; but the fact is, bees do not fill the upper bee-space. Filling the lower bee-space in the honey- board seems to satisfy their mania for building in brace-combs. Tliis difference might be accounted for by the fact that the bee"s reason, or instinct, seems to teach him that his brood-combs must be securely fast- ened to some object above, and that, unless such attachments are made, his combs will fall. While tliis characteristic is strongly manifested in all his workings, he never takes the same pains to support the combs from below. Indeed, such supports would be useless without the other fastenings, and we shall have to acknowledge that such philosophy (if lie can philosopliize thus far) IS correct. Well, then, after he has gotten above what seems to liim to be the real sup- port of his combs, as, for instance, the slats to the honey-board, he reasons that, for the next set of combs, there is no use in building them from the bottom, but from the top, so he leaves the bee-space untouched. This, however, can only be conjectured. Perhaps some one else can offer a better reason for the bees not filling thej,Uipper bee-space witli brace-combs. BEE-KEEPIN(; WITH OTHER PURSUITS ; EVANGEL- ISTIC WORK SUGGESTED. Quite a good deal has been said regarding occu- pations to go with bee-keeping. Fruit-growing, gardening, poultry-raising, selling sewing-ma- chines, etc., have been suggested or recommended. Now, why doesn't some one suggest active Chris- tian work? It is well known, that pastors of small village churches arc but poorly paid, as a rule, and, in a great many instances, they do not get enough to support their families. I am sorry to have to say it, but I have known cases in which ministers have gone to a new field, and left a lot of unpaid store-bills; and we know of some business men who have been prejudiced against the Chris- tian religion by this very thing. Now, since those who have means will not pay enough, together with what the poorer members pay, to support the ministry, would it not be better for a poor minister to keep bees for a living, and preach a part of the year, and thus be able to pay his honest debts and keep a clean record? Would he not do more good in the long run? Will those who know, tell us how many months in the year a man could devote to purely evangelistic labors if he were the keeper of 50 colonies of bees, and gave them proper care? or how many months is a man required to be at home, giving daily attention to the bees? Browntown, Wis., Feb. 6, 1888. H. Lathrop. Friend L., where a bee-keeper, or, in fact, any man who follows any secular interest, whatever evangelical work he does is sup- posed to be done without pay ; that is, with- out any pay in dollars and cents. I do not mean to say that a man does not get any pay, for I think he gets tlie best pay in the world ; and a good many people rather ex- pect, when a minister keeps bees, that he ought to do so without pay— give the honey to the poor and to the sick, etc. I know quite a number of pastors situated as you suggest, who find the income from their bees a very great help indeed in adding to slender salaries. The grocers are always glad to get hold of ministers'' honey, and I guess that people in general buy it a little more freely, and may be pay a little better price, because it was produced by their be- loved pastor. My last expression is the right one, is it not V SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (THE QUEEN). On Saturday morning, Jan. 28, the weather had moderated sutiiciently for me to take a peep at the bees. I found four colonies dead. This morning, while taking ovit the combs and brushing off the dead bees, I happened to notice the queen. She seemed rather large for a dead queen, which prompted me to pick hei- up to take a closer look at her. After holding her a minute or two, she began slowly and almost imperceptibly to fold her body like that of a living queen. Curiosity now became excited, and 1 began breathing on her. No further sign of life appeared for about an hour, except that her legs, like her wings, gradually assumed their natural position, as if at rest. Finally she com- 174 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Mar. menced moving her antenna, and then her front legs; then her abdomen commenced contracting and expanding; and now as I write, about two hours after linding her, she is crawling about quite gracefully. As soon as she commenced moving her legs and antenna I placed a drop of limpid hon- ey to her mouth, which she slowly took up, and which seemed to hasten her revivication. About an hour ago 1 gathered up the apparently dead bees and brought them into a warm room, sprinkled them with sweetened water, and now some of them are also showing signs of life. There was about half a pound of honey remaining in the hive near one side of the cluster. Lrttrc— Only four or five of the workers revived. G. H. Repi.ogw;. Ceuterville. Iowa, Jan. HO, 1888. Friend K., the queen is almost invariiibly the last one to die, in a starved colony, and your bees did starve, as I understand it, even if they did have a comb of honey on the other side of the hive. Bees, to be safe, ought to have honey on all sides and over them, instead of being conhned to a little honey on one side of the cluster. — We liave revived a good many queens in the way you mention, and they usually proved to be all right, notwithstanding their chilled and starved condition. ]SI©¥Ef5 W^ QUERIEg. BUTTER-DISH FEEDERS. 'HO was the first to call attention to butter- dishes as feeders? R. C. UAr,DWELr.. IJloomfleld, Ky., Feb., 1888. [Friend C, we do not know— at least, we do not remember, who did first (;all atten- tion to them. A year ago, someone, in a private let- ter, incidentally mentioned the fact that he used butter-dishes in feeding the bees. We did not think so much of it at the time, and so did not take prop- er precautions to preserve the man's name. Later on, it occurred to us that the butter-dishes were just the thing; and as their expense is comparative- ly nothing, they could be used quite largely for the purpose of feeding. In the latter part of Glean- ings for last year, you will see that they proved to be a practical success.] the wooden butter-dishes a success. I have been using the butter-dishes for feedei'S, and find them to be the best feeder that 1 have ever tried. John Shanks. Plymouth, Hancock Co., 111. the JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. I bought one dollar's worth and got over two bushels. It would have yielded better, but was in- jured by frost. J. Swingle. Ariel, Pa., Dec. 26, 1887. FROM 1 POUND, TO 1 BUSHEL AND 3 PECKS. I sowed one pound of Japanese buckwheat, and thrashed one bushel and three pecks. I think it is the buckwheat for Butler County. H. Miller. Fluger, Pa., Jan. 3, 1888. QUEENS SHIPPED IN JANUARY. Mr. Root:— The queen-bee was received in good order from Nellie Adams, Sorrento, Fla., and suc- cessfully introduced. Jno. Weigand. Lynchburg Station, Va., Dec. 17,1887. [We are glad to give place to the above, even if it does savor of a free "ad."] CARP IN FLORIDA. I have, as I suppose, the most southerly carp-pond in the U. S., and carp grow all the year here. Alva, Florida, Feb. 19, 1888. David Hadley. WILL IT PAY TO make OVER OLD FOUNDATION? I have a quantity of old foundation in the sheet and in the sections, and I should like your views as to whether it is best to use this foundation this coming season, or will the bees work enough bet-, ter to pay for remelting the wax? S. J. Bascom. Western Park, Elk Co., Kau., Feb. 13, 1888. [So far as the foundation is concerned, friend B., I do not believe it will pay to make it over; but others may think differently. Friend D. A. Jones suggests that dipping it into hot water— of course, not hot enough to melt the wax— will make the foundation just as soft, and in every way just as easy for the bees to work, as making it over new.] ONE-PIECE SECTIONS, SIDE PASSAGES, ETC. Your questions on sections are a curiosity, sure. I would rather buy one-piece sections than take four-piece as a gift, both for strength and speed. Of what use are side passages in sections where the old Heddon super is used, as, in connection with separators, they are not used by the bees except to l)ut propolis into? Charles Mitcheli,. Molesworth, Ont. [The open-side sections can not be used with the kind of crate you mention; but there are compar- atively few of these crates in use.] HOW I SELL COMB HONEY. I buy tin buckets, all sizes; nearly all hold 2'-A gallons. Cut out comb to fill a bucket, and then pour around the comb extracted honey enough to nearly cover it. My customers seem to prefer honey in this way to any other. A ■-'/2-gallon bucket will hold about 2") lbs., and they pay me for the bucket. Comb honey is nearly always sold out in a few weeks, while extracted is much slower. w. H. Laws. Lavaca, Sebastian Co., Ark., Dec. 2", 1887. will the SIMPSON HONEY-PLANT YIELD HONEY THE FIRST YEAR ? Will alsike or Simpson honey-plant, if soon this spring, produce any honey this summer? Where can I get the Chapman honey-plant? Clinton, Mo., Feb. 6, 1888. A. H. Heinlein. [The Simpson honey-plant will yield considerable honey the first year, under favorable circumstan- ces. By starting the plants in the greenhouse you can get a very fair crop of blossoms late in the fall. For the Chapman honey-plant, see editorial on page 146; see also our catalogue of honey-plant seeds. Alsike will also blossom to some extent the first year when sown early.] SOME QUESTIONS— REVERSING, ETC. Will reversing be a success? If the top-bar of a brood-frame is narrow, how is it kept from swing- ing when the hive is moved? What is the most suitable degree of heat for making comb and stor- ing honey? Wyoming, Neb., Jan. 8, 1888. I. Miller. [The appearances are now, that reversing is not going to be a success— that is, very few are practic- ing it, even where they have hives arranged special- ly for it.— Narrow top-bars are kept from swinging, by the use of the spacing-boards described and il- lustrated in our price list. If I am not mistaken, nine-tenths of all the hives in use, or more than that, have narrow top-bars. The heat in the hive, for making comb, should be, if 1 am correct, some- where near 80 or 90 degrees.] TO PREVENT SWARMING. Bee-keepers have found it up-hill business in this section the past season. I should be glad to learn 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 175 how to prevent swarming-. I have tried cutting out queen-cells, but failed. I am working for comb honey. O. 'D. Rogers. Solo, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1888. [The matter of preventing swarming is too large a subject to take hold of here— better consult our text-books in regard to the matter.— Cutting out queen-cells is but a small part of the matter. It may do some good, and, under other circumstances, have no effect at all.] MOVING BEES IN WINTER. I have a few stands of bees about 120 miles from here, which I wish to move to this place. They will have to be transferred in wagons. Will it hurt them to be moved in the winter time, during a warm spell, when the roads are not too rough? Chas. a. Minich. Worthington, Tnd., Jan. 2.5, 1888. [Winter is an excellent time to move bees, when- ever it is warm enough for the roads to be soft; and there are many times when you can move them very nicely on the snow; but I think I would not undertake it when the weather is severely cold. Some time when the snow just begins to thaw a little, or, say, only a few degrees colder than freez- ing, if sleighing is good they can be moved very nicely.] WHEN AND WHERE TO SOW SWEET CLOVER. I should like it if you would inform me, either through Gleanings or by mail, as to the proper time and manner to sow sweet-clover seed, and oblige— S. R. Morris. Bloomingburg, O., Nov. 12, 1887. [We have never sown more than one crop of sweet clover, and that wa.s sown in drills, and cultivated. We had a splendid stand, and when it was a foot high farmers left the road and came over to see what new forage-plant I had got hold of. At this stage, cattle and horses would eat it somewhat, but they did not seem to care for it very much. Wo sowed it in the spring. Others report having failed to get a stand in that way. even when it would grow very rank and tall on the hard road- sides.] GIVING A QUEEN TO HATCHING BROOD. Tf I place 2 frames of hatching brood in an empty hive, and put a queen and her retinue in, just as they come in a cage by mail, do you think they would make a colony? Subscriber. Dudley, Pa., Jan., 1888. [Yes, sir, friend S., you will make a colony in time, providing there are great numbers of bees hatching every hour. This plan has been sometimes adopted in order to be absolutely certain of intro- ducing a very valuable queen safely; but it is a wasteful way of doing, after all; for these little "innocents" will have to goto nursing bees and gathering pollen, probably, before they are fit to be sent out of doors at all. It is like making a girl ten 'years old do all the housework of the family, and take care of the baby besides. 1 have often worked on the plan you suggest, however, and watched the proceedings carefully, to see whether these soft downy young bees could be crowded into going in- to the fields before they would ordinarily.] THE JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT A GOOD HONEY-PLANT AS WELL AS A HEAVY YIELDER. The bushel of Japanese buckwheat I got from you was sown about the last of June. Only part of it came upon accountof thedrought; but then it came on beautifully. The rest came up after the fall rains set in. and was just in bloom when the frost took it. From what came up first I have thrashed 35 bush- els, and this is far ahead of other kinds around here. I intend to sow 18 acres of the Japanese in the spring. I have 26 colonies of bees. Their stores were very light, but they worked well on it, and filled their hives well and are wintering well so far. Simcoe, Ont., Feb. 6, is88. Q. W. Culver. 0aR QaEgJFi0N-B@?^, With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. All queries sent in for this department should be briefly- stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or Questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked, " For Our Question-Box." Question No. 37.— Do you think it advisabU to have single-walled hive8 protected by some sort of shade? If so, what sort of shade do you preferl Yes. A roof, and shade-trees of any kind. Dadant & Son. Paint the hive white, and it will need no shade. G. M. Doolittle. No. The disadvantage exceeds the advantage. R. Wilkin. I think a good top-chamber cover is shade enough. E. France. 1. Yes; 2. I prefer a shade-board made of half- inch stuff. Dr. a. B. Mason. Yes. I use grapevines. Shade-boards are just as good, and have some advantages. James A. Green. It is immaterial whether shaded or not, when hives are painted white. Geo. Grimm. Yes, by a board 2X3 feet in size, laid upon the hive, its north edge being even with the north side of the hive. W. Z. Hutchinson. Most certainly I do. Even if hives are painted white, I should prefer a shade-board raised four or six inches above the hive. A. J. Cook. Yes, by all means I prefer single-wall hives shad- ed to any double-wall hives, for summer use. I use and prefer a 2x 3-foot shade-board. James Heddon. In this climate I find that the partial shade of trees is the best. Bees don't seem to do as well if in the full sunshine, nor if too shaded. Nothing affords a better shade than peach and plum trees. Paul I;. Viallon. I like the shade <>f large trees, not so dense but that the air has free circulation, and this I like for my own comfort in working, rather than for any benefit to the bees. Take the whole season through, and I am not sure but the bees are as well off with no shade whatever. C. C. Milleu. Yes. In the south, a scuppernong-grape arbor is much the best arrangement I know of, as they carry their leaves when needed, and drop them when not needed ; and even in the North I prefer some kind of a shade that covers both hives and the man who works with them. O. O. Poppleton. Yes. I use asparagus, but I think some form of board shade is the better. Asparagus is quite ef- fective, one of the very best of green shades; but keeping it clipped properly is rather too much work. For several years after being set it seems to be nearly worthless— not shade enough, and blows down every gale; but eventually it becomes a solid mass which winds scarcely affect at all. E. E. Hasty. It is desirable, but not necessary, to have single and double walled hives protected against the hot rays of the sun. In my long years of bee-keeping on a tin roof and in the yard, without any protec- tion whatever, it has happened to me only once that some of my combs in an upper story have 176 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Mar. melted. It was caused by my neglecting to raise the flat cover of the hive, which I had been in the habit of doing during the summer months. It was then when I adopted cottage-rooC-shaped roofs, which admit of a circulation of air below. Chas. F. Muth. Yes. We have a large Concord grapevine, cover- ing a trellis ten feet square, which shelters eight hives— 4 on the east and 4 on the south. It is an agreeable and profitable shade for the bees and their owner. Trees will do very well; but if the shade has to be created, grapevines will produce it the quickest and cheapest. Sunflowers answer the purpose tolerably well, and the seed is good food for fowls. Mrs. L. Harrison. There seems to be a diversity of opinion in regard to this matter of sliading ; but if I am correct, there are periods during al- most every season when shading is of' con- siderable advantage ; and it is also true, that there are periods during tliis same season when shading is quite a disadvantage. All things considered, I am not sure there will be any increase in the crop of honey unless the shade-l)oard or shade arrangements are more or less manipulated ; and if you un- dertake to do this, you will be pretty sure to have them off when they ought to be on, and on when they ought to be off, unless you make it a constant and regular business ; and I am not satisfied that this will ])ay the cost. Grapevines or trees admit a good cir- culation of air. and give a shade in the mid- dle of the day, but none morning and even- ing. Where tlie vines and trees can also be made to yield a profitable crop of fruit, I think it pays. Our Concord grapevines now give us more or less fruit every year ; biit even as go >J a man as Neighbor H. says if our apiary belonged to him his first job would be to pull all those grapevines up by the I'oots. Question No. ;38.— Do bees consume more honey in hica'ities where they can fly almost every day, than where they are housed up three or four months hy the coldl Yes. Dr. a. B. Mason. We should think they would. W. Z. Hutchinson. Judging from reports of Northern friends, I think they do. P. L. Viallon. A swarm will consume more, as they raise earlier and more brood. Mrs. L. Harrison. Without a doubt. Exercise consumes the tis- sues, which can be renewed by food only. A. J. Cook. I should think they would; but ray experience has been altogether in the colder climate. C. C. Miller. One or two flights a month give the best results. More flights or less often cause a greater consump- tion of food. G. M. DOOLITTLE. I think it would be all guesswork to answer this question. It would take two men to answer— one in a warm location, and one where it was cold; then weigh the honey and weigh the bees, and then guess. E. France. That depends upon how cold it is in the instance where they ai-e housed up " four months;" and also how much they fly " almost every day " in the warm- er location. I think bees consume more honey in Florida in winter than in this latitude, when the winters are mild. James Heddon. We think that depends on a great many things. Where they can fly every day, the winter is shorter and they most likely consume less. Whenever they breed they consume more than when they do not breed. On the other hand, they eat more in cold than in warm weather. Dadant & Son. I believe less honey is consumed when the weath- er is such as to permit flying when " housed up three or four months hy the cold," provided brood- rearing is not going on. My experience is confined to the same locality, but I apply the question to dif- ferent seasons of the year, as, for instance, fall and winter, or to a mild and a severe winter. If, how- ever, the question applies to confinement in a good cellar, the answer should be reversed. Geo. Grim.m. I have kept bees in only one locality (the north line of Ohio); but my impi-ession is, that bees 200 or 300 miles further south i-equire more honey to winter them. This would probably not be true of very cold single-walled hives. 1 let my bees go in- to the winter with 10 or 13 lbs. of honey— sometimes with much less than that— even as little as 4 lbs. The question seems to refer to the Gulf States, and the respondents who have lived down there must tell us. E. E. Hasty. I confess, friends, I feel as much undecid- ed about it as you do. Some winters I have felt satisfied that frequent fiights consume the stores ; other winters I changed my mind. Where the bees rear brood largely they consume stores largely. There is no question about that. Question No. 39.— i. How long can eomh honey hekcpt wiOioiit xacrifti-itig any of itsflavorf 2. How long can it he hcfit without candying and leaking, with good care' 3. Mliat is the best method of keeping it from one year to another? 1. An unlimited time. 3. For all time. 3. A uni- form temperature of 85°. G. M. DOOLITTLE. 1. Don't know. 3. Ditto. 3. Keep in a dry room of eren and reasonably warm temperature. Geo. Grimm. 1. Under proper conditions, indefinitely. 3. Same.' 3. In a dry room, and not allowed to freeze. Mrs. L. Harrison. If kept in a warm even temperature we think it might be kept indefinitely, but we do not know. W. Z. Hutchinson. Our climate here is so damp that I find it very hard to carri'comb honey from one year to another. P. L. VlALLON. I. Indefinitely. 3. Ditto. 3. Keep in a clean warm dry place. I have kept comb honey for years; and I think if there was any change it was for the better. A. J. Cook. 1. I don't know just how long, but for several years. 3. Some honey will candy in a few months, and other not for years, and, " with good care," can be kept indefinitely without leaking. 3. Keep in a warm place. Dr. A. B. Mason. If this question had been asked me a year or two ago my reply to 1 and 3 would have been, " Less than a year." With my present light I answer 1 and 3, "Perhaps several years." 3. I don't know; 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 177 but for summer, at least, and perhaps for the year round, in a garret or in a building where the sun makes it very hot. C. C. Miller. 1. We don't like to keep it beyond the following spring. 3. Hard toicll; it depends on its quality, the temperature to which it is exposed, etc. ;j. Keep it in a dry warm place, as far from change of temperature as possible. Dadant & Son. 1. I do not know ; I never kept anj' long enough to notice any deterioration in flavor. 3. That de- pends entirely upon the source from which the hon- ey is gathered, and how good care is taken of it; also the quality of the couib. Some comb is thick and some is thin. Some honey will not candy at all, and other will candy in the comb in a few weeks, in spite of every thing. ;>. I presume I do not know; but I believe that I do know that it is much better to sell each year's crop the same yejr, than to carry it to the next. James Heddon. 1. Some honey is better the very day it is brought in than it ever is afterward; apple-blossom honey, for example. Other honey tastes a little "silly" when very fresh, and has its best quality say six weeks after it is capped over. Other varieties have disagreeable flavors when new, but are greatly im- proved by being left six months in an old l)ee-tree or box hive. I presume keeping such honey in a warm airy room would answer nearly as well. As a general rule we must expect quality to decline when warm weather begins the next season. 3. J think most comb honey will not candy if well kept; and I strongly suspect that some samples will candy in spite of every thing. If honey leaks, it is either a poor article or it has been very badlj- treated. 3. I know nothing better than plenty of air in a warm room. E. E. Hasty. Well, friends, it has done me a great deal of good to hear your opinions on this sub- ject. I feel just as most of you do— that some honey, or, perhaps I should say, some- times honey gets better by being kept a while, and at other times it does not. In our commission stores I believe they invari- ably offer honey that is a year old, for a cent or two less a pound than the new crop. I do not know whether it is because it has lost in quality or looks, or both. Perhaps if the sections were kept away from the dust and light, so no one could see any evi- dences of age about them, they might be pro- nounced just as good. The candying busi- ness is certainly a damage to comb honey ; but 1 have never been able to decide whether it was the treatment or the kind of honey that caused the candying. Doolittle's reply would indicate that he thinks it is altogether the treatment. I should like to ask him if he never saw any comb honey that would candy in spite of any thing he could do. Friend Hasty has just hit the nail on the head, to my notion, wlicn he ap- plies the word " silly " to the taste of un- ripened honey. When we first began ex- tracting, I thought it would be a fine thing to have some clear nectar, just as it came from the blossom ; but the opinion of the whole family, when i)ermitted to taste this wonderful nectar, was just about as he puts it. It was a " silly '' mess of stuff', and was not honey at all. I believe that Prof. Cook claims, however, that the bees do not gather *•' silly ■' honey in their locality. Perhaps the bees have caught the progressive spirit of the Agricultural College, and ripen their honey on the wing while on their way home. ]^EP0RTg ENC0a^^6I]\[6. AN AVERAGK ok 16.5 LBS. PER COLONY. E Started with 40 colonies, spring count; 3.5 strong, .) weak. We secured GOOO Ids. of comb lioncj — an average per colony of lfi.5 lbs.; best Italian, 361'4 lbs. in sections: the next best, a hybrid colony, 29.5 llis. W'g use the combined shipping and honey ciate, holding 38 lib. Simplicity sections, and practice the tiering- up plan. We do not contract the brood-nest. We use the ten-frame Simplicity hive. Perhaps we might have got more honey in the sections if we had contracted the brood-nest or used a smaller hive; but the question is, whether we could have run such strong colonies in smaller hives, and kept the swarming fever down. We have 83 colonies packed on their summer stands, with plenty of nat- ural stores to winter on. REPORT FOR 1887. From 40 colonies, spring count, we secured 1800 lbs. of comb honey— an average per colony of 45 lbs.; from the best stock, 141 lbs. in sections; sec- ond best, 130 lbs. Sold down to 40 in the spring. Goodland, Mich. John & James Cowe. Bees thus far are in good condition, and the first pollen was gathered Feb. 14. Flora A. Babcock. Morrilton, Ark., Feb. 19, 1888. THE proceeds from 3 COLONIES. Two swarms of bees in 1886 I increased to 30. I sold two of them for ^30. The rest all wintered well. I got 3)0 pounds of honey in Simplicity hives. If anyone can do better, let me hear. I have 37 stands now. Israel Jackson. Cambridge, Ohio, Feb. 6, 1888. 3000 LBS. OF honey. My bees did very well last season. I used 1300 of the lib. sections; and those I received from you brought me 3 cts. more per section than those I re- ceived at home, so you see it will pay me to use the basswood sections every time. My bees made 3000 lbs., all told. M. J. Twining. Hanford, Cal., Jan. 37, 1888. OBTAINED 30 CTS. A POUND FOR HONEY SHIPPED TO A COMMISSION HOUSE. I began the season of 1887 with 37 colonies, not very strong. By keeping back swarming 1 obtain- ed 1300 lbs. of comb and 335 lbs. of extracted honey. I shipped a ])art of ray comb honey to A. C. Kendel, and obtained 30 cts. per lb. for every pound I sent him. I had only 13 natural swarms, but I divided and built up until I now have 53 colonies that are wintering flneb'. L. H. Kobev. Worthington, W. Va , Feb. 7, 1888. THE PROSPECTS FOR 1888 (!OOD IN C.^I.I l-'ORNl A. I am spending the winter in Southi rn Cilifornia, but expect to return home in April. I have not seen an apiary as yet, iior heard of any in this vi- cinity, but 1 inteiid lo visit one or more of the large ones lielore returning. There has been an abun- dance of rain here this winter, making the crop 173 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mak prospect good lor the season of 1888. There has also been some cold weather for this locality— mercury down to 2(i several mornings, and some of the oranges frozen. But it is warm again now, and the grass is growing nicely, covering the hills with green, and the farmers are setting out fruit-trees, strawberry-plants, etc.— quite a contrast from the frozen Eist. R. ]. Barber. Pomona, Cal., Jan. 28, 1888. A GOOD SCORE FOR 1887. The season of 1887 was the best one for honey that I have experienced since I commenced bee- keeping three years ago. In 1886 I bought four swarms, and they wintered over well. The next season I increased to eleven, and wintered over and came out in the spring strong, and increased by natural swarming to 37. These wintered like the rest, without losing one. Last year I sold three colonies and one swarm. My bees gave me, be- eides, one ton of honey, extracted, and about 30 lbs. of comb honey, and increased to 61 colonies. They gathered enough to winter on without feed- ing sugar. 1 expect to bring out, in the spring, 61 colonies, if I am spared. So you see I have not lost a swarm since I commenced bee-keeping; but I dread next season, for at the present rate of in- crease they will get far too numerous for me to handle and run a hundred-acre farm too; but I will try to make more honey and less bees. Elora, Ont., Can. Geo. Strangways. ENCOURAGING FOR FLORIDA. I have 7.') colonies and one of the best localities, I suppose, in the U. S. for bee-keeping, as bees work here all winter every day, bringing in honey from a species of pennyroyal from November until April; then comes the saw-palmetto bloom, continuing until June; our rainy season then begins, and bees make but little surplus honey during that time. I have been extracting for several days, and could have been extracting a month ago; but I am clear- ing land for farming and oranges, and have but lit^ tie time lor bees. I came here from Kansas two j'cars ago, and settled in the extreme south part of Florida, near the Seminole Indians, and find the cli- mate as near ])erfect as we may expect to find any- where. We labor under many inconveniences, such as lack of transportation, etc.; but we look for a boom to strike this, the most deserving part of the peninsula. David Hadley. Alva, Florida, Feb. 19, 1888. honey sold KOR 3.") CTS. PER LB., AND $39.00 FROM ONE COLONY IN 1887. I never kept bees until last year, when I bought five colonies. I worked them for comb honey; and although all my neighbors complained of a poor honey-crop J got 330 lbs. of honey, which I sold for 25 cts. per pound. the little HfiACKS AHEAD, AND THE ITALIANS THE POOREST. I had one colony which gave me 116 finished 1-lb. sections, and several unfinished ones. This was a valuable colony, as it brought me, S39. 00 worth of honey, but did not swarm, and yet they were the '■ little blacks;" the other four were hybrids, ex- cei)t one which was, I think, pure Italian. It did the poorest of all. I got only two swarms from ray bees, and they were both late ones, and came in September. I gave them empty combs, and they made considerable honey, and I fed them more, so I think they will winter all right. I am trying to winter my bees outdoors. I have a chaff cushion on top, and chaff division-boards on the sides. I owe all ray success to your ABC book and Glean- ings. We have had some pretty cold weather, 20° below zero. S. H. Beaver. Tamora, Neb., Dec. 15, 1887. 1000 LBS. OF HONEY FROM 20 COLONIES, SPRING COUNT. I commenced the season with 30 colonies; used some in dividing, and raising queens. It left 13 good colonies to gather honey. We took from them nearly 1000 lbs. of comb and extracted honey, and it was of No. 1 quality, clover and buckwheat. In fact, we were the only ones who had any surplus to speak of. The largest bee-keeper in this section has about 100 colonies, and his bees did not make enough to winter on; and there are others who are in the same fix. Now, we don't want to brag, but it must be that our bees must have been in better condition, and every thing in readiness for the honey-flow when it came; and another very impor- tant thing is, ours are all Italians, and all the other bee-keepers keep the black bees. We think this Is proof enough that the Italians are the best. We go into winter quarters with 33 colonies. Honey sells at 12!4 cts. for extracted, and 16 to 18 cts. for comb. We bought 1 lb. of Japanese buckwheat of Peter Henderson, and it gr^w finely. It made an enor- mous growth. We counted the kernels on one plant, and found it had over 500. The whole yield- ed lYi bushels. We think very favorably of it, and intend to test it more thoroughly the coming yeai'. Cornelius Bros. Lafayetteville, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1887. ;^EP01^3Fg DIPC0U^^6I]V[6. WANTS TO "SELL OUT." Y 110 colonies of bees were put in the cellar the first day of Deceniiber, and seem to be wintering nicely, the temperature being from 40 to 45°. They make very little noise. They gave me 200 lbs. of extracted and 100 lbs. comb honey last fall, and had 20 to 30 lbs. each for winter stores. I fed them .500 lbs. nice comb honey in the frames the past season. I had 4 natural and- 4 artificial swarms, so you see 1 belong to the large army of "Blasted Hopers." I want to sell out. Cedar Bapids, Iowa, Jan. 16, 18S8. S. J. Church. NOT ONE POITND OF SURPLUS, AND NO SWARMS- My i-eport for the past season is very soon made out. I had not one pound of surplus, no swarms, and a scant supply of honey for winter. This re- port will answer for about every bee-keeper within forty miles of me. I think we in this section are good subjects for Blasted Hopes, but 1 think most of us will try again. Robert Quinn. Shellsburg, Iowa. FROM 13 TO 20, AND 100 LBS. OF HONEY. My 10 swiirms of bees are wintering very well- one in cellar, and nine outdoors, packed with chaff. I had 12 stands last spring. I increased to 20, but did not get over 100 lbs. of honey. All the bee- keeiiers in this vicinity claim to be in the same boat. Jacob Krou. LukeviUe, Ind., Feb. 10, 1888. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 119 Qu^ pejiEg. If any mau will do God's will, he shall know of the doctrine.— John 7: 17. foil some little time back I have been in tlie habit of meeting a neighbor (at least a resident of our own coun- ty), Sunday afternoon, in our county jail. The man had twice attempted to commit suicide, and failed ; but he final- ly succeeded iji the third attempt. The Sunday before his death I saw him alone, and had quite a long talk with him. I knew he was bent on suicide, and it seemed to me I could reason him out of it if he would only talk with me, and tell me frankly his feelings and his reasons. I prayed earnest- ly, before having this talk, that help might be given me to save my neighbor, if it were a possible thing to do. At first he remain- ed silent, and refused to talk, especially when I approached the matter in question. However, by using all my energy, and call- ing in play every faculty that God has given me in the way of hopefulness and encour- agement, I succeeded, by taking up other topics, in getting him to talk comparative- ly freely. I told him incidents in my own conversion, and of the ways in which God had led me when I first started out to serve him. He became quite interested, and ask- ed many ([uestions, and said that he agreed with a religion that bore such fruit as was manifest in the cases I have told you of. He even went so far as to say he would Ije glad to believe there is to he a future state of existence. He said he would ^ive any thing in the world to V)e able to believe as I seemed to believe. Now, I did not succeed in making the poor man see that his life was worth saving; but the questions he put to me, and the objections he raised, stimulat- ed me to grasp hold of thoughts and truths that I never got before ; and one of these has been on my mind so much that I want to tell you of it to-day. Before dismissing our poor unfortunate brother, however, I want to tell you this : His unhappiness and disccmtent, and hatred of existence, did not come from a lack of this world's goods ; for, in fact, he was one of the wealthiest men in our county. His friends insisted that he was crazy, and may be he was. The Judge of all the earth, who can not err, knows, although I do not; but so far as my judgment and perception were able to determine, I could see nothing about him that indicated what I should call insan- ity. He was sentenced to the penitentiary, for attempting to kill another man, just l)e- fore he made the first attempt (m his own life, so that the prospect was not sucli as might make him want to live, especially without any faith in Christ Jesus, who came to save even bad men, and those steeped in ciime. Before he made the at- tempt to murder, he had for years been guilty of l)i-e;iking a commandment that Jesus places only second to murder — see Matthew lU : IS. Well, he who breaks this commandment, settles down, so far as my observation goes, into the most hard, unfeel- ing, sarcastic skepticism known to the hu- man family. When you see a man whose heart is so cold and flinty that it defies eve- ry text of Scripture, or every appeal that is likely to soften the human heart, you may be afraid that his skepticism comes from transgressions in this way. This man had not done God's will, as in the language of our text, and he had no knowledge of the doctrine; in fact, tlie Bi- ble was to him a dull book. Like Christ be- fore Herod, where it speaks volumes to the most of us to him it said nothing. Now, don't understand me as saying that such cases are hopeless, only so long as the indi- vidual absolutely refuses to accept Christ as the Son of God, and the meditator. I be- lieve that the most hardened criminal— in fact, the worst wretch who ever lived, if, in real penitence and sorrow for his ci'imes, he should, on bended knees, say, " God have mercy on me a sinner," would see the door of salvation swing open to him in an instant. You may say, however, that, when a man is so steeped in crime, the probabilities are very small that he will ever do this, on account of the hardening influ- ence of transgression; and here I agree with you. He who goes headlong into sin and crime, with the expectation that he can be forgiven some time in the future, will very likely be mistaken. Where one keeps on persistently and repeatedly in breaking God's commands, true sorrow and peni- tence do not come to him very easily. Now, this friend of whom I have been speaking would say, — " Then you really do believe that there is a future state of existence after this life ? '' " Most assuredly, I do, my friend.'" '' Well, I don't.'' When I remonstrated, he declared frank- ly that he could see no evidence whatever that there is any thing beyond this life. And now, dear "friends, it is a sad thing to say, but I am afraid he told the truth— that God gave him no evidence whatever of any future— no, not even if he honestly felt it when he said tome that he would give any thing in this world to have faith in this direction. When he said it, however, he did not mean to include bowing humldy to Jesus, and confessing fitlly and completely the sins that weighed down his past life. His whole life, in fact, was devoted to con- cealing and denying his guilt— to hiding it from the eyes of man ; and when taking his own life seemed to be the surest and secur- est method of covering and concealing the past from human eyes, he chose that way of doing it. There is" no promise in tlie Bible, as I understand it, for any one in that atti- tude ; therefore he refused to consider ex- istence as a boon or gift. Instead of having in his heart thanks to the Creator for life with its privileges, its joys, and its opportu- nities, he flung it away. Now% the point I wish to arrive at is the one I have often taken up in these pages. It is a point I love to dwell on ; and as the years pass by, it seems to me I get brighter and more precious glimpses of the great un- known ; especially while, as in the language of our text, I am striving to obey God's commands. It is those who ol)ev the will of 180 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar, tbe Father wlio shall know of the doctrine. The jjoor neii-liboi- of whom I have just been speaking assented to my proposition tliat tliere must be a supreme ruler of this universe ; in fact, every honest man must assent to this. Tiiere "was not only a God in the first place who created the heavens and the earth, but there is the same God still, and he has a plan and a purpose with it all. May be there was a time in the his- tory of this earth when the sun shone and the plants grew and the birds sang, some- thing as they do now, when no human in- telligence looked out upon the scene. Doubtless brute nature enjoyed life in the same way that it does now. The pigs criniched the acorns as they fell from tlie huge oaks, with some sort of a sense of en- joyment; ])ut I am sure that no pig ever gazed aloft to question where the acorns came from, or to consider liow they grew amid the leafy l)ranches. No i)ig ever got so far as that in intelligence; and even if lie did, he certainly never for one brief instant cast a thought as to the origin, end, and purpose of this teeming world of life. Not one of tlie brute kind was ever capable (even if he cared to, which is very doubtful) of even turning his thoughts in the direction I have indicated. In considering such a state of affairs, one miglit pause and ask the question. " What is the use of all this, with no intelligence to look upon it and appreci- ate it ? ■" I should say there is not any use, if the machinery were to stop there. These things were preliminaries ; these were prep- arations, as it were, for the opening of the doors, at some time in the future, to the vast audience. By and by the audience stepped on the scene. God created man. Man looked in on what had been done, as through a window. At first lie may have looked something as the dumb brutes did ; but by and by his God-given reason prompt- ed liim to study and compare. As soon as a child can talk he begins to look at the moon, and then turns to his teachers with inquiries. '" What is it? where is it V what keeps it there? what is it for?"' This thirst for knowledge does not pass unsatis- fied. The Bible says, '' Knock, and it shall be opened unto you ; " and the child finds the promise verified. So vast is the field, however, for learning and intelligence, that long years must pass ; yes, before he is fit to enter school ; then long years more must pass before he is fit to enter college ; years more of drill in college are to fit him to use his God-given powers intelligently, and that he may not make stupid blunders at every turn. In a very short time his thoughts turn to the master Spirit that framed and planned these things. Now, if this pupil does God's will, as in our opening text, he certainly will know of the doctrine. He will know of God's plan and God's promises. Not ([uite four hundred years ago, Colum- l)us, impelled by this tliirst for knowledge, stood up head and shoulders above his fel- lows, and declared that God had something in store for us beyond the vast unknown seas. Is it indeed possible, that, so short a time ago, he stood for a time almost alone in his demand for knowledge beyond the unknown expanse of water ? I need not tell the story. Once when he landed, his com- rades declared he had discovered an island ; yes, a whole island that was heretofore un- known. Columbus, however, was head and shouldeis above them here. He looked on the vast current of the Orinoco Iliver as it poured forth into the sea ; and as he took in at least something of the real truth, he declared, ''Not so ; this is no island. That vast volume of water you see pouring forth there is the drainings of a continent. No" island ever gave forth such a stream.'' Columbus exhibited only plain common sense. Reasoning from what he saw he in- telligently declared what was beyond im- mediate vision. Well, my friends, what does this vast flood of intelligence and prog- ress mean that pours forth before our vevy eyes ? Forty years ago we went to school in log schoolhouses, and learned to read and write and cipher. xVs I sit here, writing bids fairto be done away with. Instead of using a a quill pen, whittled by the teacher, even a poor humble individual like myself does not use a pen at]all nor pencil. I simply talk to men and women who make crooked marks, one of which often means more than a wliole line used to mean in our copy-book. Now, instead of sending these crooked marks to the man I wish to speak to, a thousand miles away, he gets a nice beauti- fully printed letter. " Every one of you see them almost every day of your life. This printed letter is done quicker— vastly quick- er—than we used to do it with quill pens. Still further, the day is just dawning when paperand ink both seem destined to be put on the shelf. You talk to a machine. The machine staiitls still and mute, until called for, and then it talks back the very words you pronounced, giving back even your own tone of voice too. It talks or is silent, as the master-spirit directs. Every year short- ens and simplifies plans for moving these cumbersome bodies of ours. We take such a trip as Columbus did, as we would go across the lots to a neighbor's. If anybody is starv- ing in consequence of drought, earthquake, or blizzard, swifter than the wind the call of distress spans a thousand miles, and, al- most as quickly, food and clothing rush back. Suppose that somebody should now stand up and declare that, although these things are wonderful, God has got through or abandoned the work. We would send him to an insane-asylum, if he should keep on talking in that way. Well, now, suppose that one of our brightest young minds, say one who has made the strides that Edison has, for instance, should, by sickness, come down to death. Our doctors have not mas- tered sickness and death yet. Suppose you were required to give him counsel at his bedside. Would you say, ''My friend, you have done a glorious work. It is indeed as- tonishing and wonderful to contemplate how, step by step, you have dived into the mysteries of creation, and it is grand to think of what you have given the world in return for what it has given you. Had you not been cut down here in middle life, no 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 181 one can tell what new things you might have unearthed in a few years more. ]3ut I suppose it is all over. It seems to me sad that this intellect that has been l)uilt up step by step by laborious study and hard work should tumble to ashes just now, and be no more. I don't really know wliy (xod has brought you into the woi'ld, and given you these glimpses, and this longing to know the secrets of the great beyond. But noth- ing indicates, that I know of, that God has any plan or purpose of continuing this work beyond what we call death. It does seem as if he made a blunder somewhere ; but I guess that, when you die, that is the end of you. You are rubbed out like the marks on a slate '" V Now, friends, if anybody ever did speak In that way, T should expect a dying man to turn over in bed and ask his friends to take him away. lie. like the other man, ought to go to an asylum; and it seems to me that you would be apt to tind a Columbus stand- ing somewhere at about this jiujctiu-e, say- ing, "Not so. The intelligence that created this universe never sent such a volume of intelligence as we see pouring forth before us unless it came from somewliere, and we were tending to some great end. We who love the great supreme Architect, and trust in him, shall know of the doctrine, and shall have glimpses and a full understanding of the whys and wherefores of creation. We shall know' more of the countless worlds that float before our telescopes. We shall luiovf more of the mysteries of animal and vege- table life. The great and good minds that have gone before us are somewhere still, and we shall be with tJiern, and shall know fully of all that we have had glimpses of here on this earth. The idea is incredible and pre- posterous that this brief introductory life ends all. The thought can not for one mo- ment be tolerated, that (lOd gives these hea- ven-born glimpses of himself and his great- ness and glory, only to extinguish it all by striking us out of existence. The universe was planned and arranged for ws." A short time ago one of the friends de- clared that we had several times tried to cheat him out of his journal. He said we had got the money, and wanted to, keep Gleanin(js back. I suppose he thought it would be of some value to us, tucked away in a pigeon-hole. I explained to him that all each number of Gleanings was good for was to send to our subscribers ; and un- less it was received promptly, and read and appropriated, it was of no use to anybody. Extra copies that do not happen to be want- ed are piled off in an old barn, until we have a ton of them, and then they are sold for half a cent a pound. Now, then, suppose we should go to work and print otf a whole edition, and, instead of sending them to our subscribers, we shonld pile them away in the barn, to be covered with dust and cobwebs. Shouldn't we be worse than crazy? Well, is the idea any more rational, that God created this universe— planned and arranged it for human beings— ids cliildren whom he loves, and yet uom; proposes to let it lie tutuscd and uninhabited? Surely not. Well, suppose I were to watch you with your journal tmtil you read it about half through, and then take it and run off with it — stop you in your most interesting part, what should I do with the part I carried offV* Well, my friends, what is God going to do with the great un- told wonders lying beyond our comprehen- sion or ability to comprehend, that we get glimpses of at every turn? What is behind this great wall of deathVf Nothing at all, do any of you say? If there be one such among our' readers, thousands will join me in the declaration, "Not so. The thought can not lie tolerated for a single moment." I do not know^ just how many of us shall be permitted to gaze upon the splendors of that New Jerusalem ; but this I do know : That he that doeth the will of the Father shall know of the doctrine. [[R Own ^nnw. CONDUCTED BY ERNEST R. ROOT. THE CONDITION OF OUR BEES WHEN EXAMINED ON THE 2'M AND 3-l:TH INST. E have had quite a run of cold severe weather during which there was no opportunity of examining every one of the colonies in our two apiaries since we put them into winter quar- ters last fall. Along in the winter we did manage to look at a few colonies which w'e feared might not be wintering well, or might be possibly running short of stores. Aside from this, no other examination was made until the date mentioned in the heading. Along in the winter w'e found tw^o or three colonies that showed some signs of dysen- tery ; but on our last examination they seemed to be all right, the two days of beau- tiful spring weather affording them a cleans- ing tlight. It was my ambition to report that the first examination showed that all the chaff- packed colonies were alive up to date, just as we did last year. But, one single colony which succumbed before w^e could make an examination, makes this impossible. We found that it died of starvation — not be- cause the stores were entirely exhausted in the brood-nest, but because, as has some- times happened before, the bees had used up all their stores near them, leaving only a little candied honey on the opposite side of the hive. The bees, though dead, apptarecZ to be alive and healthy ; and had 1 more faith in the McFadden theory, I should cer- tainly have tried to revive them. Just how long "they had been without stores I am un- able to say. I think it is quite likely, how- ever, they would have lived to the time of our examination, had the natural stores not candied. There was suflTicient to have carried them through a couple of weeks more. When this colony was put into winter quar- ters last fall it had only natural stores, not having even an ounce of granulated-sugar * 1 admit that this is a very poor and feeble illus- tration. t The people told Columbus there was nothing at all behind the vast waters that stretched themselves over toward the setting' sun. 182 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. syrup. If lliey had been fed a little sugar syrup, I IVel sure tliey would not haye been numbered among the dead. All other col- onies, as I have said, were alive, though we did liiid one case of dysentery where the col- ony was reduced to a" mere handful of woe- begone, forloin-looking bees. These we gave to another colony, as they certainly would not have lived much longer in the condition they were in. Upon looking up the record, we found that, on the 27th of October, last year, they had been rearing brood quite heavily. '•There," said I, "they exhausted their vitality, and were in an unfit condition to stand the rigors of winter, just because of such late brood-rearing." I entertained this opinion until Mr. Spafford informed me there was another colony, under almost the same conditions, which had lieen rearing brood just as heavily, October 2od ; and yet these bees were just as nice and healthy as any one could wish to see at this time of year, so that we can not say positively it was the brood-rearing that resulted in dys- entery to the other colony. It is possible that the natural stores were such as to favor brood-rearing, and were also unfit as a win- ter food. SUGAR VERSUS NATURAL STORES. Our readers of a year ago last fall will re- member that our bees had granulated-sugar syrup only — no natural stores at all — every one of the 200 colonies wintered through successfully. Last fall, a large number of colonies had natural stores, sufficient to carry them through, and were therefore not fed at all. Other colonies were entirely destitute, and w^ere fed up on sugar syrup. In our recent examination we found that those colonies wdiich had been fed with su- gar stores were in the nicest condition pos- sible. They were bunched up in a semi- dormant condition, such as w^e like to see them in, and every thing about the hives was clean and sweet. Some of the colonies wdiich had natural stores only, showed more or less signs of dysentery ; and those not showing any indications of disease appeared restless, and were all over the brood-nest. SEPARATORS FOR OPEN-SIDE SECTIONS. Some months ago one of our Australian customers, I). R. McConnel, ordered some separators made like the accompanying en- graving. MC'CONKEl. S I'KKFOKA'l'KD SinWHATOK KHH OCKN- SIDE SECTIONS. They are designed to go with open-side sections, the teeth, or projections, reaching from the top to the bottom of the sections. The evident purpose of the holes is to give the bees freer access to the comb honey, the holes permitting them to pass back and forth from one section to another, without the necessity of going clear down under. Mr. McConnel designed to have them nailed on single-tier wide frames, the tops and bottom-bars of which were slotted out to cor- respond with the opening in the sections. As made in the cut they can be used only on wide frames and can not be used in the T supers or combined crate, on account of the projecting side points. Theoretically, these separators are a good thing ; but we can not be sure that the extra expense will compen- sate for whatever advantage there may be in separators so made. For those, however, who would like to try them on their half- depth wide frames we can furnish them ■ made of taggers' tin, like the engraving, for i52..50 per 100 ; without the round perfora- tions, but with the slots, for ^2.2o per 100. By comparing prices of ordinary tin sepa- nitors, you will see that they cost §;i.00 and 7-5 cents more respectively," than the com- mon tin separators. Some of our old customers wn'll remember that we have for some years back made what we call perforated separators ; that is, hav- ing three-eighths holes punched along at reg- ular intervals. They differed from McCon- nel's separators, in that they had no project- ing side-points ; that is, where the tin pro- jects beyond the regular width of the sepa- rator, so as to cover the whole exposed side of the section." Still another separator, and one designed especially for open-side sections, has been used by the English, and, to some extent, by our American bee-keepers. By the former they are called "slotted dividers." They are something similar to the McConnel sep- arator. Instead of the round perforations, three transverse oblong slots are made In the separator, so as to come directly opposite to the open sides of the sections. These transverse slots are designed to give the bees freer passage from one section to another ; answering the same purpose are also inden- tations at the ends of the separators. On page 869 for 1886 we illustrated something very similar. CAN ORDINARY SEPARATORS BE USED WITH THE OPEN-SIDE SECTIONS IN THE T SUPER? The above question has been asked us by a number of correspondents. At first we thought they could not ; but a trial shows us that they can, after the super is once ready for the hive. The open sides form projecting shoulders, and these projecting shoulders sticking out make it exceedingly diflicult to get the sections in and out of a T super ; and, worse still, to get the sep- arators in between, in the right place. As the sections pass one another they are sure to catch, and the separators almost won't go where they " ort to," on account of the pro- jecting shoulders. I have just tried it, and I know. I had to fuss for a long time ; and when I got things fixed up,— well, 1 felt lidgetty and out of patience. I presume that friend Foster, with his adjustable sec- tion-case, obviates the dilficulties I have just pointed out ; but for me to use them in the T super, would certainly be intolera- ble if I had to fill up enough T supers with separators for the season's use. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 183 Gleanings in Bee Cdltdre. t'tiblished Semi-MonthUj . EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. ing- a plan, that there are more difficulties in the way than we had anticipated; but we are going to make a hard pull, any way. For Clubbing Sates, See First Page of Beading Matter. ZivdiEiDinsr^fL., i>^j^Ti. 1, laes- Have the gates of death been opened unto thee! or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?— Job 38: 17. Our subscription-list is now 7976, a gain of 244 within the last month. PRICE LISTS RECEIVED. What is the matter with our supply-dealers? Did the drought of last season kill them out, or doesn't the business pay? So far we have x-eeeived hardly a tenth of the price lists usually sent out this time of year. BETTER NEWS FROM FRIEND W. Z. H. Just as we go to press, the following card comes to hand: Dear Sik:— Mr. Hutchinson is fast improving now, and will soon have the Review out. Mrs. W. Z. Hutchinson. ARTHUR TODD. The following further particulars have been re- ceived from a son of the deceased, Arthur H. Todd: Mr. Root:— My father, Artlnir Todd, F. R. G. S. & A. K. C, of London, died in this city, of jMU-uiuonia, on Saturday, February 11, aged 46 years. He was the lirst man to import your comb foundation into France, and owned the first foundation ma- chine in Algeria. He also was manager of the apiary at the Zoological Gardens in this city, and owned the bees on exhibi- tion. ARTHt'R H. Todd. Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 17, 1888. THE WANTS AND THE EXCHANGE'DEPARTMENT. Some of our advertisers do not seem to under- stand that ad's intended for the above department must be bona-flde exchanges or wants. We can not insert any thing that names the jn-ice of an article for sale, neither can we give place to an advertise- ment that says, " Wanted, to exchange certain com- modities for cash," naming the price; the exchange must be for something not money. honey STATISTICS IN THE REGULAR CROP iJE- PORTS. Just before we go to press, through the kindness of A. B. Mason we are informed that Statistician J. R. Dodge, of the Department of Agriculture, Wash- ington, D. C, has promised to make an effort in gathering statistics relative to bee-keeping, to be published in the regular crop report at least once in a jear, " providing that those engaged in the in- dustry take sufficient interest in the matter to furnish the necessary data." Gleanings will lend its support to this enterprise in every wa.v it can. statistics for gleanings. We have gotten out some blank iirinted matter, to be sent to the bee-keepers in all parts of the coun- try—the blanks to be tilled out and returned. Our corps of honey-statisticians has not been fully made up yet, but we hope to get the thing going, so that we may be able to make some official an- nouncements in our April 1st issue; that is, if our " machinery " works all right. We And in formulat- ALSIKE CLOVER FOR RE-SEEDING. Our friend M. M. Baldridge gives the following in the Prairie Farmer, in reference to a previous ar- ticle : If th.it 13-acre piece nf timothv and red clover wcic mine. 1 should lose III! time to :\drl tlurctn. tlie prcs.nt winter or early the cominy- sprint,', twn ii.>iiiids of :ilsike i-l(iver-seed to Ibe acre. The s..il, beiMK low :nid moist, w.inid he i\i>t litrlit for alf-ike clover; and on sueli soil, it would do miieh hettei- than the coiniiioii red. Hut :ilsike will do well on any soil, no matter how dry, which w ill ]iroducc ffood crops (d red (dover. Still, no :itteinpt should l.i- ni:ule to grow aisike on auy soil, or in any latitude sulgei't to drought, unless mixed with red clover. When thus mixed, :ilsike will always do just aswidi as red clover, iiud tlu' aisike will add greatly to the \ .,lue .d' the crop tor either hay or ]iasttire. The fact is, Here is no clover equ.-il, ill my |udt;ini'iit. to aisike for h.ay or |i,isiui e lor bothshecii and cattle, and esjieidally for mileli ,-ohs. Hut I prefer always, when seed inn' l.iiid to aisike clover :ind the eom- rann red. to :idd there!., tie- usual .luantily ..f timothy, so as to hol.l I1..II1 eloveis up :iii.l away from the L'round. hi this Kox- River Viilley, the gie.it .l:iiiy region of Illinois, liiiii.he.ls of acres will be seeded the present year to a mixture ..f timothy, 1-ed id. >ver, .111(1 aisike. The dairymen are just beginning to realize tliat aisike clover has most excellent qualities and is one of the best plants for dairy purposes ever introdueed into the United States. M. M. BALDKlD.ilc. THE SPIDER-PLANT SEED THAT WOULD NOT GERMINATE. In my editorial in our^last issue, I supposed that, because we had waited a month for the seed to come up, kept it warm, given it sun, etc., as we did all our other honey-plant seeds, in our testing- boxes, that there was not any use of waiting any longer. During these bright days at the close of February, when the sun shines every day, the neg- lected and forgotten spider-plant seed took a start, and came up all right. Now, will not the friends who have bought seed of us, and complained that it would not grow, try again? Keep the seed moder- ately damp, in a warm place, and in the sun; and if it does not come up in four weeks, it probably will in eight. There has always been more or less trouble with the spider-plant seed. I do not be- lieve I ever had a real good stand of it, except once, and I did not raise that. A market-gardener raised it for me in a cold-frame, and he produced the plants that gave us half an acre on our rich creek-bottom land. OUR EUREKA WINDMILL. We are happy to say that|this mill has run the en- tire winter, every day, when the wind blew; in fact, it has not been stopped once on account of weather. One reason why we wished to have it go all the while was, that we cut our ice from our carp-pond ; and by allowing the windmill to keep flooding the ice with water from the .spring, we have been en- abled to fill a large ice-house with what we call "spring-water ice." You see, as fast as the water froze, the windmill pumped more on top of the ice, and then that froze. To my great astonishment, the tub by the side of the pond has not had a bit of ice on it this winter, not even around the edges— the warm spring water keeping the contents of the tub also above the freezing-point, even when the thermometer indicated five degrees below zero. When the wind did not blow, a small hole in the pipe in the well let the water from the tub run back into the well, so that, when the wind is not blowing, there is no water in the tub. In my first talk about windmills, I mentioned the fact that mills were on the market as low as f3.").O0 or $<36.(K); but I did not mean to convey the idea that o(t/- mill was purchased at this low i)riee. The proper price can be ascer- tained by writing to the manufacturers, Smith Si Woodard, Kalamazoo, Mich. 184 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. ^PECmii ]S[0TICE?. JERSEY WAKEFIEI>D COLD-FBAME CABBAGE-PLANTS. We have some beautiful ones, ready to ship. Price for 10. 10 cts. : 100, 80 cts. ; per 1000, *6.00. I f wanted by mail, add one-half to above prices. THE GLOBE LAWN-MOWER. If any of our readers are looking for a flrst-elass lawn-mower at a low price they will do well to look at our advertisement on another page. THE WIDTH OF SECTIONS WHEN WO(>U OR TIN SEPA- RATORS AKE USED. Our T super will take 38 sections lis in. scant, or 32 sections 11,\ in., with tin separators; but when ■wood separators are used, your sections must be I's in. or 1 's in. wide. Please bear this in mind in mak- ing your orders. THE SYRACUSE WHEELBARROW. You will notice by our small adv't in another col- umn that we have reduced the price of the large- sized wheelbarrow to *4 3.5. We quote special low prices in quantities of two or more. Don't be with- out one of these invaluable implements, when they cost so little. CALIFORNIA HONEY AT 9 CTS. PER LB. We have just secured about 1000 lbs. of fair quali- ty California honey from R. Wilkin, which we offer in cases of 3 cans, 130 lbs., at 9c per lb. We will mall sample free ou application. We still have plenty ot choice basswood honey at 10 cts. per lb., and "gilt edge " basswood, or clover honey at 11 cts. ALSIKE CLOVER AT $1.50 PER BUSHEL. Wc are pleased to announce that the market on alsike seed will at present justiff us in quoting the following reduced prices: 1 lb., 16c; per peck, $2.00; per half-busliei. afS.OU; per bushel, $7.50; 3 bushels, *14 .50. Bags free, in all cases. If you would secure this price, order early : for if we have the same ex- perience as last year we shall have to advance again later. ROOFING TIN. 18 X 33, FOR SIMPLICITY - HIA'E COVERS, AND TIN SEPAR.4.TORS AT $8.00 PER BOX. While tin plate is advancing all around, we are pleased to tell you that we have a large stock of terne rooting tin, IC, 18X33, just right for Simphci- ty-hive covers, that we can offer at the old price of «8.G0 per box, f. o. b. here. At present price of 14X30 coke, this is the cheapest tin to buy for sepa- rators, as each sheet makes 6 regular Simplicity wide-frame separators. Price, less than a box, will be 9c per sheet, or 8c in lots of 10 or more sheets. PILES OF GOODS READY CRATED TO FILL ORDERS. The experience of last year, when we were so behind in orders, made us resolve that we wouldn't t;ei caught tlmt way again. Accordingly, we have Ik'cm •' stocking up" ever since last season's orders dropped off. and we are now running an extra force ot hands. We have great piles ot hive-stuff ready crated, and, in a good many cases, we simply mark the address on the box, and the order is tilled, so far as we are concerned. The packers say it is a pleasure to fill orders with lots of goods ready boxed. With very few exceptions goods go off im- mediately. NOW IS YOUR TIME! DON'T WAIT! ' NO. 1 POPLAR seCTIONfc., $;j.50 per lOUO. Special rates on .5000 or more. Sam- t)les tree, and ])rice list of Hees, Hives, Frames, Crates, Supers. Fdn.. etc. I can suit you. H. P. LANODON, East ConstaUe, Franklin Co., N. 7. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. HIVES, FRAMES, CASES, SECTIONS, COMB FOUNDATION, ETC. Send your address for free circular to KElNOLnS BROS., 5tfdb \Villiaui»i>bui'g, lud. GARDEM SEEDS From one of the most extensive seed-growers in the United States. We have arranged for a large amount of Garden Seeds, just such as everyone having a garden would buy, at a wonderful reduc- tion, in order to advertise his seeds; and in order to place the BEE-KEEPERS' ADVANCE In Your Hands we OFFER a box of 35 packets of .these choice Garden Seeds and the Advance one year, and your name placed in the Ree-keepers' Reference Book, described in Feb. Gleanings, for $1.00. We guarantee these seeds to give entire satisfaction. They would cost at retail ^1.75. The seeds will be sent by mail, post- paid. Address J. B. MASON & SONS. Mechanic Falls, Me. SEED Potatoes- r.onntv of Hebron: a few p^arlv Ohio: 50 ots. a peck: !# 1 .>0 per bush. H.W. MeBrid , Bhiir. Neb, Apiary and Fruit-farm for sale. K% acres best land; house, barn, stables, etc.; good market for all that can tie produced. Address Box 30, Chatham Center, N. Y. 5 6d THE SYRACUSE BARROW. Striiiip:e!-t and neatest Viniriiwm.ide fcir fjarden- iTs.ljec-lieep- lnt^' delivery, 11(1 fiviirval use. Has tcrl wlic-cl. axle, and its: >tiii ^pnnprs «ith cijnstahli- In ariiiprs. El- Kanllv ii:iiiit.d and var- nislicMi: Will carrv .'JKI lbs. nd 40 lbs. each. I'riie S4 and $4.25. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. KENWARD-HALL APIARY LIVING PRICES. We are ready to mail as soon as suitable weather North will allow, 300 TESTED ITALIfiN QUEENS, ON'^ DOLT.AR EACH All K'lii-ed in Oct. and Nov., l.sST. from ini]>i)rted inolliers. Untested Queens in Mitreli arul A pril, '"ic i-ach ; I)er dozen. •«!• tm. ORDERS FILLED PROMPTLY BY RETURN MAIL. Special rates to r.<. Write tor Price List. J. W. K. SS^AW&CO., (Iberia Parish.) LOREAUVILLE, LA. 10^4 ALL MYJORDERS FOR 1887 IQ ■ iC wore tilled without one wore '" ■ ^"of eonipbiint ; and the prog-' eny of niy (lucens whs pronounci'd by some to be the finest they ever saw. 1 sim now liooking orders, to be tilled as soon as weather permits. One untestcid quec n -----,$ 80 One tested " 1 00 One selected " 1 .'iO Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Send for price list. CM. HICKS, Fairview, Wash Co., Md. ^%^ 4 YOU BUY — . ;' -"^-^5**^^ your supplies for 188S, send for my //: ,>%/^^-i''ipiige illustrated Catalogue, de- '^p^ \. .'scribing my new reversible-frame "* hive and T super. They are per- .ion Address £ J ARMSTRONG, JERSEYVILLE, ILLS. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 185 PURE ITALIAN BEESi^i^ee- ^"ee! free: In best hives, double-walled, in winter; H frames, 13^x1314 in. each, ill $5 00 per colony; or same in lig-ht strong- siiippin^-boxes, 75 ots. less. Discount on large lots. DK. G,. W. YOUNO, 3-5-7d Lexington, Mo. ZSIMPLiiriTY 15 -hives, 3 covers, 10 brood- Irames, 7 wide frames, and 56 one-piece 1-lb. sections, all in flat, $1.10. Leconte, Kieffer's Hybrid, and Baitlett pear-trees, 20 cts. each; 13 White-Leghorn chicken e^gs, 50 cts. 3-.5-7d T. A. GUNN, Tullahoma, Tenn. lEBlDllitTEaS in THE WEST FOE TEE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF Bee-Keepers' Supplies. CHAFF AND SIMPLICITY HIVES FURNISHED AT A GREAT REDUCTION IN PRICE. Nice Sections and Foundation, Specialties. A full line of Supplies always on hand. Write for our new Price List. Cash paid for Beeswax. 16tfdb A. F. Stauffer, Sterling, III. NEW HIVE CIRCULAR NOW READY. ADDRESS 3tfdb JAMES HEDDON, Dowagiac, Mich. WANTED.— The bee-ljeepers in vicinity of N. y. City, to buy the Van DeiiMen Hlve- C'lamp from me (I keep a stock on hand), at regu- lar manufacturer's prices. T. O. PEET, 3d 37 Park Row, N. Y. City. STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, BLAGK- BERRIES, CURRANTS, AND GRAPES. Plants at one-half the usual price. All stock war- ranted. Good references. 1 can ship plants 3000 miles, so as to reach you in good shape. Give me a trial order. Send postal card and get prices. EZRA €;. SMITH, 'A-hA ITIancIiester, Ontario Co., N. "V, ITALIAN T>RR -HIVES QUEENS O r-TIN CASES, SEC- TIONS, METAL CORNERS, Honey - Extraotors, and Fruit - Boxes. 3tfd SEND FOR PRICE LIST. B. J. MILLER&CO., - Nappanee, Ind. New Orleans Apiary. I will sell my entire apiary of 3.50 colonies of Ital- ian bees, in good Langstroth hives, cheap, or any number of colonies, to suit purchaser. Unsurpass- ed facilities for shipping by river or railroad. Cor- respondence solicited. Address 4tfdb J. W. AVIIVDER, New Orleans, I^a. OW TO RAISE t OITIB HONEV. See Fos- ter's advertisement on another page. 4-1.5db U7ANTED.— To exchange pure P. R. cockerels, or Vt eggs from prize - winning stock, for alsike clover-seed or ferrets. Eggs,*3.00 for 13 or $3.00 for 30. 45d B. D. SiDWELL, Flushing, Belmont Co., O, LTpou application. Our 38th Annual Price List. __ full line of BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. CHOICE COMB FOUNDATION AND WHITE-POPLAR SECTIONS A SPECIALTY. 100 COLONIES OF CHOICE ITALIAN BEES for sale cheap. Also NUCLEUS COLONIES and QUEENS. Orders booked now. Address WM. W. GARY & CO., 3tfdb Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass. Successors to Wm. W. Caky. (Please mention (Jlkanings.) I^E HANDLE THE BESY^UPPUES OF ALL MANVFACTIRERS. We also make the best smoker on the market. All dealers should handle it. Send tor wholesale list. It should be in every apiary; let every bee- keeper send tor my illustrated catalogue, free. All implements used in an apiary, sold at reasonable rates. Beeswax bought at Gleanings quotations. SlOdb W. E. CLARK, Oriskany, N. Y. Oliver Foster, of Iowa. Italian bees, (iO cts. per lb. in July, to !?1.00 in April. Pkgs. with queens, brood, etc., cheap. No foul hrood near. REE SIIPPL.IES.— Best sections, cases, and hives. Catalogue free. Send .5 OTie-cent stamps for pamphlet, "HOW TO EAISE COMB HONEY,"-chuck full of practical information "in a nutshell." 4-1.5db Address Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, la. WANTED.-To exchange 135 P. R. fowls. Have bred carefully for five years. Am offering fine chicks for *1.00 each; per pair, .f 1.75. Eggs for hatching, 75c per 14. Will satisfy you. 3tfdb Mrs.C. E. Hatch, Kentland, Newton Co., Ind. tLg\ PEKIN DUCKS for exchange or sale. t3\W Bronze Turkeys and Laced Wyandottes, and 7 other different varieties of pure-bred fowls. Eggs, $1..50 for 13. Turkeys' eggs, $3.50 for 11. Satisfaction guaranteed. 4-7db B. J. PURCELL, Box 47, Concord, Ky. What is the Matter? I wish to inform the readers of Gleanings that I am better prepared the coming summer to furnish bees by the pound, Italian Queens, Nuclei, Comb Foundation, Hives, Smokers, Honey-Extractors, Honey-Knives, and every thing needed in the bee- line. Send for my new Price List for 1888, now out. R. E. SIv£ZTZZ, (Forineflif Sniitli .(• Jachsoti ). P. O. Box 72, 4-5d Tilbury Ceiitre, Out., Can. DADAST'S FOUNDATION PAOTOEY, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. See advertisement in another column FREE! FREE! FREE! Don't tail to send your address on a postal card for the March number of the Aiiipri<-aii Apit-iil- tiirl^t. 'Tis filled with essays on "Practical Hints to Bee-Keepers," from the pens of the best-known writers on apiculture. Sent Free. Address AriVlLTVRIST, nenham, Mn.vs. 4tfdb LOOK HERE! A complete hive for comb honey, for^only $1.30. Planer-sawed, V-groove sections a specialty. Price list free. J. M. KIIVZIE & €0., 17tfd Rochester, Oakland Co., IVIicli. 186 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mau. NEARLY THIRTY TONS DADANT'S FOUNDATION It is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth. Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowag-iac, Mich.; F. L. Dougherty, Indian- apolis, Ind. ; B. J.Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind.; E. S. Armstrong-, Jersey ville, Illinois; Arthur Todd, 3132 North Front Street, Phil'a, Pa.; E. Kretchmer, Coburg-, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., M.J. Dickason, Hiawatha, Kansas; J. W. Porter, Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Va. ; E. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y. ; D. A. Fuller, Cherry Valley, 111.; J. B. Mason & Sons, Mechanic Falls, Maine; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wis.; J. Mattoon, and W. J. Stratton, At water, O., Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Free- burg, 111.; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1409 1.5th St., Denver, Colo. ; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111. ; J. A. Roberts, Edgar, Neb., and numerous other dealers. Write for /»ee samples, and price list of bee sup- plies. We guarantee every inch of our foundation equal In anmple in every respect. Every one who buys it is pleased with it. CHAS. DADANT & SON, 3btfd Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illinois. Costs Irss flinti 'i (■<'»ts per wech. THE CANADIAN BEE JOURNAL. THE FIRST DOLLAR WEEKLY IN THE WORLD. TEE D. A. JONES GO., FUBLISHEES, BEETON, ONTAEIO, CAN. D. A. Jones is its editor, and this fact is a guaran- tee of its worth. It is thoroughly practical and con- tains weekly excellent articles from leading bee- keepers in the United States and Canada. Fifty-two numbers make a volume of 1040 pages. American currency and stamps at par. Samples free. HEADQUARTERS For Cards and Sta- tionery for Bee-keep- ers and Otliers. UL'i-ides our beautiful eight-color chromo card, we have other neat designs, also a fine selection of fancy address cards, for old and young, for business and amusement. Also two and three letter mono- grams, all at low prices. See Here, .W fancy print- ed cards, 1.5 cts.; 300 envelopes, 300 letter-heads, printed, $1. Package 25 assorted cards, 10 cts. Neat box of cards and honey candies, 15 cts. Circulars free. Address J. H. Martin, Hartford, N. Y. 20tfdb HERE I COME To say that E. Baer. of Dix- on, 111., has sold out his sup- ply business to the Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., who will sell V-groove basswood sections at from $3.75 to $4.00 per M. Other supplies correspondingly low. Sam- ples and circular free. Ad- dre.sstlK- GOODELL & WOODWORTH MFG. CO., 3tfdb ROCK FALLS, WHITESIDE CO., ILL. SEEDS. Pkt. new kind Tomato Seed, very choice, 3c. Catalogue free. F. B. Mills, Thorn Hill, N. Y. 3-4-5d BEES, Queens, Hives, Given Comb Foundation, Apiarian Supplies, German Carp, Small-fruit Plants. Send for catalogue free. B.T. Flanagan, Belleville, Ills. l-24db. DKSIRINC; to go to the Pacific coast on ac- count of my health, I offer my place, with two apiaries of 115 colonies of bees, with every thing needed to run them. G. A. WRIGHT, 3tfdb Glenwood, Susq. Co., Pa. G. B. LEWIS & CO. WE make the best Bee-Hives, the best Sections, the best Shipping-Crates, the best Frames, &c. tS~We sell them at the Lowest Prices. Write for free Illustrated Catalogue. G. B. LEVV^IS &CO., Itfdb WATERTOWN, WIS. Green "Wire Cloth, FOR Window Screens and Shipping Bees, AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICES. The following lot of wire cloth is a job lot of rem- nants, and full rolls direct from the factory, that are FIEST QUALITY, and the pieces are of such varie- ty of size as to furnish any thing you want. Price \% cts. per sq foot, for full pieces'. If we have to cut the size you want, 3 cts. per sq. ft. When you order a piece, and somebodj' else has got it ahead of you, we will substitute a piece the nearest in size to the one ordered, unless you speci- fy in your order that you do not want us to substi- tute. The figures on the left indicate the width. 8 I 10 rolls, 67 sq. ft. each : 1 each ot 06, 6.5, 64, 63, 63, 62, 54, 40, 27, 24. 22, and 4 sq. ft. 12 I 34 rolls of 100 sq. ft. each ; 3 of 102 sq. ft ; 3 of 98. and 1 each I of 97, 92, 75. 52, 48, 44. 43, and 28 sq. ft. 14 I 1 roll 14 sq. ft. 16 I 8 rolls of 133 sq. ft.; and 1 each of 132, 130. 130, 128, and 105 sq. ft. 18 6 rolls ot 147 sq. ft., and 1 each ot 153, 150. 118, 145, 145, 69, and I 24 .sq.ft. 22 I 1 roll each of 55, .55, and 16 sq. ft. 24 22 rolls of 200 sq. ft. each, and 1 each of 280, 66, 66, 52,50, 44, 36, 36, 32, 30, 24. 20, and 8 sq. ft. 26 I 99 rolls of 216 sq. ft. each, and 1 each of 215, 210, and 204 sq. I ft. 28 I 49 rolls of 233; 6 of 224; 1 of 257, 240, 234, 219, and 214 sq. ft. 32 1 roll of 266. and one of 275 sq. ft. 34 I 18 rolls of 283 sq. ft. 1 each of 142, 142, 133, 130, 9, and 9 sq. ft. 36 6 rolls of 300 sq. ft. 38 I 21 rolls of 316 sq. It. , and 1 each of 633 and ,300 sq. ft. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. JOB LOT OF POULTRY-NETTING, Small Pieces at same Bate as full liolls — 1 ct. •per Square Fool. Two or more pieces, 5 per cent off; ten or more, 10 per cent discount. You will notice in this lot some with heavier wire than No. 19, and some with smaller mesh than two- inch. Both of these are worth more at regular prices than two-inch No. 19; but as it is a job lot we put it all in at the same price. I'A |r ' B,v dividing the number of square feet in this eol- ^ uni'n by the width in the fir.st column, you can ascer- ^ ;tain the length of each piece. These figures give the . number of square feet in each piece. 18 10. 19191, 85, 50, 41,25, 25.10. 1870. 15. 13. 13, IX mesh. No. 18 wire, 24. 20 120. 120. 19 28, 30, 1}4^ inch mes»'. .50. I9;200, 170, 140, 130. 120, 100, 100, 88. 82, 64, 56, 32. 18226. 224, 58,.58, .56. 19 41. 32, No. 18 wire, 90. 40. 19,17. 19 250, 237, 167, 125. 125, 122, 45, No. 18, 150. 19; 195, 126, 33, 1}4 in.. No. 20 wire, 348, 312. 18 203, No. 18, 04 mesh, 189. 19j450, No. 18 wire. 324. 595, 490, 445. 335, 330, 325, 285, 280, 240, 225, 220, 210, 180, 165, 160. 140. 130, 80. 410, 335, No, 17 wire, 195, 438, 312, No. 18 wire, 228, 750, 720, 690, 672, 636, 618, 558,510, 4.38. 420, 270, 252, 252, 222, ' ' 192. 168. 168, 162, 162, 156, 156, 156. 126, 120, 66, 48. Ws' know of uotliiuK' nii-er or better for ,i trellis for creeping vines than the .iln.ve netting. The 12 ti> 24 inch is just the thiiiy tn train up ^recn peas, fastening- the netting to stakes by means ot staples. If the stakes are set in substantially, one each 12 or 15 feet will answer. When the peas are stripped off the stakes, netting and a^U can be rolled up and laid away until another season. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. 72! IKiW 72 2 19 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 191 Contents of this Number. Anna Ouilliu's Letter. 203 Bee.-; Flying when Cold 217 Bees B'l'y ins 8 Miles 206 Bees in a City 216 Bees on Graft.-: 215 Bees, Freezing 221 Bees. Food for Larval 197 Bee-bait 217 Bee-escape 200 Bee-papers Free 217 Boy.s' Hive-1'aetory 220 Buclcwheat, Japanese . .216, 217 Chaff Hive, One-story 225 Cyclops 203 Drone. The 195 Editorial 227 Evaporator. Honey .199 Extracting. France's Plan. .204 Farming and Bees. . . . cQ.B.).218 Feeder, Harris' 215 Feeding in Winter 215 Feeding Early 217 Foul Brood in Medina 215 Foundation on Wire Nett'g 217 Heads of Grain 215 Hive. Chaff. One-story 226 Hive, Boardman's 200 Holy-Land Bees 217 Hoiiey from Wild Buck't...217 Honey. New 198 Honey-Boards 216 Horsemint in Texas 206 Light in Cellar 216 Manna in Tiirkey 198 Muth's Packages 203 Notes and (.lurries 216 Nuclri. To Make 216 Our Own .\iiiary 225 Packaj,o's (or Honey 202 Pollen (iraiiis 221 Pollen. Di.olittleon 205 Pollen. Klements of 215 Pciultrv ami Bees (Q.B.).218 yueiii kemoved in Fall 215 Questii >n-Box 218 Reports Encouraging 226 Space Between Hives 201 Specialists (Q.B.).219 Statistics about Honey 206 Swaiiiiinir. To .\llay 217 Tobacco Column 222 Water in Cellar 197 Water We Drink 203 Worms in Hives 216 PBICE LISTS RECEIVED. In the last issue I stated that, for some reason or other, the usual number of price lists for this time of year had not been received. The result is a deluge, and we append them, so far as received, below: Wm. H. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn. ; a 24-page circular of apiarian supplies. Aaron Hunt, Gordon, Ohio; a 28-page price list of general supplies. Jos. E. Shaver, Frledens, Va. ; a 26-page price list of bee- supplies. G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wis.; a 30-page price list of bee-supplies. R. B. Leahy. Higginsville, Mo.; a 12-page catalogue of bee- keeping supplies. C. F. Mutli & Son, Cincinnati ; a 40-page price list of bee-sup- plies, honey, etc. A. Wortman, Seafleld, Ind.; a 20-page price list of bee supplies and poultry stock. Jno. Nebel & Son. High Hill, Mo.; a 10-page circular of bee- keepers' supplies. H. P. Langdon, East Constable, N. Y. ; a 4-page circular of bees, queens, and supplies. D. G. Edmiston, .\drian, Mich.; a 10-page list of trees, small fruits, and bee-supplies. C. P. Bish, Saint Joe Station, Pa.; a 24-page catalogue of use- ful implements for the apiary. Martin & Macy, North Manchester, Ind. ; a 24-page catalogue of bee-supplies and poultry. Wm. E. Gould. Fremont, Mich.; a 14-page catalogue of bees, queens, ivnd general supplies. Smith & Smith, Kenton, O. ; a 26-page circular, large size, of general bee-keepers' .s-upplies. F. A. Salisbury, Syracuse, N. V. ; an advertising card of bees, queens, and apiarian supplies, Wm. Hoyt, Ripley, Me.; a 20-page pamphlet, large size, enti- tled. " The Bee-keepers' Advertiser.' Thos. B. Blow. Herts, Welwyn, England; a 6.5-page circular of bees, honey, and bee-keepers supplies. F. A. Eiiton. Bluffton, O.; a 12-page circular of bees, queens, and poultry. Specialty, Eaton's section-case. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y. : a 14-pagc circular, large size. of bees and queens ; specialty, queens raised under the natural swarming impulse. Edward R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley. N. Y.; a 40 page cata- logue of bee-supplies; specialties, sections and the Stanley auto- matic honey-extractor. As was the case last year, Mr. New- comb's catalogue presents the handsomest appearance of any received. Chas. Dadant & Son, Hamilton. III.; a 4-page catalogue of foundation, extracted honey, and a few supplies. Messrs. Dadant & Son guarantee that every inch of fun. sent out by them will be equal to the siiraple sent with circular. This promise they fulfill to the letter, and they ought to have a big trade in fdn. for living up so well to their agreements. gPECI^L pi0¥ICE^. We have just printed price lists for the following iiartiei ■■ •■.Loch' ■ ■" Lson, P L. D. Worth, Reading; Center. N. Y.. leatlei. iii F. T. Hall. Lochiel, Dunn Co.. Wis.. 6 pages, bee-suiiplies Albert Mason, Peru, Clinton Co., N. Y., 12 padres, bee sup upplies L. L. Hearn, Frenchville. W. Va., 6 pages, Italian queens, Mrs. J. N. Heater. Columbus, Neb., supplies (in press). G. E. Hilton, Fremont. Mich,, essay on raising honey. CONVENTION NOTICES. The first meeting, for 188H. of the Fayette Co. Bee-keepers' As- sociation will be held at the residence of J. W. Gillispie. Wash- ington C. H., on Thui-sd.ay. April 26th, at 10 a.m. A full attend- ance is desired, as the annual election of oflicers takes place. S. R. Morris, Sec 'y. The tenth annual meeting of the Texas State Bee-keepers' As- sociation will be held at the bee-yards of Vice-president W. R. Graham, Greenville, Hunt Co.. Texas. May 2d and 3d, 1888. A leading feature of the convention will be "criticisms upon sub- jects that have gone thiough the bee-journals. All Texas and Arkansas bee-keepers are expected to be present. All are cor- dially invited. No hotel-bills to pay. B. F. CARROLL, Sec'y. A BARGAIN IN BRC>OD FDN. Iti trimming our brood fdn. to regular-sized sheets we have more or less short pieces, from 8 to 9 in. wide and 13 to 15 in. long. We will trim these to an even size within these measurements, in lots of five lbs. or more, when we have them on hand, at 3 cts. per lb. less than regular price; 5 lbs. would be worth $1.8,5; 10 lbs.. $3.60. HONEY-TUMBLEHS. We have at length secured some honey-tumblers of the right size to hold 1 lb. of honey as well as 14 and 14 lb. They are a handsome shape, and have a bunch of grapes stamped on the cover. Moreover, the V2 and 1 lb. sizes may be nested to reduce the expense of packages. Prices are as follows: lib 4c each; 10,3.5c; 100, $3.25; 200, $5.80; 1000, $27,50 }^ lb 3c '■ 10,30c: 100 2.90; 250. 6.15; 1000. 2.3..50 K&l lb. nest'd 7c " 10,65c; 100. 6.80; 200,11.65; 1000, 49.50 ij lb 3c •• 10.28c; 100, 2.65; 250. 5.65; 1000. 21.00 CARPET-SWEEPERS. We call the attention of our readers to our car- pet-sweeper advertisement on another page. When you are ordering your supplies, don't forget the " gude wife." You can lighten her burdens very much by adding a good carpet-sweeper to her out- fit of household conveniences. Notice the reduc- tion in quantity. Get your neighbors to club with you and thus save something all around, and bless the neighborhood. MAPT.E SUGAR AND SYRUP. As we go to press, the farmers are just opening up their sugar-camps, and we expect soon to have a good supply of very nice maple sugar at 11, 10. and 9 cts. per lb., according to quality. In lots of 50 lbs., 14 ct. per lb. less. In bbls. of about 3U0 lbs., 1 cent per lb. less. Choice maple syrup at $1.10 per gallon; $10.00 for 10 gallons, either in 1 or 5 gallon cans. We still have some of last years's syrup yet on hand, first class, that we will sell at 10 cts. per gallon less than the above. See our ad't on another page. PEAVINE, OK MAMMOTH RED CLOVER. As a good many of the bee-friends seem to be still in the dark in regard to the peculiar merits of this kind of clover, we will, this spring, do as we did two years ago— furnish a small sample package with a descriptive circular in regard to the plant, prices, etc., free of charge. Now, instead of asking questions about peaviue clover, send for a free sample of the seed. You can do this on a postal card; then if you want to ask further questions in regard to it, send them on. The price of the seed this spring will be as follows: One pound, 13 cts. ; peck. «1.40; half bushel, $2.60; bushel, $5.00. If wanted by mail, add 18 cts. per lb. for bag and post- age. -^DOVETAILED SECTIONS#- SEND FOR SAMPLE AND PRICES. M<:AVT0IV A: COATS, Poolvflle, ITI»o 1 will breed and mail guaranteed pure Italian queen-bees from the best stock for business, for one dollar each, the coming season. Orders solicit- ed, and queens mailed upon the receipt of order. I will also sell 3.50 colonies of Italian bees in Lang- stroth hives, cheap, or any number of colonies to suit purchaser. I can ship by river, railroad, or steamship to any point. Address 6tfdb J. \r. \nXDER, >e\v Orleans, La. IOU\DATIO>M0-]b. lots or more. So cts. per lb. Stfdb JAS. :TIcVEIL>, Hadson, N. Y. FREE! FREE! FREE! Don't fail to send your address on a pngtal card for the March number of the American Apicul- tnrlst. 'Tis filled with essays on "Pr.^ctical Hints to Bee-Keepers," from the pens of the best-known writers on apiculture. Sent Free. Address AflCl LTrSIST, JVenham, Mass. 4tfdb "^ FOR SALE. Italian Queens and Bees by the Colony. Nucleus. and Pound. Dealer in Bee-keepers' supplies. Ad- dress OTTO KLEINOW, .5tfdb (Opp. Fort Wayne Gate), Detroit. Mich. LOOK HERE! APIARY-:-FOR-:-SALE. 45 STOCKS OF BEES. Italians. Hybrids, and Blacks, in Chaff and Simp. Hives— 10 chaff, .5 one-story chair ; the rest in Simp, hives: one honey-extractor ' Novice i, as good as new; wide frames and Moore crates for all the hives. A good bargain for some one. The bees must go. My work is awav from home, and keeps me from 7 a. m. till 8 p. M. Write for price. My bees are within -t minutes' walk of depot. Come and see.i ELBERT GREELEY, 5-6-Td Lorain, Lorain Co., O. Eaton's Improved szBC'Z'xopr cajs:ei. Bees and Qceens. Send for tree catalogue. Address FR.INK \. EATON, .5-lOdb Bluffton, Obio. 30 fresh eggs in season, for on- ly fl.OO: also agent for thor- oughbred Cattle. Swine, and Sheep, of fine pedigree, and Silver live-stock powder. Write for what you want. Orders tilled in rotation. •>8db Fillmore Decker, New Florence, West'd Co., Pa., Breeder of Pure Broten I^gh»rn Fotrls. BEES FOR SALE ♦ OLiOMES. Nuclei acl^ Queens At Living Rates. Send for Circular and Price List to C. C. VAI GHN, .5tfdb Columbia, Tenn. MUTH'S HONEY-EXTRACTOR, SQI TJkRE GLASS HONEY-JARS. TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY-SECnONS, Ac, &c. PERFECTION COLD- BLAST S7IOKERS. Apiary and Fruit-farm for sale. 12^-1 acres best land; house, barn, stables, etc.: good market for all that can be produced. Address Box 30, Chatham Center, N. T. 5-«d Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, O. P. S.— Send 10-cent stamp for " Practical Hints to Bee-Keepers." Itfdb 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 193 Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half onr I usual rates. All ad's intended for this department must not , exc«>ed 5 lines, and you must sat you want your ad. In this de- partment, or we will not be responsible for any error. You ! can have the notice as many lines as you please; but all over five lines will cost you according to our regular rates. This department is intended only for bona-tide exchanges. Ex- changes for cash or for price lists, or notices offering articles for sale can not be inserted under this head. For such oiu' reg- ular rates of 20 cts. a line will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. WANTED.— To exchange 1000 tin separators, l.o'ix 41.1 in., valued at 80c per 100, for currant-plants. Jas. Hai,lenbeck. Altamont, Albany Co., N. V. WANTED.— To exchange bees in Langstroth or Simplicity hives, for disk-harrow and band seed-drill. I also want seed-catalogues. Address Ittdb W. H. Pdtnam, River Falls, Wis. WANTED.— To exchange a Scotch Collie pup, nine \V months old (female), for bees or Simplicity hives. J. B. Lyon, M. D.. 6d Sand Run, Hocking Co., Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange Quinby Chaff Hives, •nith 10 standing frames, one -l-frame honey- extractor, new, for beeswax, foundation, or offers. Mrs. Oliver Cole. 6tfdb Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange a bicycle, 54-inch Ameri- can Challenge, for bees and supplies. A bargain. 6-7d E. Carter, 611 Hampton St., Bay City, Mich. H W WANTED.— A bee-keeper to take charge of my ' apiary, on shares. Robert Blacklock, 4-8db Kilgore, Boyd Co.. Ky. TIT'ANTED.— Correspondence on apples, potatoes. \\ seed-potatoes, cabbage, onions, j^raall fruit, and fruit and produce generally. Consignments solic- ited. Will quote market at any time. Earle Clickengek, 4tfdb General Commission Merchant. 117 South 4th St., Columbus, O. WANTED.— To exchange for any thing of a stan- dard market value, full colonies of Italian bees on 8 L. or Simplicity frames, in shipping-boxes, at 14.00 per colony. 5tfdb W. A. Sanders, Oak Bower, Hart Co., Ga. WANTED.— To exchange bees, queens, Simp. W hives, or other supplies, for small printing- press and outfit (self-inker and power press pre- ferred), and a good type-writer. Describe fully what you have. J. M. Jenkins, Wetumpka, Ala. ANTED.— To exchange bees and queens for a printing-press and outfit, or ofl'ers. Circulars free. G. D. Black, Brandon, Iowa. ANTED.— To exchange one first-class incubator, the " Perfect Hatcher," for bees or wax. H. O. Salisbury, Geddes, Onondaga Co.. N. Y. WANTED.— To work wax and exchange fdn. for bees, eggs of best strains of poultry, and straw- berry-plants. C. H. McFadden, 5-6-7d Clarksburg, Moniteau Co., Mo. WANTED.— To exchange back volumes of Glean- ings and Am. Bee Joiu-nal, as good as new, for alsike and Mammoth Red Clover, or pure Plymouth Rock or Brown Leghorn fowls, or Japanese or com- mon buckwheat; also a part of the proceeds of an apiary, for a practical man to run it. J. W. Barlow, Belfast,Ja. WANTED.— To exchange a Towmbly knitting- machine, with both fine and coarse plates, in first-class order, for bees or supplies. Address 6-7d J. G.4RDNEK, Westville, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange 3 Novice honey-knives. Cook's Manual, 7 upright show-cases, 16x26 in., double-barrel (English twist) shot-gun and case, and tested Italian queens, in June, for thoroughbred poultry and eggs. P. Hocks and W. and L. Wyan- dottes preferred. C. H. Watson, 6-7d Newtown, Bucks Co., Pa. W W /^ ANTED. —To exchange first-class parlor organ (Mason &.Hamlln), nearly new, for Italianjbees. J. Ferris Patton, Morris Ave. and 16Sd St., New York city. WANTED.— To exchange Italian queens for maple sugar. Miss A. M. Taylor. 6d Mulberry Grove, Bond Co., 111., Box 77. OW TO RAISE C0:TIB HONEY. See Fos- ter's advertisement on another page. 4-15db mm' L,. BRAH3IAS, P. ROCKS, R. C. B. LEGHORNS, and PEKIN Dl C'KS ; all strict- ly Pure-Bred. Eggs only ?^1.2.5 per setting; 2 settings. §2.00; safe arrival guaranteed. (Seven years' experience.; 6-8-lOd S. P. yomCB, E. I^eivistoii-n, O. 1884. TAR-HEEL APIARIES. 1888. PEOPEIETOE, Goldsboro, N. Carolina. AMERICAN - ALBINO -i- AND -;- &OLDEN -i- ITALIANS, Untested warranted queens, April to Oct., 81.00 each. Virgin queens, one-half the pi-ice of war- ranted queens. Extra selected virgin queens, 20 cts. each extra. Best choice breeding queens. $.5.00 each. Nuclei, 7.5 cts. per each L. frame of brood. Bees, §1.00 per lb. Sample Ijees and drones. 10c. I breed the best and finest bees and queens to be had. Thei-e are allowed no queens in my apiaries, unless part of their workers show four bands. 6tfd Smith & SmithT WE HAVE :^'s :r the la?.ge3t BEE-HIYE FACTORIES IN THE WORLD. If you are interested in bees, send for our price list before buying any supplies. OOOn GOODS AM) FAIR fRIf FS. STUma & SMITH, (6tfdb) KENTON, OHIO. ^ EARLY ITALIAN <0 ^ 1 untested queen ^^ 3 " " - • O 1 tested CO 3 " " - • - - - " ,_, ^^ Many of the abo%'e will be reared in thern .^ height of the swarming season, and all will}- H ►^ be neai-ly, if not quite as good as the best ^? (J swarming queens. In every ease satisfac-~H 1 f -, tion and safe arrival guaranteed. QQ \f^ W. J. Ellison, Stateburg, Sumter Co., S. C. _;1 15 .1 iXli— I r3 00 b2 .50 '^H ~-Z 50 1 2 00 M <6 00 4 .5oPJ FOR SALE CHEAP. Root's 10-iuch foundation-mill, nearl.v new, .§12.50. Barnes combined sawing-machine. as good as new, 625.00. Cost 640.00. THOS. BALCOMB, 6d St. Charles, Mo. ^W^O^PAYS' TRIAL THIS NEW V 1 ELASTIC TRUSii 'Has a Pad different from all others, is cup shape, with S«lf- adjuating Ball in center, adapts itself to all pusitions of tho bodv while the ba 1 1 in the cup f presses back the intes- ^-^ ^v fines Just as a person does with the finger, with light pressure the Her- nia is held securely day and nipht. and a radical cure certain. It is easy, durable and cheap. Sent hr mail. Cir- Cillar* free. EGGLESTOS TRCSS CO. , Chieago, IJi. 194 GLEA^i5iCJS IN i3EE CULTURE. Mar. JI0NEY C@MMN. CITT MARKETS. New York.— Honej/.— Fancy white, 1-lb. sectiBns. 14@,1.5; same in 2-lb. sections, 12. Lower grades, 1@2 per lb. less. Buckwheat, l-lb. sections, 10(glOi/4; same in 21b. sections, 9@9'/2. Extracted, white, 7@7H: extracted, dark, .")'4@6. Mr. Root:— Please take note of above report. Re- garding- the condition of our market, we will state that the demand for comb honey has been very limited since the middle of December, and has now almost ceased. There is a large stock here, with shipments arriving occasionally, and quite a lot held yet by bee-keepers throughout the State. We have no doubt but that a large share must be car- ried over until next fall, as the season is now about closing. At the beginning of the season we advised bee-keepers to ship as early as possible, while there was a good demand at good prices, and honey could be disposed of readily. The first part of the sea- son is the best, as the bulk of the business is done before January 1st. Up to that time we sold nearly 10,000 crates at good prices, and the shippers were well pleased with the returns. Toward the new year the demand slackens off, and prices generally decline; this we have noticed for the past number of years, whether the crop was large or small. Taking the present state of the market into consid- eration, we could not encourage further shipments, as we can not guarantee quick sales nor prices ob- tainable, r. G. Sthohmeyer & Co., Feb. 21. 122 Water St., N. Y. Cincinnati.— Honej/.— There is a good demand for extracted honey in all shapes, from manufacturers as well as consumers. It brings 4V2@9c on arrival. Demand is very slow for comb honey, of which there is more than the usual supply for the season, in our city. The best is held at 14(aU7c in the job- bing way, which is 3@4c less than comb honey brought last fall. Beeswax is in good demand, and brings 20@)2-'c on arrival for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, March 11. Cincinnati, O. Milwaukee.— J?o7iej/. — Market is quiet, and the demand is not quite what it should be, and values may be quoted: Choice white Mb. sections, 17@18c; 2 lbs., 1.5® Iti; 3 lbs., 14. Dark and broken, not quot- able. Extracted, white, in half-bbls. and kegs, 814 (09: in tin and pails, O'^f^f 10: dark, half-bbls. and kegs, 5(g)7. Becsitiax.— Nominal, '^~(a:~i>. A. V. Bishop, March 10. Milwaukee, Wis. Chicago.— Hojicy.- Sales are light, and offerings are large. Prices range from 15(ff 17c for best grades of 1-lb. sections; the larger-sized sections from 2(aiSc less. No demand for dark comb; extracted, 7@9c, according to color and style of package. Bee.sw'a2^.— 33@2.5c. R. A. Burnett, March 9. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Albany.— Honej/.— Market is slow, but no over- stock or accumulation. Not enough buckwheat comb; too much medium clover. Extracted stock, light. Consignments solicited. H. R. Wright, March 9. 328 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Clea'eland.— Ho?iev.— Our honey-market contin- ues about the same, very dull. We are offei-iug best white honey in 1-lb. sections at l.")(g,16c. A. C. Kendel, March 9. Cleveland, Ohio. St. Louis.— HoJiej/.-There is no change in the honey-market. Bccsu'ai; is going a little better; 22c for prime; 25 for selected yellow on arrival. W. B. Westcott & Co., March 9. St. Louis, Mo. Columbus. — Honey.- Comb honey is very quiet at 1.5@18c; extracted honey, no change in price, and no demand. Bccsujax.— None to speak of. Eakle Clickenger, March 9. 117 South 4th St., Columbus, Ohio. Boston.— Jffo7iej/.—We quote: 1-lb. sections, white, 16@17; 2-lb8., 14@,16. Beesivax.—'2hc. Sales slow. Blake & Ripley, March 10. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. New York.— Hoiiej/ —The honey-market contin- ues dull, and prices are declining. We quote fancy white comb honey, 1-lb .sections, 14(i( 17; 2 lbs.. 12® 14; buckwheat, Mb. ]C(?((11; 2 lbs , 'MW. Beeswax, 22(7>24. McCaul & HiLDRETH Bros., March 10. 28 & 30 West Broadway, N. Y. Kansas City.— Hojicj/.- Market is weak and low- er; Ic per lb. off. This market is well supplied. Clemons, Ci oon & Co., March 10. Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis.— Hojiei/.— Market bare. Extracted and strained, in bbls., ^'-ACa-'i'-A- Comb, slow, at 17@19. Beesima;.— Prime, 22c. D. G. Tutt & Co., Mar. 10. 206 N. Commercial St., St. Louis, Mo. Detroit.— Honey.— Market for comb honey is dull, with lower prices. Best white in 1-lb. sections, 16® l7c. Extracted. 9®10c. Beesioaa;.— 22@23c. Bell Branch, Mich., Mar. 10. M. H. Hunt. For Sale.— About 200 lbs. buckwheat honey, in .5x5x2 boxes, glass; quality, etc., fair to good. Edward B. Beebee, Oneida, Mad. Co., N. Y. IMPORTED CARNIOLAN QUEENS. 1 have 11 FINEST SELECTED QUEENS, bred by Mr. Benton in Carniola, August and Sep- tember, 1887, now in my apiary, ready to ship as soon as weather will permit; never saw foul brood. One queen by mail, $8. Queen, with frame of brood and bees, by express, *10. You pay express charges. Safe arrival always guaranteed. 4-6d S. W. Morrison, Oxford, Chester Co., Pa. N. B. — Am booking orders now for untested queens in May. 1888. 1888. Pure Italian Bees and Queens for sale in Full Colonies or Nuclei. Five L. frame nuclei a specialty. My queens and bees possess all the good qualities of the most desirable honey-bee. Send for prices. WM. LITTLE, Nlarissa, 111. D. E. MATER, manufacturer of BEE-HIYES AND SECTIONS. Price List Free. CLARE, CLARE CO., MICH. FOR SAIiE.— An 80-acre farm, suitable for fruit- growing or general farming; within 30 miles of Kansas City; 1 '4 miles of a good market. For par- ticulars, send postal to J. Lea. Simpson, Tonganoxie, Kansas. DOMWANIAHOUENEAnCHQOUTC? I will sell 1)2 acres of garden land, .50 colonies of bees, honey-house (painted inside and out), work- shop, large size, new house, painted; large cellar; well, cistern, fruit, and out-buildings. Splendid location for an apiary. The bees will pay for prop- erty in a short time. Price $1200. Easy terms. T. ROTHWELIi, Austinville, Bradford Co., Pa. BRINTINrFORlEMEEPimDyODLTRYiEir! r CatiUogues and Stationery a specialty. Cuts J- turnislied. Neat work, quickly and cheaply. Express charges prepaid to any part of U. S. Send us copy of work wanted, and receive price by return mail. CRESCENT P'T'G AN1> I'UB. CO., Clil'ton Forge, Va. FOR SAIjE.— One acre of land, with dwelling, bee-house, hen-house, well, cistern, and lot of small fruit (also apiary of 100 or 200 colonies of bees), in first-class location for surplus honey, in town of .500 pop., on railroad. A rare chance for the right man. Address W. D. WRIGHT, 6d Knowersville, Albany Co., N. Y. Vol. XTI. MAR. 15, 1888. No. 6. 2CoviielfoTU.^,iiornhh;btOTU.W^,\Ji'St(l/biZSfh6Cv 7/71 J-O iO. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BT A. 1. ROOT, MEDINA. OHIO. 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- \ ber. B cts. Additions to clubs may be ! made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffice. f Clubs to different postofHces, not less I than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the J U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- I tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 cts. per year extra. To all countries L NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. THE DKONE. OUH POOR SI^ANDERED DRONE ASKS FOR HIS DAY IN COURT. fIRGIL, who was a great poet, but not enough of a practical bee-keeper to know a laying from a virgin queen, was the first writer of much note to have his fling at me. To him I was only an idle knave, born to consume the fruits of others" labors, and deserving no better fate than death, by ignominous expulsion from the industrious commonwealth. Ever since he so gross- ly libeled me, to compare one to a drone is the most orthodox form of denunciation for laziness, glut- tony, and what has been called "general cussed- ness.'* Now, I am proud to say to this court that I can disprove every charge brought against me, by simply proving that, to the best of my ability, I ful- fill the express object for which I was born. Surely no creature can do any better than this, and excuse me for thinking that few men do as well. CHARGED WITH LAZINESS. If any of my enemies had authority to call the roll of my demerits, he would surely begin by accus- ing me of being too lazy to gather any honey. But an expert in points of this kind could remind him, that, if he examines my ])roboscis, he will see that it is much too short for sijiping nectar from the open- ing fiowers. MAKES NO WAX. I am free to admit, that I make no wax; but even Cheshire himself, whose microscopes have fairly turned me inside out, will tell you that I have not a single wax-secreting gland, and am also without those plastic, trowel-like jaws which enable the worker-bee to mold the wax into such delicate combs. GATHERS NO POLLEN. Now, do not insinuate that I might at least em- ploy some of my leisure time in gathering pollen! Can you not see that my thighs have no basket- like grooves in which it could be packed, and are quite destitute of the bristles by which the workers hold the pollen in place? ACCUSED OF BEING A LAZY COWARD. No doubt you have often denounced me as a big, hulking coward that leaves to the women the whole defense of the state. Are you not aware that I have nothing to fit me for acting on the offensive? Would that lihad one proportioned to my bulk! if only that I might make proof of it upon all who be- rate me for not accomplishing impossibilities! I am not at all ashamed to admit that I spend the most of my time, not given to eating, either in sleeping or what you are pleased to call listless moping about the hive. Has it never occurred to you that, if I should try to assume the restless activity of the worker-bee, I could be nothing better than a meddlesome busy-body, perpetually inter- fering with the necessary business routine ? I guess the silly meddler who would put me up to such nonsense ought more than once to have had a dish-cloth pinned to his rear, to teach him not to bother the women in their work ! MISUNDERSTOOD. I am sorry to number Shakespeare among those who have misconceived me, by calling me "the 196 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. lazy, yawning- drone; " but as one of my maligners has likened me to Falstaff, 1 may be allowed to quote, in my own defense, what this great braggart, when accused of cowardice, says of himself to the prince: " Was it for me to kill the heir-apparent? Why, thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules, but beware instinct; the lion will not touch the true prince. Instinct is a great matter; I was a coward on instinct. I shall think the better of my- self and thee during my life. I for a valiant lion, and thou for a true prince." I lie not, like the false knight, when I say that what you call my laziness is a matter of pure instinct. With all your boasted reason, j-ou seem to have overlooked the doctrine of conservation of forces. You upbraid me with consuming so much of the precious honey, to the gathering of which I con- tribute nothing! Well ! if I made a single uncalled- for motion, would not that necessitate an extra consumption of food? What better can I do, then, than to keep as quiet as possible? There is nothing either inside or outside of the hive which calls for any other line of [conduct, until the young qeeens are on the wing; and as they do not sally forth until long after noon, why should I go abroad any earlier? ] can assure you, that, if bridal excursions were in order as many hours in the day as the flowers secrete honey, no worker would ever be earlier to rise, or later to go to bed than myself. MISREPRESENTED. I an idle, lazy, listless lounger, forsooth 1 Does any one wish to witness the most perfect embodi- ment of indefatigable activity? Let him then look at me, when, at the proper time, with an eager, im- petuous rush, and a manly resonant voice, I sally from the hive! See with what amazing speed I urge what our old friend Samuel Wagner called my "ctrcitmuoluti?i£/" flights! For aught you know, I may cover greater distances in describing these vast circles than the busiest worker in the longest summer day. There is great need, then, that I should be abundantly provisioned for such ex- hausting excursions; and it is only a law of nature that, on my return from them, all that I carried out with me should be found to have been used up. If you taunt me either for the full or the empty stomach, I merely ask you if you have never heard of honey-moon trips among your own people, which began with extra-full purses, to end only with un- comfortably light ones. SAVAGE DELIGHT OVER MY DEATH. To cap the climax of your abuse, what savag-e de- light you take in seeing the worker drive me from my pleasant home! and how glibly you can moral- ize over what you call a righteous judgment upon a life spent in gluttony and inglorious ease! Just as if you did not know that the whole economy of the bee-hive is founded on the strictest principles of utilitarianism! Is not a worker-bee, when disa- bled by any accident, remorselessly dragged out to die, because it can no longer contribute to the gen- eral good? Even so exalted a personage as the queen-mother herself, as soon as it is plain that her fertility is too much impaired, has a writ of superse- deas served upon her, In favor of one of her own daughters. Knowing well the law under which 1 was born, I urge nothing against being put to death when Shakespeare's " pale executioners " deem the day of my prospective usefulness to be over. Truly, the sword of Damocles is suspended over my head; and from the hour of my birth till that of my death it may fall at any moment. Many bitters are thus mingled with my sweets. I have time to mention only one more. While 1 know that most of the young queens come safely back from their wedding-excursions, I can not help sometimes foreboding the worst, when I see that no drone ever returns to tell us of his experience. APPRECIATED BY BONNER. I will close my defense, by reminding you how the good father of the great Scotch bee-keeper, Bonner, showed his appreciation of our persecuted t race. It was his custom to watch every year for the first flying drone. Its cheerful hum so filled him with delight, as the happy harbinger of ap- proaching swarms, with their generous harvests of j luscious sweets, that he called an instant halt on the work of his busy household, and devoted the rest of the day to holiday feasting. The patron of the drones ought for ever to bear the honored I name of " Saint Bonner." i THE DECISION OF THE COURT. I This court having heard the defense of Sir Drone, pronounces him to be innocent of each and every I one of the misdeeds alleged against him. It only ! regrets that it can not inflict adequate punishment [ upon his slanderers. Alas, my poor fellow! the lies , against which you protest have had so many cen- ! turies the start of your true story that you may well despair of ever overtaking them in your short lifetime. MORALS FROM THE DRONES PLEA. From the plea of the drone, many good morals might easily be drawn; such as, " Do not give even a dog a bad name, unless you are sure be deserves it." The moral which I think will be most interest- ing to bee-keepers is this: " Beware of publishing' false statements to the injury of any one's business, and then try to laugh them of as harmless ' scientif- ic pleasantries.' " THE DRONE'S PLEA AND THE WIT.EY LIE. This plea of the drone might suggest more than one good moral; but I will confine myself to what I will call the " Professor Wiley Moral." It is only too well known to most of our large honey-producers, that, some years ago. Prof. H. W. Wiley, an entomologist at present in the service of the Government at Washington, published sub- stantially this statement; namely, that honey- combs are manufactured by human skill, and, after being filled with glucose, and neatly sealed over, are sold as genuine bees' honey, when the bees have had nothing whatever to do with a single step in the whole process. This absolute misstatement having got a good start, has widely, at home and abroad, prejudiced the public against the purest honey, even when offered for sale in the most beautiful combs. Although refuted again and again, it is constantly reappearing in print, and seems to have a vitality almost as great as when it first started out on its hurtful career. Prof. Wilej', when called to account for fabricating such a story, excused himself by sa> ing. that he meant it only as a. " scientific pleasantly !" His worst enemies could wish him no harder task than, over his own signa- ture, to try to stop the pestiferous march of (to call it by no harsher name) his incautious utterance. Ab he is guilty, that shooteth arrows and lances unto death, so is the man that hateth his friend de- ceitfully, and. when he is taken, saitb, 1 did it in jest.-PKOV. 36; 18, 19. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 197 The above is the Douay, or Catholic version. I prefer this version of these verses to our common version. Could there be a stronger condemnation of Wiley's "scientific pleasantry"? Dayton, O., March 8, 1888. L. L. Langstkoth. FOOD OF LARVAL BEES. PHOF. COOK TELLS US THE EFFECT OF TOO MUCH WATER IN THE WINTERING CELLAR. R. EDITOR:— I see by last Gleanings that you do not wholly understand what 1 meant to explain as to food of larval bees. As I said, while the queen larva is usually fed the secreted food— bee-milk— to the very last, the worker larv.e are fed— must be fed— some pollen and probably some honey just at the last be- fore the cell is scaled. If we examine closely we find the digestive tube of the full-grown worker larva yellow with pollen. Dufour was partly correct, then, in saying that larva^ are fed on digested food, for certainly honey is digested nectar. Vet Dufour supposed the cream-like food— bee-milk— to be also digested food,while, asSchiemenzhas so well shown, this is doubtless secreted material from the ccphaTc glands. Occasionally a queen larva is found to have some of this pollen. Berlepsch suggested that this was wholly accidental. BEES IN WINTER. I have just been having an experience that is in- teresting to me. Your readers know that we are wintering our bees this winter in our new bee-house cellar. Let me say that the bees were in very fine condition last fall. They also had very nice honey. I never saw bees in better trim for winter. The bees were put into the cellar Nov. 13, 1887. I supposed the cellar was so I could control the temperature exactly to my liking, and was so drained that I could regulate the water at will. But, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley." We have had very cold weather, and long continued. I was away two weeks. When I left, the bees were very quiet at 38° F. As I have wintered bees admirably several times at that temperature, I felt easy. When! returned, the temperature was down to 30° F., and the bees were disturbed and noisy. This has always been my experience. When a cellar tempeiature falls below 3.j° the bees are disturbed. With the temperature at 38° F. ihey hardly made a noise as I entered with a light. At 30° F. they came rushing out as soon as I entered. This corroborates what I felt sure years ago was true— that bees are disquieted if the temperature of the cellar containing them falls below38°r. to 40° F. The careful researches of Newport, years ago, established the same truth. Well, I thought that here was a chance for a valu- able experiment. I would leave the cellar at the same temperature, 30° F., and see if the bees which were in such good trim in the fall, and provided with good stores, would mind the disquieting effect of this low temperature. After four weeks of this temperature we had a thaw— several warm days, and water at 40" rushed into my cellar. My drains would not work. The temperature rose to 40° F., and the bees became very quiet. Last night we had a heavy rain. This morning I was early at the bee- house, and my cellar was a miniature lake. Some hives were floating, others were filled to within two inches of the top of the frames. I fixed and examined all as soon as I could. To my surprise, not a colony was dead, and not a sign of dysentery did I see. Of course, I was most happily disappoint- ed, not to say overjoyed. Is it not more than prob- able that, with the bees in best condition as to food and strength, they will endure even a very cold temperature? Let me say, that we excluded pollen from the hives as we put them up in the fall. I had thought I would say no more on hibernation, but I think our young bee-keepers are likely to be misled, and so a word ought to be spoken. This winter I was at Dr. Miller's. His cellars were at the regulation tempei-ature, 45° F. We carefully ex- amined hive after hive, and the bees in every case, if we watched patiently, could be seen to move. 1 examined several colonies in my own cellar, with temperature at 38° F., and again at 30° F. In every case a little patience would detect the bees crowding into the cluster. I have several winters kept nuclei in observatory hives. By careful attention I found the bees were never stationary for any considerable time. I say, then, that, if bees sleep in winter, their slumbei-s are, in every one of the numerous cases that I have examined, under very varied con- ditions, very frequently disturbed. Bertie, in splitting wood the other day, came across some black ants. They seemed utterly dead. Pinching or rough treatment of any kind would not arouse them at all. They were brought into a warm room, and soon were wide awake and lively. These ants take no food the winter through. The same is true of wild bees. Now, certainly this is very different from bees. The bees move and must eat, or die. If we say the bees hibernate, what do the wild bees, wasps, and ants do? I think the word hibernate had better be used to designate the ants' winter state, and quiescence or inactivity, that of the bees'. If bees truly hibernate, they would not consume more honey in a cellar whose temperature was 32° F. than in one Avith a temperature at45°F., but I am sure they do. Now, Mr. Editor, I would suggest that writers for our bee-papers do not write from mere closet meditation, or simply from the outpourings of their inner consciousness, but that they go to the bees and question them, and give us facts, then we shall have less chaff. Let me add, that it is not strange that bees live for days and even weeks without food. Their very life habits— I refer to swarming— demand provision against starvation in case of long fasting. I have known swarms to remain clustered nearly two days. This was during the active season, when their vital energies were fully intact. In fall, winter, and spring, then, we should suppose that, if put to fast- ing, they might live and not suffer severely, even for many days; for now they are inactive, it is the resting season. In all our speculation about or- ganisms we must remember their natural peculiari- ties and habits. Right here I wish to refer to the article by my friend Bingham, for there are few whose opinion in bee-matters I value more highly. I fully agree with him as to facts. T have known bees to winter exceedingly well— and several cases too— where the cellar in which they wintered was as light as many a living-room is. Every thing all right— food, bees, and temperature, and the light does no harm. But let the temperature go to freezing, or rise to 5.5° or 60° F., say, and I should fear light. Now for speculation: Because ire need light, it 198 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. does not follow that the bees do. They were de- veloped under conditions that precluded lig'ht, often for weeks or months. Were light necessary to their health they could not have developed into our pres- ent bees at all, for darkness is their necessary lot for days together. Thus while I agree with my friend as to his facts, I do not accept his con- clusions. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich. Why, good friend C, I do not see that your best-laid schemes have " gang a-gley " very bailly, after all; for, if I understand you, you did not lose even a colony, although the cellar was flooded. I presume all you did with the water-soaked hives was to let the water off and let the bees fix it them- selves. A few days ago a friend in the South stated that the water got into their hives and wet the combs perhaps Ihalf way up. He asked if it were possible for him to take the combs out and dry them. I told him to let them alone and let the bees get rid of the water themselves. I have seen bees under such circumstances ; and where the water rises slowly they creep up out of the way, even going into the upper parts of the hives where they are permitted to do so. When the water goes down they go back, lick it up, and fix things up all right. — I agree with you exactly in regard to letting accounts of personal work take the place of " closet meditations," as you call it. There maybe some publication that can afford to pay writers on bees and rural industries, who stay indoors all the while; but our journal is surely not one of that kind. After one has worked in the fields, however, and met face to face with strange facts, we are glad to receive suggestions in regard to the probable explanation of said facts. MANNA OP THE PRESENT DAY. THE HONEY-DEW OF EASTERN TURKEY. R. COLE, of Bitlis, a missionary in Eastern Turkey, in describing a journey from Har- poot to Bitlis, says: " We traveled for four days through a region where had newly fallen a remarkable deposit of "heavenly bread," as the natives sometimes call it— manna. There were extensive forests of scrubby oaks, and most of the deposit was on the leaves. Thousands of the poor peasants— men, women, and children- were upon the plains gathering the sweet sub- stance. Some of them plunge into kettles of boil- ing water the newly cut branches of the oaks. This washes off the deposit, until the water becomes 80 sweet as to remind one of a veritable sugaring- oflf in the old Granite State, as he takes sips of it. Other companies of natives may be seen vigorous- ly beating with sticks the branches that, from be- ing spread on the ground, have so dried that the glittering crystals fall readily upon the carpet spread to receive them. The crystals are separat- ed from the pieces of leaves by the sieve, and then the manna is pressed into cakes for use. The manna is in great demand among these Oriental Christians. As we were traveling through a rather dry region, the article came Into play for our plain repasts." Now, here is honey-dew with a vengeance; whole forests of " scrubby oaks " covered with it; and the '• men, women, and children gathering it in," in- stead of the bees doing it; and thoy plunge the branches into boiling water and wash it off in the kettle— bifffs and all, do they?— until the syrup tastes like maple syrup just ready to sugar off, while others beat the branches on a carpet, with sticks, to separate the glittering crystals, and then sift them through a sieve to get the pieces of leaves out; then the crystals (probably about as largo as coarse corn-meal grains) are pressed iTito cakes, and eaten with relish. Now, have we any missionary in Eastern Turkey? If we have, and he reads GLEANINGS, won't he please tell us more about this honey-dew that the natives call manna? Arc the crystals white, like white corn meal, or are they of the color of glue? Are there billions of little green bugs crawling up and over and under those scrub- by oaks? and if these little bugs are there, do the natives know it? and if they do know it, do they care? Mahai.a B. Chaddock. Vermont, 111. Why, Mrs. C, you do not need to go away off to Turkey to find this manna, for it has been described on the pages of Glean- ings, as coming from Oregon. I had a box of branches of an evergreen-tree at the To- ronto National Convention. These branches were so covered with drops of sugar, or can- dy, that one would think it had been dip- ped in melted sugar. You take it for grant- ed that these sugar-drops are produced by insects ; but I believe the conclusion in re- gard to the Oregon manna was not in that direction. If I remember correctly, it seem- ed to be an exudation from the tree — some- thing as resin exudes from resinous woods ; but instead of being resin it was sugar. In taste, the sugar was not unlike maple ; but perhaps that which exudes from hickory- trees when cut down in the spring is still more like it, both in taste and appearance. Perhaps some of our readers in Oregon can tell us whether they have candy growing on the trees up there every season, or only oc- casionally. NE-W HONEY GLISTENING IN THE CELLS. WINTERED SPLENDIDr.,Y, AND LITTLE STORES CONSUMED. TN examining my bees a few days ago, I found ^ plenty of brood and new honey glistening in ^l the cells. The weather Is warm and springlike. ■*■ and the bees are carrying in pollen lively. I have over 60 colonies, in apparently good con- dition. I weighed 'Z colonies to-day, and found 30 lbs of honey in the brood-chamber in each. They have wintered well on summer stands, and consum- ed but little stores. It has been a mild winter, and I feared they would run short. I am trying to get my neighbors interested in bees. Those who keep bees have them in bo.x hives, and run from one to 40 colonies; and all to whom I have shown my im- proved hives are delighted with the simplicity, ease, and perfection with which they are handled. There seems a general revival in bee culture hereabouts. The general ignorance which prevails here on this topic is suggestive of the necessity of greater use of your A B C. J.C. Frisbee. Suffolk, Va., Feb. 31, 1888. I88g GLEAKINGS in bee CULTUttE. m tilPENING HONEY AHTIFICIALLY. THOMAS WII^LIAM COWAN'S METHOD. §OME years ago Mr. Thos. Wm. Cowan, of the British Bee Journal, sent us a leaflet, with description and illustra- tion of his method of ripening honey artificially. At the time, we had in- tended to give "it insertion in Gleanings; but in some way or other it got mislaid. When Mr. Cowan was here he mentioned the fact of his having sentthe leaflet referred to. This reminded us that it had never ap- peared in the pages of our journal. A dili- gent search was made, but without success. Very recently a clerk ran across it, and handed it to us. As there is so much of value in it we decided to insert it, even at this late date, and here it is : The honey hai-vest could be much Increased, if, as fast as the nectar is collected from the flowers and put into the cells by the bees, it could be safely ex- tracted. It is well known, that, after the bees store their honey, and before it is sealed up, it has to un- dergo a process of ripening, or it will be liable to ferment. The heat of the hive assists in the pro- cess of evaporation, and only when the superfluous moisture has been extracted from it are the cells closed. Those who have had experience in ex- tracting honey know the honey in the sealed combs is much thicker than that in the open cells, and that it is only safe to put the former into jars. There is a great deal of honey shown and sold that is unripe, but this in a very short time begins to ferment, and even be- comes sour. The appearance of unripe honey is also peculiar. It has a decided green hue, and is not improperly called " green honey." In all books we are told not to extract from unsealed^combs, and also for wintering we are recommended to extract all honey not sealed over, because the thin watery honey is likely to produce disease. It is from its readiness to ferment that disease (dysentery) is pro- duced. When bees collect honey they put it into the empty cells, a little into each, so as to expose a large surface of the honey to the influence of the heat of the hive. If the income has not been very great during the day, the bees are able to evaporate the moisture sufficiently during a warm night to en- able them to carry the honey from the lower cells to those above. As the honey becomes ripened it is sealed over, that at the top being ready first. If, on the other hand, the bees have collected a very large quantity of honey in the day, they are not able to evaporate it in the night, and, therefore, do not store it up above. All the cells being full, the bees returning with honey do not find anywhere to put it, and the consequence is that they waste their time in converting it intowax, and adding it to their cells. When bees are in this condition I think in- stinct (or reason) prompts them to make prepara- tions for swarming. Queen-cells (which take a large amount of wax) are constructed as a prelimi- nary step. Now. if we wish to prevent this we should extract the honey, and by extracting it daily a very much larger quantity of honey can be obtained than if we waited for it to be sealed over. We must also bear in mind that the sealing over is done at the expense of honey, twenty pounds being consumed to produce one pound of wax. Hitherto no satisfactory method has been devised for ripen- ing honey, the ordinary cans doing very well when a small (juantity of unripe honey is extracted with a large (juantity of ripe honey, but they are unlit for large quantities. From experiments I have been carrying on I find that if honey is subjected to a heat under 200° Fahrenheit it is in no way in- jured either in color or flavor. It must, however, not be put into an oven, or the flavor is decidedly spoiled. The illustration shows the sort of appara- tus I have devised for evaporating honey, and which has been found to work (juite satisfactorily. The honey can be passed over it as many times as it is necessary to bring it to a proper consistency, and, being exposed to the air, the evaporation is very rapid. It is very compact, the space occupied being quite small. The honey evaporated in this way can be put up into jars at once, and is much clearer than the ripe honey extracted, because the warmth drives all the air-bubbles to the top of the receiving-can, whereas in the thick honey the air-bubbles are very slow in ascending; and some- times, if the honey is very thick, they do not rise at all, and this gives the honey a cloudy appearance. By referring to the figure it will be seen that the evaporator consists of a series of trays heated with hot water, and the honey passing over these is re- ceived in the tank below in a fit state to put into jars. By referring to the illustration it will be seen that the tank at the top is divided into two com- partments, A being for water, and b to contain the unripe honey as it is taken from the extractor. Be- low the tank are the trays, six in number, o. h, c, d, e, /, and they slope in opposite directions. Eaeh of these trays has a hot-water chamber at the bottom, and the top portion is divided by means of parti- tions of tin in such a way that the honey flows back- ward and forward, and comes in contact with every portion of the warmed surface, d is a small boiler heated by a gas-jet or lamp, and has a pipe from tank A to keep it supplied with water. Another pipe is taken from the top of boiler d. and communicates with the lower end of tray/. Each tray has a con- nection with the next one above it at opposite sides, so that the water when heated in the boiler passes into the tank at the bottom of tray/, then into e, then d, and so on until it reaches the higher point of tray rt,- it then returns by a pipe direct to the boiler. In this way a constant circulation of hot water is kept up; and to allow for the expansion of the water in the event of its boiling, another pipe leaves the highest point of tray a, and is turned over tank A as shown in illustration. When it is required to work the macliine the unripe honey is put into tank B, and water into tank A, taking I care to keep this about half full, the lamp lighted, and as soon as the water be- comes warm the valve at the bottom of thetank b is opened by the lever i, and the hone.v '"s'allowed to flow into the top tray. The quantity can be reg- ulated by opening the valve more or less. The thin honey flows along the zigzag channel or tray a until it reaches the lower end of it, when it drops down into tray b; and so from one tray to another until at last it runs from the tray / through the funnel F into the receiving-tank c, and can be bottled off by means of the valve g. In this way the honey travels a distance of 100 feet over a heated surface, and all the superfluous moisture is evaporated on its passage. If^the honey is very thin, it may require to be passed through the machine a second time. The machine is con- structed entirely of tin, as I find zinc or galvanized iron injures honey. From the rapidity with which the machine acts, I have called it "The Rapid Honey-Evaporator." Our readers familiar with this matter will recognize the above arrangement to be vir- tually the same as the hot-water apparatus in common use. The stand-pipe is the re- ceptacle A. The trays with a false bottom are equivalent to the series of pipes, the boiler being located entirely below the pipes to be warmed. As soon as' the water in the boiler becomes hotter than the water in the stand-pipe A, the hot water ascends under- neath the trays ; and when it lias become cooled off at A , the cold water goes down into the lower part of the boiler again, through the return-pipe. As long as the water in the boiler is warmer than that in the stand-pipe A, there will be a constant circulation. The apparatus is quite in- genious, and will, no doubt, do the work beautifullv. •liM GLEANINGS IN EEE CULTURE. Mar. ANOTHER CONE-CASE BEE-ESCAPE. ONK WHICH ANTEDATES THE ONE DESCKIBED BY .1. S. REESE ON PAGE 15. fl HE wire-cone bee-escapes described by Mr. ^ Reese I have used quite extensively /oc 8 would not keep me awake nights. A. .J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich. I am glad you have told us about these things, friend Cook, for I have been afraid that people might get to be over-fastidious about the water they drink. I understand that the ('roton water of the city of New York contains quite a menagerie of micro- scopic animalculae ; but may we therefore decide that it is dangerous to drink it V I am greatly in favor, however, where it can be done, of having water that contains nothing or next to nothing of this kind ; and the thought occurs to me, while thinking of the old well of your boyhood home, is it not possible that this organic matter comes from surface water that filters into the well, instead of l)eing in the water as it issues from the rocky recesses of the earth V If I am correct, the water that comes direct from the cavity of a rock, or from a spring, contains nothing of this kind. Now, while I am trying to save space, as I advise the rest of you, a thought occurs that I can not quite keep to myself. When I commenced paying my attentions to a certain young lady, her father, wlio was a steady old farmer, objected to me on the ground that I was so changeable that I would never amount to any thing. His objection did me good, and in the meanwliile I set about getting acquainted with the old gentleman. One Thursday afternoon I went over to see the young lady in question, and5 carried along a large nice microscope that I had just pur- chased. I knew of a stagnant pool near by, and tliought I should find something inter- esting; and these very cyclops which you describe, with the aid of the microscope took the old gentleman so by storm (for he was an intense lover of nature,^although I did not know it at tlie time) that he and I be- came fast fiiends from thatS day onward. The young lady enjoyed seeing her father so mucli enraptured with the cyclops, about as well as I did. Do you wonder that Ernest and Huber take naturally to microscopes? MORE ABOUT ANNA QUILLIN. AND A REBUKE TO THE MOST OF US WHO THINK WE HAVE A HARD TIME OF IT. R. ROOT:— After that little letter about Anna Quillin was printed in Gleanings, I received a good many letters asking about her shells and Indian relics, wanting to know where they could buy Indian axes, mortar-bowls, etc. Then the letter was cop- ied from Gleanings into the New York Trilnotc, and for two weeks postals showered down on me, asking where to get Indian relics. I wrote to Anna, asking where she got hers, and she wrote the fol- lowing, which I hope you will print, as it will save all the readers of Gleanings from writing to me on the subject. Her letter shows bo brave a spirit that perhaps it will do some lazy grumbling mor- tal good to read it, and, perhaps, may cheer some one who thinks he has more to bear than anybody else ever had. ANNA QUILLIN'S LETTER TO MRS. CHADDtJCK. My Dear Mrs. Chaddoclc—l am truly sorry that I can not give any satisfactory answer in regard to the Indian relics. I have relics from Texas, Virgin- ia, Connecticut, Dakota, and Wyoming Territory; but it would be useless for me to give the addresses of the persons of whom I obtained them, as they have disposed ol all they had. I tried to get more for some friends, but could not. I have been want- ing to write to you, but have not succeeded, and am stealing the time to write this; for it is late at night, and all the rest are in bed, and I know some of them are asleep; for I hear them. I have been so rushed with work that my friends say I do not take time to eat or sleep; but that is an exaggeration, of course. I have had all the fancy- work that I could do for the last three months, and 204 GLEAN! 2s' GS IN BEE CULTUiiE. Mar. Jiave orders ahead that will keep me busy for a inouth. Before I get one order filled, another comes. I worked so bard to till orders that were wanted tor Christmas that I almost used myself up. 1 am not g'ettins- any new specimens now, but am working for cash. It is a rerjy slow way to make money; but, " half a loaf is better than no bread," and I am trying to earn enough to buy a nice case lor my specimens. 1 shall do it, too, if I live long enough. I've been trying to think of something to write for Gleanings, and intend to write as soon as I can. I'll do it just to please you; but I do not be- lieve that Mr. Root will print it. You have made me out better than I am— have given me such an cvalled character that 1 fear I can not come up to it. Anna B. Quillin. Ipava, Fulton Co., 111., Jan. 20, 1888. And some people write and ask me if Anna Quil- lin is a '• myth," or if she is really a living woman. Does not this letter sound as if she were alive, and a worker in the world too? It seems to me that the Indian Agency would be a good place to send to for Indian relics. Mah.vla B. Chaddock. Vermont, 111., Jan. 20, 1888. Thank you, Mrs. C, for the letter you sent ; and I want to say to our good friend Anna, that we are not going to consider her an exalted character at all. in the way in which she puts it ; but we all thank her for the lesson she has taught us ; namely, to remember, when we feel like complaining of our lot. that, on the contrary, we have so much cause for gratitude and "thanksgiving to God we ought to be ashamed to coniplain for just one minute. Is there any one among the readers of Gleanings who feels he has any right to say he is not able to help himself any longer, after reading the above V Please do write us something, dear friend Anna. I know it will be helpful. EXTRACTING HONEY. FRANCE GIVES HIS METHOD, AND ALSO HOW HE GRADES IT FOR MARKET. T AM asked to give some thoughts on how to get Mp the best extracted honey. First, have a loca- ^i tion well supplied with the best honey-produc- "** ing flowers, which, in my location, Is, first, white clover; then second best, basswood tim- ber. But there is nothi'ng here that equals the white-clover honey. It is important to get as much of that as possible in its very best condition. In order to do that we must have every thing ready that may be wanted to work with, that no time be lost by the bees. We want plenty of good clean combs for the bees to store their honey in. To get these we must sec to it that the dark honey that is in the combs, left from their winter stores, and what is gathered in the spring time from dande- lions and fruit-blossoms, etc., which is dark, is all emptied out of the combs, so .as not to be mixed with our nice white-clover honey, just as soon as our bees commence on the white clover, and are making a living. Then we commence to extract, and whirl out all the honey we can get from every comb in the hive that has the least bit of dark hon- ey in it. A very little of this dark honey will stain or darken a whole barrel of white honey. The cleaner we get out this first extracting, the whiter the second extracting will be. The first extracting with us is very dark, and is usually sold at the cracker-factories for about two cents less on a pound than the best honey. If the weather is not too wet, one week's time after we extracted the first time we can extract again. But if we are having wet weather, it is bet- ter to wait two or three days longer, for the ^loney to get thick and ripe. But unless the weather is very wet, we get good thick honey when we ex- tract once in a week. Do the best we can when we take out the first extracting, there will be enough of the dark honey left in the combs to darken the second extracting considerably. The second extracting usually sells for about one cent less on a pound than the best honey. In good average seasons we extract four or five times, de- pending somewhat on the weather as to moist- ure. If the weather is dry, and yet moist enough to favor a good honey-flow, the honey will be first rate if taken out as often as once a week. In wet weather it is best to wait ten or twelve days, or long enough for the honey to get thick and ripe. If two-thirds of the honey is capped over, the hon- ey is all right; don't wait any longer. Our third extracting is the best quality of any that we get. It is strictly pure white clover, and commands the highest price. The fourth extract- ing is as good as the third, if we get it all out be- fore the basswood blossoms open; still, I can usual- ly sell mixed clover and basswood at the same price as clear clover. The basswood usually be- gins to blossom before we get all of the fourth ex- tracting out, so that the fifth extracting with us is pure basswood honey. We leave enough of the basswood honey in the hives for the bees to winter on, as, after the basswood, we don't have honey- producing flowers to more than give the bees their daily living. We have some customers who like the flavor of the basswood honey the best of any. With a big crop of honey it is important to have each grade of honey kept strictly labeled; and, for convenience, each grade in the storeroom in divisions by them- selves. The way we do it is this: We take barrels with us to the different apiaries, enough to hold the day's honey that we expect to get. We can esti- mate very closely how much storage room we want, to hold the day's yield. We extract one whole apiary in a day. In good seasons we get 2000 lbs. and upward in a day in the best part of the season. We haul home every night all the honey we have taken through the day, and put it in our storehouse. Then we tack on to the head of each barrel a card, on which we mark the date— year, month, and day; the number of the extracting; then "thick," "thin," or "medium," as the case may be. All barrels of thin honey, if we have any, are set off in a lot bj' themselves, the thick by it- self; the same with the medium in thickness. Then we have our honey in good shape to sell. We know just what there is in every barrel. Our labels give us the exact quality of the honey. For conven- ience we have them divided off together, as regards thickness. If we have any fall feeding to do we feed the thinnest honey (usually the basswood). Be sui-e to work off all the thinnest honey before the heat of another summer arrives, as thin honey would be likely to sour if kept over until next summer. If we happen to have any thin honey it will sell better when it is fresh. If we keep any over ihc next season, let it be of the best and thick- est honey. Good thick honey will keep for years. I for one have learned a good lesson this poor sea- son. Last year we had 42,000 pounds of the best of 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 205 honey; and as we had good seasons for four or five years before, the honey-raarkets were loaded. I went in with the rest and sold, for what I could g-et, all of that crop, and what we had on hand of other crops, all at low prices. The same honey kept un- til now would have sold (juick for nearly double the price we got for it. If we have good thick hon- e.>' it will keei> in a dry place for year.?. We should not crowd the market, if we are so fortunate as to have a big crop of good thick honey. E. France. Platteville, Wis. I am inclined to think, friend F., that a good many of us have learned just about the lesson you have. AVlien you have a very nice article of good thick lioney, don't be in a hurry to sell it all off. Every few years there will be a scarcity, and the extra price will pay the interest on the money for keep- ing it over. A CHAPTEK ON POLLEN. FRIEND nOOLlTTLE TELLS US WHERE IT COMES FROM. 'HILE reading Prof. Cook's interesting ar- ticle, telling about the value of pollen to our little pets, I thought a short article on the sources of pollen, and how the source from which it was obtained could be told by the color of pellets brought in by the bees, might not be amiss; while a close observation as to color, and a tracing of this color to the source from which it came, would be of much benefit to the .iuveniles, if not to some of our older apiarists. That pollen which comes the earliest in the spring has the most attraction for us, tor two i-easons; first, at that time we are anxious to see what our pets are doing, after the long winter's sleep, which spring has broken, bringing life and activity to us as well as the bees; and, second, this early pollen is that upon which our hopes depend for the bees to gather our future crop of honey, if we have any. If we are not in a favored locality for early pollen, I think it would well pay to set out some trees of the early-bearing kinds, such as the pussy willows, and elms, both red and swamp, which not only yield early pollen in abundance, but are very nice as ornamental shrubs and trees. No pollen-bearer, in this locality, is of more value or of greater beauty than the swamp elm; and while its natural home is in the swamp, yet it thrives well on high and dry ground. Later on, there are so many trees and plants that yield pollen plenti- fully, that there will, without doubt, be a fair sup- ply, even in the least-favored locality. If not, fruit- trees should be planted for the fruit and second early supply of pollen. Next, orchard grass should be sown for hay, which yields pollen the earliest and most abundantly of all the grasses in this lo- cality; while, later on, the mammoth red clover and corn-tassel will give an abundant supply. But, how about the colors of the different pollens? do they all bear the same color as the flowers from which they are gathered? No, not all; for all know that the colors of the different clovers are a deep pink, for the two reds; light pink to nearly white for the alsike, and wliite for the white clover; yet all of the clovers give pollen of the same color, which is of a greenish-brown hue. I have examined very closely on this point, for some have withstood this, giving different colors to the pollens fi"om the different clovers, and also describing the pollen as green, gray, etc. The pollen which is carried over the winter, or such as is preserved by having honey put over It and sealed up, is always from clover, in this lo- cality, so far as my observation goes. This is called " bee-bread " by most people, and in color is a dark brown. Whereby it is changed from greenish brown to dark brown, I do not know, unless the saturation of it with honey has that effect upon it. Now, how to tell the source from which the dif- ferent-colored pollens come, as we see them going into the hive: I know of but one way to do this, which is, by watching the bee as it loads up on the flower, and this is just what I want the juveniles (and the older ones too* to do; for herein is a chance to learn much which the careless and lazy are de- ficient in. To show our pollen resources, and the juveniles how well 1 carry out what I preach, I will give a description of the various sources and time of blooming of the flowers, as well as the color of the different kinds. First, we have the skunk cabbage, blooming from March 20 to April 30; color of flower and pollen, yellow. Next in order is the poplar, coming out ten days later; flower a brownish white, pollen nearly black, or the nearest to black of any we have. Then comes pussy willow, soft maple, and red and swamp elm. The colors of the pollen from these are, bright yellow, light pink, and ver.y light green, respectively, although the pollen from the red elm borders on the yellow shade. The pussy willow and soft maple bloom some two or three days earlier than the elms, and about four days aftei- the poplar. Next in order comes the hard maple, with about ten days intervening between that and the elm, the color of the pollen being the same as the blossom, yellow. About May 30 to 35 the fruit-trees bloom, together with the dandelion. The color of the former flowers varies; but, so far as I have observed, the pollen from all is a dingy white. That of the dandelion is an orange yellow, the same as the flower. After this there is a scarcity of pollen till the sorrel and buttercups bloom, which is just before the orchard grass, or about June 10 to 1.5th. The color of the pollen of the first two is yellow, the buttercup beirg on the orange, and the sorrel light, while that from the orchard grass is the same as the sorrel. The blossom of the sorrel is from yellow to pink in color. Next come the clovers, which I have described. The basswood now opens (about .luly 5 to 15), during the bloom of which little or no pollen is gathered, although some claim that basswood yields pollen. What little is gathered at this time comes from teasel, the color of which is white like the flower. The last of July and first of August, corn-tassel gives plenty of pollen, the color of which is light yellow. Next in order is buckwheat, which gives much pollen of a whitish-gray color. This is the last pollen obtained of any amount, although we have a little from wild mustard, and, very late, from witch-hazel. Of minor importance, we have pollen from the beech, wild gra^ie, chestnut, differ- ent grasses, goldenrod. etc., in the order named. T should be pleased to hear of the different pollen re- sources of other localities, and presume it might be interesting to others. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., March 1, 1888. Friend D., when you mentioned poplar as 206 GLEANINGS I^^ -BEE CULTURE. Mar. being the second source from which honey is obtained witli you, I did not at first under- stand you. I have been so long accustomed to hearing our friends in the Soutli call whitewood poplar, that I supposed you meant the great tulip-shaped blossoms ; but I now conclude you mean l>y poplar a tree that bears a sort of tag, something like the alder. It is the same tree, I think, that we call the quaking aspen, and it furnishes white poplar for sections very much like the Vermont white poplar. It seems a little unfortunate that this word '' poplar " should be applied to trees so widely different. Can not some of our botanists straighten us up on onr nomenclature of trees? We notice that Gray's Botany says the tulip-tree is also called whitewood and even poplar ; and in another place it describes poplar as the American aspen. The variety called the " downy poplar, " growing on wet grounds, is perhaps the one you refer to. In our lo- cality the bees get a very bright-yellow pol- len late in the fall, even after severe frosts. I have never yet been able to discover where it comes from. I think somebody has before suggested witch-hazel, which you refer to as being very late. STATISTICS. FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM PROF. COOK. R. EDITOR:— Soon after coming back from the National Convention, at Chicago, I wrote very fully to the Commissioner of Agriculture, and gave my letter to Pres. Willits, who was to visit Washington, and asked him to press the matter personally, which he kindly consented to do. He wrote me from Wash- ington, that the head of the Department promised all possible aid, and asked that we should suggest how he could best serve us. The Commissioner has also communicated with Dr. A. B. Mason— see last number of American Bee Journal, also Gleanings, and again asks for aid. The committee, consisting of Dr. A. B. Mason, Mr. T. G. Newman, and myself, suggest that bee- keepers all through the United States write at once to Mr. T. G. Newman and offer service as re- porters of statistics. The Commissioner wishes two for each county. While we can hardly hope for so much at first, the nearer we approximate to it the more value we shall receive. Let every bee- keeper, then, proffer service at once. Then the committee can select, by lot or otherwise, from counties where more than two offer. Surely bee- keepers will be prompt and generous. We ought to have a good corps of correspondents from each State, and one, at least, from each county in those States, where bee-keeping is an important indus- try. The Commissioner will send out blanks to fill out. The nature of these, as to how bees wintered; what per cent of a full crop of light honey in June and July was secured in four sections? what per cent of a full crop of autumn honey did four secure? what honey-plants are valuable in four sectioijs? etc., will be considered later by the oomnjittee. Now for volunteer reporters. Will other bee-papers please copy? By order of committee. HOW FAR WILL BEES GO FOR HONEY ? A. J. Cook. Agricultural College. Mich., M&v- 1, 60 LBS. OF HORSEMINT HONEY PER COLONY, TAK- EN BY ITALIANS SIX AND EIGHT MILES AWAY. fHIS is a subject that has always interested me, and I have made it a point to gather all the information I could for the last five years. It has been about that long since I learned my A B C in bee culture. I live in the center of what is called the " Cross Timbers," a belt of timber that runs across Texas. Now, where I live it is about five miles on either side to the prairie. I was the first one to get the yellow- banded bees in this part of the country, and, in fact, the only one; and the first year I got them I happened to be about two miles out on the prairie, ^yhere the horsemint was in bloom. On looking I found it was covered with bees, and, to my sur- prise, I found about half of them were of the yel- low-banded race. It caused me to watch them, thinking I should find that some of my neighbors had the improved races of bees, but not so. By watching carefully I noticed that they would rise high in the air and make a direct line for my house. I asked nearly all of my neighbors between there and here if they knew of any one who had the im- proved races of bees, and they said they did not, but that they knew that no one had them but my- self. On this occasion my Italians must have flown seven miles for forage. I have also seen them two and three miles out on the prairie in the other directions, and made the same inquiries, but no one could tell me of any one who had them but myself. To further prove that they will go seven and eight miles, I remember that this year has been one noted for drought; and what rain has come has been only partial showers. In June, when the horsemint was in bloom, every thing here was burned up; but six and seven miles out on the prairie they had plenty of rain in time to make the mint crop splendid ; and the truth of it is, 1 got 60 lbs. of extracted honey to the colony from the mint last year, and the evidence seems to be that they get it six and eight miles away. While the bees were gathering this amount there was hardly a bloom of any kind to be found nearer than six miles of my place. It was so dry in this neigh- borhood that all vegetations had parched up. Now, then, friend Root, I think this proves pretty clearly that bees will go six and eight miles to gather hon- ey. L. B. S.MITH. Cross Timbers, Texas, Feb. 2, 1888. Friend S., we have before had good evi- dence that the bees will, under some cir- cumstances, work six or eight miles. I have been satisfied for some time they could go this distance and back ; but I am not yet satisfied they can work profitably much more than half as many miles ; and in our locality I have never known the bees to work fairly where their stores were more than about two miles from the apiary. I presume that, over a prairie or over water, they would fly a longer distance. No doubt if the prevailing winds were in such a di- rection as to blow towMi'd their hives from the pasturage this would be an additional help. Now, would it not have paid you well to move youv bees to a locality where the borsemint was yielding plentifully V 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 207 WHAT TO DO, AND HOW TO BE HAPPY WHILE DOINC IT. Continued from Feb. 1. CHAPTEE XL VI. Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble therewith.— Prov. 15: 16. At the bee-keepers' convention in Utica, N. Y., Jaik, 1888, as usual I set out during the intervals of tlie sessions, in search of greenhouses. The v^^eather is mucli colder in ITtica than in Ohio ; but notwithstanding this, I found tliere some of the most beauti- ful greenhouses that I have seen in any part of the United States. The floral houses especially contained the most beautiful show of orchids tliat it has ever been my fortune to see anywhere. Passing through one of the main streets, my eye caught a glimpse of azelias that, it seemed to me, surpassed any thing I ever before beheld anywhere. The young man who owned the neat glass structure, I was informed, took it up at first in a sort of amateur w'ay. He had been in the grocery business ; but he loved flowers, and, without instruction, except such as he managed to pick up, he gradual- ly worked into the business. Some of the old heads laughed at him, especially the old- countrymen, who do not believe very much in self-made men in that line of business. This house showed to me more real life and activity than any other one I found in the city. There was no rubbish in any corner, nor any plants occupying valuable space that gave no returns. Every thing was bright and fresh, and either fit for the market, or making rapid progress in that direction. There was one little tree-like specimen of azelia Indica that so much pleased me I paid the man two dollars for it, without hesitation. It was taken to the bee-convention, and graced the president's table until the session closed ; and then right in the midst of zero weather I brought it all the way to Ohio, placed it before our factory hands at the noon service, and after that for two full weeks it was the life of our household, and fairly made the bay-window shine. These beautiful plants are made to bloom in winter by letting them have a lit- tle natural winter, and then an artificial spring. It was not flowers 1 particularly sought, however, nor did I care to see expensive greenhouses. One of the seedsmen men- tioned that a young man had a little green- house in the outskirts, where he raised cel- ery-plants, and I felt as if I could not go home without seeing this. When I made inquiries I was told that it was a little bit of shanty, and did not amount to any thing. But this only made me the more curious. We found him finally ; and in the same part of the town there was quite a number of lit- tle bits of greenhouses, owned by boys or old men, who whiled away the winter days in raising plants. The one I wish to speak about was a room perhaps 12 x lo feet. The roof was of glass ; the sides of boards, without very much protection, unless it was the deep snow that banked it all around. Inside we found a boy, perhaps ten years old, pricking out the celery-seedlings into little boxes, which were occupying every bit of available space, almost, and were vieing with each other for every bit of sunlight. The room was warmed by an ordinary coal- stove. In one coiner a hen was kept, and the chickens were making themselves hap- py chirping around beside the plants. They especially enjoyed stealing lettuce whenever the boy's attention was so much taken witli his plants that he forgot about them. This boy sifted the rich black loamy soil, and put it into boxes, smoothed them off, and put out the plants, with the gravity of an old gardener. My heart began to re- joice over the materials for thought scat- tered ^bout, perhaps almost as much, but in a different way, from what they did in the large expensive greenhouses. One of the things that especially pleased me was the plant-boxes. They were made entirely of ordinary lath, and little bits of oblong square boards. Suppose I give you a pic- ture of one : THE PLANT-BOX I SAW IN UTICA. To make such a box, take two pieces of ordinary lath, which can be bought any- where for 15 cts. per bunch of 50. Cut each piece into four lengtlis. This will make eight pieces. You now want two bits of board for the ends, of such a size as to leave just such a space between the lath as I have 208 GLEAKIKGS IX BEE CULTURE. Mar. shown. Nail it up, and your box is dope. Our Utica friend used whole laths; but as soun as I got liome I found that, by split- ting a lath with one of our thin buzz-saM's, we could make the whole box from a single lath. For additional strength, with slender wire nails of the proper size, nail the cor- ner laths at the bottom, one into the edge of the other. This makes a box amply stout enough, and yet very light. After I had questioned the boy some, the father came in ; but he was, in fact, but little more than a boy himself. He explained that these lit- tle boxes were usually sold with the plants ; and as an illustration he reached up and took down one of the boxes containing twelve tomato-plants, perhaps six inches high. I have tried to have our engraver make a picture of the box containing the plants. He is not as good on making toma- {o-}jIants as he is in making boxes, as you will notice. A DO/EN TOMATO-PLANTS IN A BOX. Said I, "■ My friend, how much do you get for a box full of nice plants like that V " '' Twenty cents.'' " Only tw^enty cents V Why, that will hardly pay you for your boxes.'' ''Oh I yes, it will. I only wish 1 could get plenty of orders at that price. You see, the children make the boxes, and we get a good many of them back again, so they do not cost very much.'' " I suppose you raise these chickens just for the fun of it." "• Oh, no I There is a man in the city who sells boiled eggs, and he keeps a hen and chickens in the show-window, to advertise the eggs. Everybody stops to see the chick- ens in the middle of winter, and that calls attention to his boiled eggs and lunch-room. Last Easter he paid me fifty cents apiece for some little chickens, to advertise his Easter-eggs." "• Well, my friend, 1 am glad to see there is one individual in the world who has dis- covered it possible to start celery-plants in winter. How many plants can you raise in this little building, say between now and the time to put them out V '■'■ Well, 1 don't know exactly. Last spring I sold 100,000 plants, besides planting out about 50,000 myself." "Of course, you get celery in the market before anybody else ; now, what do you get for the first celery V " " The first celery I raised last spring went to Kalamazoj, Mich.'' " Kalamazoo, Mich. V Why, can't they raise celery there as soon as you can away up here in the cold ? " " Well, it seems they did not last year. You see, there was a couple there that got married, and they wanted some nice White Plume celery; but as it could not be found, somebody telegraphed me for it. Of course, I got a fancy price.'' " Well, I declare, the next thing will be that a couple can't get married without White Plume celery. Well, well ! we will not object to the fashion, so long as they let us raise the plants and furnish the celery, will we, friend ? '' Xow, then, boys, here is an idea for you. You can get right at it no wand make boxes ; and when it comes time to sell plants, show your friends and neighbors fine specimens of transplanted plants in these very boxes. Or, if you choose, leave them for sale at the groceries or plant stores. Look after them yourself personally, and keep them watered and looking fine, and you can make a nice little sum of money between now and the first of June. Who would not give five or ten ce-nts more for a dozen plants ready to pick up and carry right home, when put up in this style? You can put more than a dozen plants in a box. with celery, peppers, and a good many other kinds that do not need the amount of room that a dozen to- mato-plants do. Now, the point that pleased me particu- larly in the above little incident is, that it shows how we can not only find work for ourselves on all stormy days, but we can take the children out of mamma's way and have them helping pay family expenses. What more beautiful sight can you think of than to see a lather enjoying himself with his plants, and his children working by his side, and acquiring skill at the same time that they are earning money and keeping busy V Only last Saturday our boys were taking seedling cabbage-plants from the greenhouse, and putting them into cold frames outdoors. Our boy Huberwas great- ly interested in the proceedings. We spaced them equal distances by means of the frames I of poultry-netting described in Chapter IX, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 209 Each boy had a stick sharpened to a point, something like a lead pencil. Huber watched them as they whittled their sticks, prepara- tory to commencing their work, then bor- rowed a knife of one of the men (his own knife was lost, just as you might expect would be the case with any boy four or hve years old), and whittled a stick which was almost a fac-simile of theirs. Then he wanted to know if he couldn't help set out plants. I gave him instructions, and he worked very busily the greater part of the afternoon. Now, when I come to look at my plants to see how they are doing, he is greatly interested in noticing that his cab- bage-plants arc growing just as well as the others, although we have had almost zero weather since they put them out. At another place in Utica we found a beautiful lettuce-house. The father was away when we called ; but a boy of twelve or fifteen showed us all over the liouse, and told us all we wanted to know about it. He himself transplanted the plants, and had pretty much all the care of them. He showed us one place where they got seed that was not true. They meant to have Black- seeded Simpson ; but their seeds- man, by some inaccuracy, gave them a lot of seed that produced several varieties of mongrel plants. Their time was wasted, and the valuable space under the green- house sashes was also gone to waste by carelessness about the seeds. I tell you, my friends, you can not afford to take any risks on poor seed for greenhouse work. In this same greenhouse a couple of urchins were having a gay time doing — what do you sup- pose? Why, by blowing soap-bubbles. The family home was small, and no doubt mam- ma was greatly relieved to have her children away for a little spell. Although it was a fearfully cold and stormy day outside, these little ones had thrown aside their outer cloth- ing, and sat bareheaded with their sleeves rolled up, having a big time in the bright sunshine that struggled through the blasts and storm-clouds of winter. Who would not have a greenhouse for the children to play in, even if for nothing more V Some of the little greenhouses 1 have mentioned be- fore, that we found in the out skirts of Utica, didn't cost five dollars, all told. In fact, I could build a better one for five dollars; yet in these rude, homely structures they pro- duced some very nice and beautiful plants. The stove to warm the greenhouse might cost five dollars more ; but if it be bought at second hand from the pile of old iron to be found at almost every stove-dealer's, one that does not cost over a dollar might an- swer the purpose very well. Mr. W. A.Treen, who owned the celery-plant house, informed me that one stoveful of coal, put in at six o'clock at night, would keep the plants per- fectly safe until nine o'clock the next morn- ing. Of course, the coal was banked and arranged specially to keep a long while. The pipe passed with several turns just high enough to be out of the way of the head, so that most of the heat was given out before the smoke passed into the open air. CHAPTER XLA^l. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser.— Prov. 9: 9. Dear friends, we are approaching the close of our book ; and as nearly two years have elapsed since my first chapter was written, I thought best in this chapter to make some- what of a review of the chapters that have gone before. Some of the things I then wrote I wish to modify a little ; and other things liave pleased me so well that I wish to give them additional emphasis. In Chapter VII. 1 had considerable to say in regard to earth-closets ; and in the same chapter I suggested the plan proposed by father Cole. Well, now, although the plan answers excellently so far as disposing of the refuse matter is concerned, especially when we have plenty of rain, it has not ans- wered completely to my satisfaction in car- rying the sewage, etc., to our growing plants. Deep-rooted plants, clovers, parsnips, and rank-growing vines, seem to get down into the reservoirs, and flourish finely. We have been especially pleased Avith a row of rhubarb-plants placed directly over a series of reservoirs near one of the out-buildings. But for our factory, we have come back to the plan suggested in the fore part of Chap- ter VII., dry dust, and carrying it out, say once every two weeks, to be forked into the compost-heap. We use a large box, or tank, and move the accumulations with a horse. 210 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Mar. This puts the material right where it can be worked thoroughly into the soil, for the ben- efit of the crops ; and it does not matter whether we have rain or not for its success- ful working. The " New Agriculture " has not proved itself proof against two dry sea- sons. When there is no rain, the reservoirs get absolutely dry, and the ground dries up worse right over them than on ground drained with tile. Letting steam into them, however, makes a steam hot-bed at very little expense ; and we employ the exhaust steam f rem our factory for this purpose every spring, in getting early plants and vegeta- bles. We are still at work with the '' New Agriculture," and may still overcome some of the difficulties. In Chapter VIII. 1 spoke of sifting the soil for plant-gardens. Well, we have found tlie sieve pictured at the close of that chapter to be a decided labor-saving arrangement. In many soils you can sift the whole surface of the ground, placing the lumps and debris below, cheaper than you can rake out the lumps in the ordinary way with a garden- rake ; and it is ever so much better, because, when this ground has been once sifted it is ever after free from sticks, stones, etc. This, of course, applies to the earth for hot-beds, or beds for raising plants. Where ground is to be carefully worked over by hand, for onions, we think the sieves will do it better and quicker than rakes, especially where the soil is of a peaty nature. The cold frame, pictured in the fore part of Chapter X., still gives excellent satisfaction. W^e get it full of nice plants every winter, without hand- ling the sash at all, only wlien we lift them off to get the benefit of the warm rain. Open- ing and closing the ends answersjustas well as raising the sash. In the same chapter I would modify my advice a little in regard to a greenhouse for plants and vegetables. I would also modify the directions somewhat for raising celery-plants, in Chapter XL, as well. OUR "annex" greenhouse. During the past two winters we have been using an addition to our greenhouse, which, for short, we term an " annex." This was made by placing 32 common 8x6 sashes about 4 feet above the surface of theground. The sashes are supported by strips of pine 28 feet long and 2x6 inches. One of these pine strips runs under the sash where one laps on to the next. These string-pieces are supported at the proper distance above the ground by pieces of old refuse gas-pipe, I inch in diameter. They were driven into the ground with a sledge to the proper dis- tance, then the sticks were laid on the end of the pipe. To keep it from rolling we bored a hole into the stick so as to let the pipe go in a couple of inches. We prefer the gas-pipes to wooden stakes because they will not rot, and also produce less shade in the house than wooden posts. At the northern end of the house is a door to open and close, like the gable end of the cold frame men- tioned in Chapter X. This allows us to get all the ventilation we want, without moving a sash at all. Well, now, for economy and convenience these sash are placed about as nearly level as ordinary hot-bed sash, or per- haps nearer. In fact, they have just enough fall for the water to run off. The only in- convenience we found is from the drip ; but even this does no harm, unless during very heavy rains, when it washes the dirt from the roots of little plants. Celery-plants seem to be exactly suited with the drip ; and the more drip, the better. They also grow very well in partial shade. Well, with the sash only 4 feet above the surface of the ground, no one but a boy would be able to stand upright. To remedy this, the ground under the sash is divided off into beds, and between the beds are narrow alleys for the workmen. The alleys, or paths, are sunk about H or 2 feet below the surface of the beds. This gives us from 5i to 6 feet be- tween the bottom of the path and the glass overhead. If you are so fortunate as to be an individual of moderate height, you can move quite comfortably in this place ; hut if you are a tall man, you will have to make your paths deeper; but, remember, you will need to get the surface of your beds as near the glass as you can conveniently, without too great expense. To our surprise, we found these beds the handiest and easiest for working among plants of any thing we have ever tried. Every one of us has been aston- islied to see with whatfacility we can trans- plant celery, cabbage, tomato, etc., in our "annex." We first make beds 2* or 3 feet Bed. Path. Btd. N Path. Bed. Path. Bed. BIRD'S BYE VIEW OF BEDS AND WALKS. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 211 wide, clear around the whole outside. The diagram on p. 210 will give you something of an idea of this. For convenience in working we have the dirt slope from the path up as it goes out- ward toward the wall ; that is, where the beds come near to the walls of the building, the soil rises up within about one foot of the glass along the eaves. As you stoop over and reach toward the further side of the bed, the slope makes it face you. as it were. This same slope catches the rising sun on one side of the house, and the afternoon sun on the other side of the house. Tlie sides of the bed next to the path are made by driving in stakes and setting down wide pine boards. You can get a giade of cheap pine boards at almost any lumber-yard, 18 or 20 inches wide. If you want the beds 2 feet high, perhaps you had better take 2 twelve-inch boards ; but two boards are not quite so handy, nor do tliey look (luite as nice as one wide board. The boards must be kept from being pressed outward into the paths by the pressure of the earth, by stout oaken stakes driven well into the ground, say once every four or, five feet. Let them slope a little toward the bank of earth, so that, if they get pressed outward it will tend to bring them perpendicular instead of over into the path. Now, the central beds are like a long wagon-box ; and to keep the box from spreading, as mentioned before, by the weight of the soil, you can put a strip across from one of the oak stakes to the other, having the strip low enough down so that you will not strike it in forking up the beds. 1 would have these central beds per- haps five or six feet wide ; for you can reach to the middle on one side, and then go around to the other side, and reach across where you left off. We have found, however, that a bed five feet wide is much more convenient for working. The only objection to having them narrower still, is, that every foot of space under the glass costs money, and we must economize all we can. On this ac- count it is well to make the beds as wide as you can manage to work them ; and tlie paths should also be as narrow as will an- swer. Ours are made sixteen inches wide; but we have found, l)y experiment, that one can get along very well with a path only a foot wide to work in. As the sash only just clears your head, if yoii are in danger of top- pling over in consequence of a path so narrow, you can steady yourself by putting your hand on a sash-bar. The soil in tliese beds is never to be tramped on at all. It is sifted so as to be light and soft ; and when you are sitting down on the bed, putting out plants, always sit on a wide board. This firms the soil just right for the plants, and does not pack th(^ ground as it would to step on it. It order to give you a clear idea of the arrangement, we submit below a trans- verse section of the house from east to west. GKEENIIOUSE KOK RAISING PLANTS AND VEGETABLES. You will notice that the roof is very much after the fashion of the asparagus-house pictured in Chapter XXXVI. The outside sashes have a middling strong slope ; but as we are stooping over when w^e are work- ing on these beds, it does not matter very much. You will notice that I have shown the central path nearly twice the width of the others ; this is on account of the gas-pipe supports coming right in the middle of the walk. I don't quite like this; but where the sash is so low^ that it only just clears one's head, 1 do not know how else to fix it. The letters, a, a, a, represent the ends of the pine string-pieces ; g, g, G, are the gas-pipe supports. In practice, the beds are not rounded up quite as plump as they show in our diagram. There are six gas-pipe sup- ports in the whole structure— two under each pine stringer. None but one who has tried it can imag- ine how much nicer and easier it is to work in this than in a greenhouse where the beds are away up high. Yes, it is much handier than beds that are three feet from the ground— especially so in transplanting seed- ling plants. A walk 18 inches or two feet below the siuface of the bed is just about right to give room for your feet ; in other words, the surface of the bed is just the right height from the bottom of the path to allow^ you to sit down comfortably and easi- ly. You can change around on jour wide board from one side to the other. No mat- ter what the weather is, you are out of the cold wind and air, while you have every bit of sunshine that is to be had. Further- more, the labor of caring for the plants is nothing, when compared with that of boxes and Hats, so often recommended. When 212 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. the sun gets well up, your boxes will dry out every day, so as to need watering every night. If you ever had charge of a hundred thousand plants in boxes you know some- thing about the labor of watering. Well, these beds of earth, when well soaked with water, will keep wet enough to grow well for a long while. In fact, our annex is a rather damp place when we have many cloudy days without sunshine. To avoid dampness and wet, the ground should be most thoroughly underdiained before your house is builded. IIow about the heating arrangements V do you askV Well, so far we have not had any heating arrangements at all, except that, through the middle of our annex, passes a steam-pipe about a foot below the bottom of the paths. This pipe goes ovt-r to our dwelling-house, and hap- liened to be just under our plant-house. There is one other means of keeping the temperature from freezing. This annex ad- joins our factory basement, and three win- dows open from the basement into the an- nex. These windows have been open all winter long. The large bulk of air in the basement, by changing constantly with that in the annex, keeps the temperature of this glass structure constantly above freezing. At least, there has not been frost enough to injure any of the plants. During December and January, things did not grow very much, as a matter of course ; but the sunny days of February gave us the finest growth of vegetables that I ever saw anywhere. Tiiese same windows that connect the air \\\l\\ the basement also prevent any bad ef- fect from overheating. We have grown beautiful lettuce, radishes, beets, etc., on these beds ; but the house seems specially adapted to celery. Celery-plants grow right along, even if there is not very much sun ; and plants that failed to amount to any thing on account of the drought last season, were gathered just before hard freezing, and placed in this annex. They were put almost as close together as they would stand ; and as they grew, earth was banked around them so as to raise the surface a foot or moie higher than the ordinary surface of the bed. They bleached out beautifully ; and now when there is no celery to be had anywhere else, we are getting 40 cents a pound for our greenhouse celery. The plant-tube shown in Chapter XUI. is a great help in banking up the celery in the greenhouse. Slip them over the plants, and then with a little tire-shovel sift the earth between the tubes, raising the tubes as fast as the plants grow, and sifting in more dirt. Now, such a house as I have de- scribed costs but a little more than ordina- ry cold frames, and yet you have no hand- ling of sash at all, and you can work with comfort among your plants when the weath- er would be such that you could do nothing at all outdoors. If it should be desired to have artificial heat by means of steam-pipes or hot water I would suggest running the pipes above the center of the beds along under the sash. The asparagus-house I have already alluded to w^as warmed by stove-pipes running quite a long distance under the glass in this way. With steam we can arrange the pipes in such a way that they will not cross the paths overhead at all ; and this is desirable, to avoid bumping one's head. When it is necessary to cross a path, take the steam- pipe down under the path. The question tlien arises. Does this answer as well as bottom heat ? The heat of the sun is al- ways from overhead ; and a writer in the American Florist has recently stated that he has obtained good results from steam- pipes running overhead, fie says the plants turn so as to face the steam-pipe, just as they face the sun. The objection may be made, that this arrangement does not bring the plants as near to the glass as where I they are on benches, say three feet high. To which I reply, that plants that naust be so close up to the sash can be put on beds run- ning near to the eaves. The linest lettuce- ; house I saw at I' tica had one of the central beds clear down on the ground ; in fact, it ' was a bed of ground such as I have describ- ed, and not a bench at all. Well, the let- tuce on this bed was ahead of any of the rest ; and the boy who showed us through said they always got the best lettuce from this bed. It had no bottom heat, for there was no space under it at all— just solid earth. The question is often asked, " Can not the new plant-bed muslin be used, instead of expensive glassV " It can, when the weath- er gets to be warm enough — say in our lo- cality about the first of April ; but it does not answer at all at any time of the year when you are liable to have heavy snows. The weight of the snow will tear the cloth ; besides, cloth will not give nearly as much sunshine as glass ; and during windy weath- er it will flop up and down like a bellows, pumping the outside air out and in continu- ally. It is, however, an excellent thing to shade yoimg plants just as they set out. If your plant-bed, however, is adjoining the 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 218 cellar of some building, as I have mention- ed, by opening connection by windows or otherwise with this cellar you can avoid all danger of having the plants scorched by too much sun, even if you do not happen to be on hand to open the ventilators. If you want the house to warm up, however, by closing the openings to the cellar you can get a very high temperature at almost any time in winter when the sun shines out clear. SPACING YOUK PLANTS AND SEEDS IN THE GREENHOUSE OK COLD KPtA:ME. One of the worst leaks you will probably have in the m:iii;igeraeTit of your green- houses or cold frames is this matter I have reverted to so frequently — having little patches of ground lie idle after you have gone to the expense of the structure and fixtures; or, what amounts to the same thing, not having enough plants to fully oc- cupy the ground. Of course, we do not want plants crowded to their detriment; but every square inch should have just as much plant life on it as it can stand. To economize in this way, we plant the seeds quite closely, as I have explained to you ; and as soon as the little plants begin to crowd, we transplant them to two inches apart, with a poultry-netting frame. Now look over your young plants often ; and as soon as one dies, put another in its place. Keep the plants continually on every inch of space that can sustain a plant ; and as soon as the crop is in its prime, remove it and get something else in its place within 0'/*€ hour. It is a nice point in sowing seeds, to get them just thick enough and yet not too tiiick ; and I have long wanted some meth- od of doing this with the mathematical pre- cision with which we transplant with the frames I have mentioned. We have accom- plished this, much to my satisfaction, witli seeds of tomato-plants ; and I propose to try it with others. 1 have mentioned to you having saved the seed from a single fruit of the Mikado tomato — a tomato that weighed a pound and a quarter, and was away in advance of all the rest in earliness. Well, as these seeds were very precious, we want- ed to get a plant from each seed. We ac- cordingly prepared our ground nicely in one of the plant-boxes, and then we made use of the little tool shown on next column. This implement is really a string of dib- bles. We made it by soldering some ordi- nary tin sap-spiles to a folded bar of tin, as you see. Then a plain tapered piece of SPACING-TOOL FOR SOWING SEEDS, ETC. steel was soldered in to the small end of each one of the sap-spiles. We tried wood before we used this ; but too much of the soil stuck to the wood when it was wet enough. With metal dibbles, if they are kept bright and clean taey can be pushed into the ground when it is just right, and each one will leave a nice round hole to put a plant in, or to drop in a seed. The above tool is about 15 inches long, so the plants are just about an inch apart. We first set the tool into the earth along the outside edges of the plant-boxes. This spaces the rows, as you will notice. We now go over the ground in the boxes in such a way that we have a series of holes exactly one inch apart each way. Into each hole we drop a tomato-seed, then sift over all a little powdered moss, and then you have it. You may say it takes some time to put one seed at a time into these little holes. So it does; but, my friend, you will have more nice plants in a boxful, sown this way, than you ever saw before in your life. In fact, I don't think I ever saw any thing prettier in a greenhouse than this boxful of tomato-plants. They grew in this box only an inch apart until each plant had several large leaves on it. They are now standing in the annex, four inches apart each way, and every plant is a duplicate of its neigh- bor. It is worth something to me to have a lot of plants all uniform in size, and no failures. RAISING ONIONS IN GREENHOLTSES, Until recently we have almost every year had a lot of onions that spoiled because they got soft, or began to grow before the time to put them out in the spring. For a time we did not know of any use we could make of these, except to feed them to stock. About a year ago, however, Mr. Weed tried some of these in a deep box in the greenhouse ; and as fast as they would shoot up in search of the light, he banked them up with peat, very much as we bank up celery. The con- sequence was, that in a very brief period of time we had long green onions, bleached white like celery. These were tied up in quar- ter-pound bunches, and put on the wagon. During January and February they sold rapidly, and we not only got rid of all the 214 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mar. soft and growing onions we had in our stock, but we used our sets that began to grow, and all of our old onions of every de- scription. Any thing in the shape of an onion with a sprout to it can be turned to protitable use in this way. While at Colum- bus last winter, in visiting one of their vegetable-greenhouses I found the gardener doing exactly this very thing. I do not know Avhere he got it, for I supposed that Mr. Weed was original in the idea. The nicest kind of onions for this treatment, however, , is what Gregory calls the Egyptian, or win- ter onion. One of these onions, by giving it a little more time, will make a whole bunch of sprouts, and they will grow to much larger size than any common onion. Per- haps I should explain that these onions raised in greenhouses are not expected to form bulbs, but only long green shoots. They also seem to do rather best where the box is placed over the steam-pipes ; but as they do not require any light of any account, the whole process may be carried on under the ordinary l)enches. At this writing, March 8, our third crop of onions is nearly ready to sell, from the same box. The box is perhaps 2 feet wide, 12 feet long, and 18 inches deep. The onions are set in the box, with about two inches of earth under them, and as near together as they can be squeezed together. The ground under them is made very rich with guano and stable manure. I have before mentioned the dripping of water as an objectionable feature to green- houses with the roof almost Hat. In our an- nex, for instance, if we go in while it rains hard, or attempt to work during rain, one must expect to have water dripping down the back of his neck every now and then. Well, there is a remedy for this state of affairs. The remedy is, however, most easi- ly applied where, instead of loose sash, we have a structure that takes sash-bars from the ridge to the eaves. These sash-bars are made as shown in the adjoining cut. These sash-bars ran "be purchased for $2.00 per 100 feet, made of clear cypress. They are made by John L. Diez & Co., 580 N. Hal stead St., Chicago, III. You will observe that the channel in the sash-bar, just under the glass, carries all the water outside the building to the eave- spout. As these channels are lial)le to till up, however, in cold weather, it is better to V'^Il BVH K)U OKEl -NHOl'^I have a conductor just inside the house, right along under the glass, close to the outer wall. The drip may then be carried into a cistern, and used to water the plants. Now, this takes pretty much all the drip. There will be some, however, where the panes of glass lap ; and I have many times thought it would be a very nice thing if we could shut out the cold air that comes in be- tween the lapping of the glass. This is now done perfectly by two separate inventions. Instead of having the glass lap, the ends are simply pushed up together; that is, each sheet of glass lies on a level with the one beyond it. Now. to make the joint absolute- ly tight, one of the plans is to put between Ihe edges of the glass a strip of zinc folded like this : \/\ A little soft putty is to be rublied into the groove in the zinc strip, in each side ; then put it between the sheets of glass — a fold of zinc resting over one pane and under the other. Crowd the glass sheets up tight, and your joint is perfect. The other arrangement is by having a strip of zinc folded like the letter T. These strips of zinc are much like the T tins used in hon- ey-boxes for bee-hives, but they are much smaller, however. The T part of the strip goes under;; both sheets of glass, the tongue going up between them. Now, to make all these joints absolutely air and water tight, and, in fV.ct, to make all joints of any kind in greenhouses structures tight, we need to use some thick w hite paint in an oil-can, as directed by Peter Henderson. By means of the oil-can run a slender stream of paint where the glass touches the wood, and also where the glass touches the zinc. Before the paint has time to get dry, blow tine white sand into the paint by means of one Woodason's insect-powder bellows. This paint and sand together, by some mysterious law of nature, form a cement harder than the hardest stone; in fact, it seems to me almost as hard and impervious to water and frost as the glass itself. The process is invaluable in patching up old greenhouses. Fill the joint, or crevice, with plenty of thick paint, then blow in the sand ; and when it is thoroughly dry it seems as if nothing could get it loose. Nev- er put any putty where it is exposed to frost and dampness, but use paint and sand in- stead. Tlie zinc strips, bent in the form of a letter T may be procured of the Cleveland Window-glass Co. ,130 Champlain St., Cleve- land, Ohio., and the other style of strips is furnished by J. M. (iasser, 101 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, O. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUllE. 215 FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. HOW TO FEED BEES IN WINTER, WITH A BOTTLE. T HAVE not had much experience in the business, ^F but I tbinli a very easy and good way to feed ^[ them in the winter is to take a bottle, a pint or quart, or any size will do. Make a syrup of sugar or honey; don't have it too thick; put it in the bottle; have a small hole in the cork, in the center or along the side, just large enough so that, when the bottle is |, inverted, the syrup will drop out very slowly. If it drops too freely, put a strainer of thin muslin or cheese-cloth over the cork before pushing it in. Place the bottle (inverted) right above the cluster; pack the chaff or quilts around it ; or if only a board is over them, bt)re a hole in it large enough to re- ceive the neck of the bt)ttle. Bees are much like pigs— if they can get at it they will eat up almost any quantity of syrup in a few hours. But in getting it drop by drop, a pint or quart will last quite a while. I had a l!4-pint bottle over a colony, and it lasted ten days. Then, to satisfy my curios- ity, I examined it one mild day and found they had Stored away quite a good deal of it in the combs. Coopersdale. Pa., Feb. 15, 1S88. D. A. Harris. Although your device is not exactly new, friend H., I do not know but that it is just as good as any of the more expensive feeders. The objections are, that a single hole is more liable to get filled up, so yoiu- feeder may fail to do its duty, and let a colony starve. If the opening is carefully arranged, how- ever, this is not likely to happen. BEES STEALING WAX AWAY FROM GRAFTS. Last spring I set some grafts near my apiary. Soon after, I noticed that the wax had all been re- moved. I again waxed them, and the next day I found the bees carrying off the wax at a lively rate. I then covered the wax with cloth, and that prevented further damage. I have put in grafts near my bees in previous years, but never expe- rienced an attack of this kind before. THE RESULT OF TAKING A QUEEN AWAY IN THE FALL. In this part of Pennsylvania we expect a late crop of honey from buckwheat and red clover, which I usually leave on the hives till I prepare them for winter. When doing this work last fall I found the queen of one colony in the surplus box when I re- moved it to the honey-house. The bees refused to return to their hive; they strove hard to protect their stores, and, when driven out, clustered on the wall like a swarm. In a case of this kind, if the queen is not returned the colony is ruined. As this is the third case I have known, T concluded others might be benefited by my experience. Shaw's Landing, Pa. J. M. Bkattv. Friend B., I have seen bees at the very trick you mention ; and 1 have sometimes wondered if the varnish, paint, wax, resin, and other kinds of gum Ihev seem so eager for did them any good, or whether they did it just for the fun of the thing, something as they carry sawdust in their hives, in the spring. I do not know of any real use they can make of wax, unless it is to stop up cracks and crevices, and make their hives warmer. But why shoitld they want to do this in the spring V Will you please tell us just what month, and what day of the month it w;is, as nearly as you can, when you saw the bees getting the wax V It cer- tainly is veiy important that the queen l)e not removed wlien taking in honey from the top of the liive. Friend Boardman's l)ee- escape, illustrated on page 200, obviates all danger from such catastrophe. 1 have known queens to be removed with the sur- plus arrangements a great many times, and 1 think, too. when no eggs or brood was found in said surplus arrangements. THE ELEMENTS OF POLLEN. In Gleanings, page 124, Prof. Cook answers the question: "What are the chemical properties of pollen?" The chemical composition of different kinds of pollen is certainly different. Von Planta examined the pollen of Coryfus o ccJana (hazel) and Piims gylocstris la pine-tree) audlfound: Cor.vlus. Water 4.78% . Nitrogen 4.81 Albuminoids 30.06 . Ashes 3.81 ., Hypoxanthine 0.1.5 Sugar (cane) 14.70 Starch 5.26 .. Coloring substance 2.08 .. Cuticula 3.02 21.97 Wax-like substance 3.67 3.56 Fats and oil 4.20 10.63 Resin-like substance 8.41 7.93 1 remark, that hypoxanthine is a substance found in muscles of horses, cattle, and hares. Cuticula is the indigestible part of the pollen— shells or cell- walls. We see that Prof. Cook is correct if he says pollen is richer in albuminoids, than oats or wheat, and it is remarkably rich in sugar too. I intend to write about the other questions, in which I do not quite agree with Prof. Cook. L. Stachelhausen. Selma, Texas, Feb. 22, 1888. Pinus. . 7.66f<', . 2.65 . 16.56 . 3.30 . 0.04 .11.24 . 7.06 FOUL BROOD IN THE VICINITY OF OUR APIARY. Please tell me if there are any cases of foul brood in your vicinity besides in your own apiary. Was there any spreading of the disease by shipping bees from there last year? G. M. Shaver. Fairfax, Mo., Mar. 1, 1888. There is not a single case of foul brood anywhere in our vicinity. We have care- fully examined all the bees round about ; and two colonies keptright across the street, belonging to Mr. Calvert, were perfectly healthy all the time we had the foul brood. All the bees sent out by us last season were furnished by Neighbor II., whose apiaries are more than two miles from ours. He has never seen a single cell of foul brood in any of his, and none of our customers have re- ported any foul brood in any that Neighbor H. sent out. There is one thing, however, that I prefer to mention : Early in the spring last year, we felt so sure that no more foul l)rood was going to start out with us, that we lilled a few orders. As soon as we discovered more traces of it. however, we stopped at once. Well, one of these orders, filled from oiu' own apiary early in the spring, did carry foul brood "to a distant lo- cality. Tlie purchaser was at a distance from any other bees, and we instructed him 21H GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Mab. to burn up every thing at our expense, as soon as we were informed of it. We pre- fer to make this statement to tlie public, that our friends may know what tlieir chances are in sending ns their orders. We shall not commence sending bees or queens again from our own apiary until we have waited a sufficient length of time to be sure that foul brood is not going to break out any more. WHEN AND HOW TO MAKE NUCLEI. As I failed in my efforts at queen-rearing' and making- nuclei last spring', I desire to avoid a repe- tition of the failure this spring; hence I ask you the following questions: , 1. In making nuclei, how do you prevent them from returning to the old hive? 2. What season of the year, all conditions being favorable, do you consider best to start them? I understand the process of getting the queen-cells ready; but after placing them in the hive, the bees all return to the old colony. D. B. Butler. Fort Branch, Ind., Feb. II, 188S. Friend B., we have no trouble, providing we take along two or more combs well filled with brood and well covered with bees, mostly young ones. This last point is ac- complished by removing the combs when the older bees ;ue mostly in the fields. Friend Doolittle takes the (pieen along with them, and leaves her long enough for the bees to be re<'onciled to their new home. In this case you can keep nearly every bee, old and young. The very best time of year is when the bees begin to swarm naturally. If you undertake it at any other season, it will be more apt to be a failure. CAN A FEW BEES BE KEPT ON A SMALL, TOWN LOT, AND NOT BOTHER NEIGHBORS ? 1 am now clerking in the headquarters of the Burlington & Missouri R. R., in this city, and work from 8 a.m. until 5 p. m. I live in the city, and rent a place. I have a lot about 40 x 40 feet on which I could keep some bees. Of course, there are houses close by. Do you think if I got a colony of your purest Italians that they would bother the neigh- bors? and do you think it would pay me to keep them here, and raise comb honey for the market? There is a great deal used in this city, and I wish very much to keep bees. Do you think a woman could care for them while I am at the office? There are several trees in the yard, so they could alight when they swarmed; but I should be safer to clip the queen's wings, I presume. W. H. Prentiss. Omaha, Neb., Feb. 33, 1888. Friend P., there would not be a bit of trouble in keeping one colony of bees in such a location as you mention ; nor will there probably be any trouble in half a doz- en or even a dozen colonies ; but when you get up to forty or fifty, somet)ody will be an- noyed, and will find fault. Almost every objection, however, can be met, except the one of the bees soiling the clothes on wash- days in the spring. This is quite a serious matter, and I do not just know how to get around it. There will also be trouble dur- ing droughts, from the bees getting into houses during the time women make pre- serves, etc. — A woman can take care of four or five colonies very well. If she has strength, and likes the business, she may take care of a dozen or more. It depends on the woman and the will, you see. ]\[8¥E^ ^JiB QaERIEg. HONEY-BOARDS; CAN WE KEEP POLLEN OUT OF THE SURPLUS DEPARTMENT? ^jriLL your zinc queen-excluding ;honey-board keep beebread out of the upper story? Our lower story is an old Langstroth with the Simplicity let down until it rests on the frames below. How can we manage to get a honey-board to work between the two? How can we get a bee-space below? Hallett & Son. Galena, Ills., Feb. 33, 1888. [The queen-excluding honey-board will not keep pollen out of the surplus apartment, although it will discourage the bees from carrying it above, to a certain extent. Pollen is usually stored above when the brood-nest is contracted too close. Con- tracting should not ordinarily reduce the brood- chamber to less than three-fourths of its former capacity. It is a difficult matter to get a honey- board to fit the brood-chamber of one hive and yet work satisfactorily in connection with the upper story of another hive of a different pattern. To make a bee-space, lay ?4-inch strips on the end of the brood-frames and lay the honey-boards on top; that is. unless a bee-space is already provided for. Probably the best way to remedy the matter is to have hives all of one pattern. Our honey-boards are adapted to any of the hives we make, "but can not very well be used in a hive of the old Langstroth pattern.] How can I keep worms out of my hives? Mrs. T. W. Langley. Scotland, Md., Feb. 33, 1888. [The difficulty you speak of will be very quickly remedied if you Italianize your apiary. In Italian apiaries the moth worm is unknown as a pest.] Thanks for remarks relating to light in the cellar. The 48° on the 18th did not induce the bees to stir in the cellar, while a temperature of 40° in the shade, with sunshine, gave them a fly. T. F. Bingham. Abronia, Mich., Feb. 30, 1888. The " trick " you speak of in foot-note to ques- tion 3.5 was tried here about five years ago. A hive was placed at the end of a row. The bees went in- to it. Brood was supplied, and a nice colony pro- duced. J. M. Beatty. Shaw's Landing, Pa. JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. I sowed 5 cents' worth of Japanese buckwheat on the 13th of June, and very thin. My turkeys and chickens ran over it until it was cut, and must have destroyed nearly half of it; but after thrashing and cleaning I had 35 lbs. J.Augustine. Whitehall, Wis., Feb. 39, 1888. light in cei,lars deleterious. I will now tell you what I have to say on winter- ing in light cellars. This fall 1 put one colony in the cellar where it was very light, and they have been very uneasy so far. Great numbers came out every day, and of course they could not get back again, and have died. I think the dark cellars are superior to light ones for this reason. Since I have been taking Glea.mngs I have been very much pleased with it. I like Our Homes very much. G. C. Allan. Churchill, Ont., Canada, Feb. 3,5, 1888. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. How can we prevent the bees from building the combs together? Daniel Hoke. Goshen, Ind., Feb. 23, 1888. [To prevent the bees running brace-combs be- tween the upper and lower set of combs, use a slatted honey-board. To prevent their bracing to- gether in the brood-chamber, space each comb so that there is a distance of from VA to 1 % from cen- ter to center.] My hives are made for 9 frames. How many frames should be put la the top story for extract- ing? I have usually put in 8. Our honey-flow lasts about three weeks. U. Robinson. Laclede, 111. [For extracting, 1 should fill the upper story full of frames. It may be an advantage sometimes to contract the lower story to 6 or 7 frames.] WILD-BUCKWHEAT HONEV. I do not want to give up Gleanings. I need its valuable suggestions in the pursuit of bee-keeping. I have in winter quarters .51 swarms, which are rest- ing from their summer's laboi'S. I secured con- siderable wild-buckwheat honey last fall, and some the season before. Our winter has not been as cold as usual for the time of year. A. D. Shepahd. River Falls, Pierce Co., Wis., Dec. 23, 1887. THE JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT YIELDED AT THE RATE OF 150 BUSHELS TO THE ACRE. The Japanese buckwheat I got of you (I have not yet cleaned it, for it is in the chaff) I think yielded at the rate of about ].")() bushels to the acre, while the common kind, sown in the same field, did not yield any thing. I did not harvest it. If I could not get ans' more of the same kind I would not take 35 dollars for what I have got. Nelson Holt. Prairie Depot, Wood Co., O., Jan. 30, 1888. more ABOUT THE ALLEGED BEE-BAIT SO DE- STRUCTIVE TO BEES, AS RELATED ON PAGE 99, FEB. 1. I see that a correspondent from Pittsburgh wrote that a farmer from Kittanning told him that the bees had been poisoned by bee-bait within 30 or 40 miles around Kittanning. In answer to that I will say that I live 13 miles from Kittanning, and have 23 colonies of bees in good condition, and I have not heard of any bees being poisoned in this neighbor- hood. Bees made very little honey in this locality last summer; but mine are wintering well on sum mer stands. S. Yingst. Sydney, Pa., Feb. 23, 1888. FEEDING IN EARLY SPRING, AND HOW TO DO IT. I have four swarms of bees in good frame hives, and they need feeding. Would you put them in the cellar, or leave them on their 8umm.er stands? What is your method of feeding? F. Bassett. East Kendall, N. Y., Feb. 23, 1888. [I should leave the bees where they are. At this time of year you can give them bricks of granulat- ed-sugar candy, according to directious given on page 220.] HOLY-LAND BRES. Please let me know if you have any Holy-Land queens on hand. If so, what is the best you can do on one, as I lost the one 1 got from you in .July, 1886. There are plenty of bees and stores in the hive. Waynesburg, Pa., Feb., 20, 1888. B. F. Wallace. [We do not handle the Holy-Lund bees any more. The progeny of a pure queen is so vicious and other- wise undesirable, nobody seems to want them. We don't know any one just now who furnishes them. We presume, however, you can get them of D. A. Jones, Beeton, Ontario, Canada. See also adver- tising columns of this journal.] OLD BEE-LITER .VTUKi; FREE OF CHARGE, TO THOSE WHO WILL P.^Y THE POSTAGE. I have a bo.\ full of old bee-literature which I think ought to he a source of pleasui-e to some one during these winter months. To the enthusiastic boys and girls or adults who feel that they can not afford bee-literature, I will send, out of this stook, a reasonable amount to each one who may send the postage. Orders to be filled in rotation, and as my time will permit. Postage will be returned to those whose orders can not be filled. Give address cor- rectly and distinct. Geo. F. Graff. 3518 Cap. Avenue, Omaha, Neb., Jan. 21, 1888. BEES FLYINCJ OUT WHEN THE MERCURY IS SIX BELOW ZERO. Bees fly at si.v below freezing. Can you account for it? Feb. 14, bees had a fine fly. That night the mercury went down to 13 below freezing. Feb. 15, about 12 o'clock, I was out about the hives, and saw about 25 bees come out of a strong colony, fly away, and never return. The mercury was six be- low freezing. W. J. Gore. Bloomfleld, Ky., Feb. 22, 1888. [The reason of your bees flying out when the mer- cury was below freezing was because they were af- fected with dysentery, and the whole colony doubt- less was more or less uneasy. Those bees the most affected fly out, cold or no cold. We have observed bees doing the same thing; an examination of the colonies generally shows that they are affected with dysentery.] FOUNDATION MADE ON FINE WIRE NETTING. In a German bee-paper I see that they sell foundation on fine wire netting, and also on gauze (about like mosquito bar). I drop you these lines hoping you find it to your interest to manufacture wired foundation, or for publication, that people may see it is not a new invention, and nobody could get a patent on wired foundation. P. Martinsburg, W. Va., Feb. 21, 1888. [The matter of making foundation on fine wire netting, cloth, lace, and every thing of that descrip- tion, is very old. ('. C. Vandeusen, who advertises in our columns, has for years furnished foundation strengthened by wire; and as a slender wire every two inches answers every purpose of the netting, why go to the expense of the latter? Most of the foundation used nowadays in brood-frames is strengthened by more or less wires; and as netting would only add to the expense. I do not know why it should be considered desirable.] ALLAYING SWARMING. Please let me know how to keep my bees from swarming. I have a small apiary of 15 colonies. I want to work for honey instead of increase. Jacob Schiefla. Caledonia, Mich., Mar. 1, 1888. [Friend S., this matter of prevention of swarms is a difficult one. When comb honey is the object it can be allayed to a great extent (but not necessa- rily prevented) by giving the bees an abundance of room. The brood-chamber should not be contract- ed, and the supers should be tiered up so that the bees will not at any time begin to be crowded. The queen should also have room to lay, to her heart's content. When the bees find that she has filled all available space they are apt to go where they can get more room for her mnjesty. The prevention of swarms when extiiicted honey is the object is not so diflicult. I believe E. France, of Platteville, Wis., manages by giving the queen a large amount of room, even giving her accessto the second story; and he takes care that the bees have plenty of empty combs for the storage of their honey.] 218 gleani:ngs in bee culture. Mar. With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. All queries sent in for this department should be briefly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, .and marked, " For Our Question-Box." Question No. 40.— Which do ynu consider to he the more ■profitahle industry— poultry-keeping or hce-keep- ingl How do you think the two industries go together^ 1. Bee-keeping. 2. Fairly well. G. M. DOOLITTLE. 1. Bee-keeping. ~. First rate. Mrs. L. Harrison. I have had no experience in poultry-keeping. Chas. F. Muth. In some localities, poultrj'-keeping; and in oth- er localities, bee-keeping. 2. Well. Dr. a. B. Mason. 1. Bee-keeping, emphatically. 3. It depends on taste. We know of enthusiastic apiarists who have no taste for poultry-keeping. Dadant & Son. I have had no very extensive experience with poultry, but I do not think the two Industries would " gibe " very well. W. Z. Hutchinson. 1. Bee-keeping; 2. First rate, for a short time; but one or the other will sooner or later be dropped. They ought to go well together, but generally don't. Geo. Grimm. 1. Bee-keeping. I think poultry-keeping could be made a good industry in connection with bee-keep- ing? 2. I don't think either would be in the way of the other. E. France. T have always found bees to pay l)etter than poultry. The two industries go very well together, especially as both can occupy the same ground. I have always raised chickens in the apiary. Paul L. Viallon. Beekeeping, decidedly. They do not conflict at all. If the poultry-keeper works for winter eggs, as he should, this divides his work well, especially if he rears his chicks io March and April, as he should. A. J. Cook. 1. Bee-keeping. 2. I do not know by experience, but I believe poultry-keeping would go better with bee-keeping, than farming or fruit-raising. My ad- vice in most cases is, to let bee-keeping alone or make it a specialty. James Heddon. 1. Largely a matter of location. Within ten miles of Toledo I should expect the chicken-man to make the most money; but the bee-man will have some leisure winters while the other has not. 2. No man sighs for additional industries when the swarming fever rages among his bees. The combination is possible, and may be desirable to some. E. B. Hasty. 1. Jones makes money at poultry, and would make a poor success with bees. He's an out-and- out chicken-man. Smith is an out-and-out bee- man, and makes bees pay, but would lose on chick- ens. Brown can make an equal gain at either, and Black would make a failure at either. 2. If A. I. Root would become as much interested iQ incubators and brooders as he is in vegetables, I think he would show us how to run poultry so as not to interfere with bees, and make a success of it. C. C. Miller, I think, friends, that George Grimm strikes on tlie truth of the matter. Who- ever takes up any industrj^ expects to devel- op it and enlarge it. Xo one man can very well develop and enlarge bee culture and poultry-raising at one and the same time. He may, it is true, put in his spare time during winters and early spring with poul- try ; but when his business gets to be so large as to take his energies all the year round 1 think one or the other will be dropped. Question No. 41.— L Is the general run of farm- work harder than the bimness of honey-prodiKingf 2. Do you consider the hee-business, as a hiisiness, a comparatively light occupation? Yes, to both questions. Geo. Gri.mm. 1. Yes; 2. No, not if you want it to pay. Paul L. Viallon. 1. Yes. 3. For me it is, if compared with farming. Dr. a. B. Mason. 1. Most certainly; 2. Compared with farming, un- doubtedly. Chas. F. Muth. 1. I think it is; 2. No, 1 do not. There is much toil and perspiration about it. G. M. Doolittle. 1. Yes; 3. It is certainly lighter than farmiog, though there is hard work in it at times. Dadant & Son. 1. Not as heavy: but duriug the swarming and honey season, more confining; 3. I do. Mrs. L. Harrison. 1. 1 think they are about equally hard. 2. Take the whole year, yes. During May and June, uo. A. J. Cook. 1. A little, perhaps; 2. The man in search of a light occupation, who goes into bees, will soon " light out " of the vocation. E. E. Hasty. 1. I think it is, but there's much ia being used to it. I couldn't pitch a single load of hay without being "bushed." Jack Wilson can pitch hay all day, but he would be badly " bushed " to go through with one of my day's work in the busy season. 3. Hardly, compared with other occupations in gener- al; and yet, when a man no stronger than I can fol- low it, it can't be so very heavy. C. C. Miller. 1. It is difficult to giveadefluite answer. There is farming and there is farming. There is the old way of scythes and hand-rakes and pitch-forks and cradles, and binding with bands of straw, and there is the new way with mowers and horse-rakes and horse-forks and self binders and potato-dig- gers and sulky-plows, etc. We doubt if, between modern farming and modern bee-keeping, there is very much difference so far as physical labor is con- cerned, w. z. Hutchinson. 1. No; 2. No. 1 was born and lived on the farm until I was IH. Then I worked ia an iron-furnace winters, and clearing up a 40-acre lot, and farming summers, for several years; worked at coopering, making salt-barrels: in short, I have worked at many kinds of woik. No matter what I do, work is work, and bee-keeping is no exception. I get just as tired working with bees as at any other work that I ever did. It is no light easy work to handle bees, if it is done for a business. E. France, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. iil9 1. Taking- the year round, ordinary farming de- mands more muscular effort than properly arrang- ed boe-keeping; but it is not so hard upon the nerves, nor does it require that a person be so quick and handy. ^. r do not consider practical honey-producing a light occupation. I consider It ill adapted to women, although some of our ladies, who, no doubt, are exceptionally adapted to it, suc- ceed quite well. James Hkddon. I should say, friends, that a good deal de- pends on the notion of the individual. Wliere there is a will there is a way. When I was a boy, the driest and dullest, and most fatiguing and disagreeable work I ever helped to do was getting out manure, es- pecially when it came to cleaning the hog- pen. Well, it is a little funny to think that this is just the work 1 enjoy most of all now. The secret of it is, however, I have discover- ed that the contents of the hog-pen is great for raising vegetables ; and the thought of what the result is going to be, makes the laborious and disagreeable work pleasant. When I was a boy I did not consider the out- come. Perhaps father did not explain it to me ; and I am afraid it would have taken a great amount of explanation to make me love the work just then. Now, bee culture may, in the light of the above, be considered a light occupation ; and, if you will excuse the strain on the imagination, I should like to susrgest that cleaning hog-pens may be considered a light occwpation, in the same line (at least under some circumstances) perhaps we had better add, also, " for the time being." Question No. V2.— What is meant hy a ftee-heeper who is a specialist "! A man whose main occupation is bee culture. Dadant & Son. <1ne who makes it his principal business. Mrs. L. Harrison. One who makes bee-keeping his main or principal business. W. Z. Hutchinson. One who depends on bee-keeping for his bread and butter. A. J. C- don't go in I ;sprinkle a little water on them, and they think it is raining, and they go in and consider their new home very nice. If they don't like it they go away. I am 13 years of age. Lewis E. Geer. Wallace, Steub. Co., N. Y. KEEPING SWARMS OF BEES FROM GOING OFF, TILL PAPA COMES. I have to watch papa's bees when mamua is not at home. I saw the queen [laying eggs. She is a very nice bee. I have never hived any swarms. I have settled them and sent for my papa, as he was running a locomotive. I had to carry water till he came. When papa got home they were all right. Our bees come out everj' warm day, and we have to pick them up and bring them in the house and warm them. Sometimes we get stung. James M. Heverly. Snow Shoe, Centre Co., Pa., Jan. 31. the fourth-commandment breakers. They commenced bringing in pollen from the water-elm on Sunday, the flrst day of Feb., in 1885; commenced again bringing in pollen from the water-elm on Sunday, the Jilst day of Jan., 188fi; then again they commenced bringing in pollen on Saturday (Mr. T. D. Waller's Sabbath), the 22d day of Jan., 1887; commenced bringing in pollen from the water-elm on Sunday, the 39th day of Jan., 1888. Pa has 81 colonies of bees. The cold blizzard did not appear to hurt them. They remain on their summer stands in Simplicity hives. Lizzie L. Mullin, age 13. Oiikl and, Colorado Co.. Texas, Feb. 14, 1888. FREEZING AND UNFREEZING BEES. I have tried to perform the experiment you asked us to, but the weather has'been so extremely cold that every bee that chilled froze. I revived only one in 24 hours, out of eleven. When the weather was not so extremely cold they nearly all revived in two days; but I never could induce one to walk into its own hive after I placed them on the land- ing-board. They would walk off and tiy flrst (they will chill very quick). After they had once been chilled I would go and pick them up and bring them to life, and try it again. This I would do before I was successful. Flossie J. Eldhidge. New Bedford, Mass., Feb. 4, 1888. from a little bov who has 7 sisters and 4 brothers; hoav he found a swarm of BEES. I found a swarm of bees one year ago last sum- mer. I hurried home and told pa, and he went and got them In his hiving-bo.x and brought them home and put them in a Simplicity hive. They are as good as any of his bees now. Pa gave them a pure Italian queen last summer. I was coming home from my sister's when I found them. I have seven sisters and four brothers and three nephews. Our bees did not make much honey last summer, and some of them have starved already; but if pa had been well enough to take care of them he would have flxed them all right. He was laid up with a lame back over two months. Noble Purdy, age 12. Killbuck, O., Jan. 13, 18S8. buckwheat; carpenter bees, etc My papa got one pound of Japanese buckwheat of you, and raised 50 lbs. It was a poor season for buckwheat, it being so dry. We have loO stands of bees. Last year we got only 15C0 lbs. of honey. Our bees are all Italians and nlbir.os. I like them best, for they are so gentle. Papa can go to the hive without any smoker, and work with them. I have a little brother. He was one' year old the 6th of last December. We call him Huber Gilbert, after ^22 (jILEANINGS IK BEE CULTUllE. Mar. Ernest's little brother, aud G. M. DoolitHe. In the summer be would pick up bees, and they stung- him; but he seemed not to mind it. He almost al- ways had a swollen finger. I read on page 950, Dec. 15, where Evinger dug out the bumble-bees. When my lather first went to bee-keeping he was working in an old house, and he sawed into a board with a bumble-bees' nest in It. There were about a dozen bees in it. Some were white-faced, some black- faced. I put them by the Are, and they came to, and one of them stung me. It was cold weather about February. Eugene H. Hixon, age 13. [,oc'k .53, Washington Co., Md. 1 should hardly think the bees your papa found in the board were bumble-bees, but rather the carpenter bees, sometimes called by the long hard name of Xylocopa. See Prof. Cook's article on p. 82, Gleanings for Feb. 1. TBB^cce CQiiWMN. A GAIN OF 36 I,BS. IN FLESH, FOR STOPPING THE POISON. K. SBYMOUR G. BUTTON, of this place, gave up the use of tobacco last June, after using it over ten years, and requested me to get him a smoker. In the past seven months, after giving up the use of tobacco, he has gained in weight from 163 to 199 pounds, and is still gaining. If you will send him a smoker I will see that you are paid for it if he ever uses tobacco again. Edqai{ W. Philo. Half Moon, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1888. A LADY TAKES THE PLEDGE AND TAKES A SMOKER. Mrs. Mary Bartlett, on presentation of Glean- ings, promises to quit smoking. Send her a smok- er; and if she breaks her pledge 1 will paj^ for it. Dec. 27, 1887. L. D. Coffman. I stopped using tobacco four years ago. Some of my neighbors have stopped using the weed through my influence, so you see whei'e I for one quit, 1 got three more to do so. Let all non-users stand up and do all they can for their fellow-men. Angus, Neb., Feb. 10, 1888. Daniel Miner. GOING security FOR A NEIGHBOR. An old friend of mine, Mr. Amos Wilson, who has been a slave to tobacco for the past 25 years, prom- ises, by the help of God, never to use it again. If you see fit to send me a smoker, I will give it to him ; and if he ever uses the weed again, I will pay you for it. I use a Clark smoker, and could not do with- out it. .1. C. Frisbee. Suflfolk, Va., Feb. 21, 1888. THE LONGER THE TIME GETS, THE PROUDER ' GET. I have been a slave to tobacco for over seven years, but now am happy to say that I am a free man once more. It is now over six months since I quit using the filthy weed; and the longer the time gets, the prouder I get; so if you think that I am en- titled to a smoker, please send me one; and if lev- er use it again, I will pay you the full amount. Coulterville, 111., Jan. 17, 1888. John L. Bonnat. GIVING UP TOBACXO AND TAKING UP BEKS. I need a smoker very much. I am afflicted with consumption. I have decided to, raise bees and honey, instead of sraoKing, and hereby pledge my- self never to smoke again. If I am entitled to a smoker for my pledge, send it along. Fredonia, Kan., Dec. 30, 1887. J. W. Stephen. Friend S., you have omitted one little item in regard to our tobacco pledge. He who receives a smoker needs to say, " If I ever use tobacco again in any form I will pay you for the smoker ;" and after having writ- ten this in your own handwriting, sign your name to it." If some good responsible "man signs the contract for you, it will do just as well ; that is, if said man undertakes to pay us for the smoker providing you are ever seen using tobacco again, it will do as well. SIGNED, SEALED, AND WITNESSED. This is to certify that I the undersigned, Charles M. Lynch, Jr., of Trenton, N. J., do promise to quit using tobacco upon receipt of a smoker. Witnessed by E. E. Guy. Charles M. Lynch. Trenton, N. J., Nov. 28, 1887. That is the sort, friend L.; but you forgot to add the small item about sending the pay in case you break your pledge. You see, friends, our tobacco pledge is of such a nature that you can get out of it at any time if you find it burdensome to bear ; and you can get out (^f it honorably, too, by handing over the small amount of 70 cents. Surely such a bondage is not a heavy one, is itV OUE UNFAITHFUL. I have never chewed tobacco, but have been given somewhat to smoking cigars. I have come to the conclusion that it does mo no good, consequently I have pledged myself to smoke no more. If you think I am entitled to a smoker, please send it. I do not come begging; but so many send in their "quit claims" I thought I might as well send mine. I saw a friend smoking here last winter, after receiving the smoker, which I do not think business, although I do not wish to mention the name. I have 85 colo- nies of bees in the cellar, which seem to be in good shape. We have 2' .. feet of snow here in the woods. Mercury has been as low as 27° below zero here. Hillsborough, Wis., Jan. 4, 1888. E. Fox. Why, friend Fox, it is a duty you owe to your friend as well as to Gleanings, to tell us his name. 1 think, however, the better way would be to go to him privately and say something like this : '' My friend, I saw your name in Gleanings as one who has prom- ised to pay for a smoker if he ever uses to- bacco again. Now, as we regard you as a man who is good for all contracts over his own name in black and white, we expect you to pay Mr. Root for the smoker at once, if you have not already done so." Perhaps some of the friends are careless or thought- less about this. If one who has taken the pledge puts a single grain of tobacco in his mouth, or takes a wliiff of tobacco smoke through a pipe or cigar, there is no honor- able course open to him but to hand over the price of the smoker. If he wants to turn over a new leaf and commence again, all well and good ; but even this does not release him from his promise. One must hold his word and honor in very low estimation who would break it for a paltry 70 cents, especial- ly when this promise has been made right out in public, before the eyes of men as well as before the all-seeing eye of his ('reator. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 223 0aR pepEg. Also I say unto you. Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: but he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.— Luke 13:8,9. Tip T the close of otir prayer-meeting last ^llk Sunday evening, an invitation was ]^r given to those who would like the ■^^ prayers of Christians, to rise. Per- haps half a dozen or more arose ; that is, half a dozen or more who had never risen before. Some of them may have said, as they rose, " Pray for me ; " others said noth- ing. Onr pastor, who was leader of the meeting, simply asked those to rise who wotild like to indicate, by so doing, that they felt it would be a privilege by this act, to say, " Pray for me." The sober and serious looks of all present indicated that very serious thoughts were in the minds of almost all there. W^e had been considering, all through the meeting, a very serious and sacred silbject, and all felt the solemnity of the occasion. Perhaps most of those present remembered sins and weaknesses they had been guilty of during the preceding week ; and more than one was really and truly hungering and thirsting after righteousness. I remember the feeling uppermost in my own heart at the time, and I said mentally, if not aloud, " Gnd have mercy on me a sinner." At the close of the meeting, the pastor said he would like to have a little talk with those who had risen for prayers. He had also invited others to remain, who felt like doing so. Of the hundred or more who were present, perhaps fifteen or twenty remained. After a few brief prayers, and some remarks from the leader, in regard to the danger of indecision and delay, he began to ask how many of those who had risen for prayers were willing to indicate, V»y rising again, that they would at that time and in that place accept Christ as their Savior. You have all doubtless been present at such meet- ings. Perhaps you have at such a time been impressed with the sacredness and the solemnity of the act of rising after such an invitation. Can it indeed be true, that so simple a matter as rising or sitting still fixes the future V There were boys and girls whom I knew well, right before me, perhaps on either side, who were just start- ing out in life. They had no fixed principles for either very good or very bad. 1 presume they had never thought very much about the matter of uniting with Cliristian people, or of holding aloof from them. One young lady whom I had talked with on the suliject, decided there that evening that Jesus should henceforth and for ever be her portion. The decision was made by simply rising. I don't know that she spoke a word until questioned somewhat by the leader. She then s;iid siie had for many years considered the matter of following Christ in such a way that he should be first, last, and all. I knew she had had some experiences in her life that told her pretty plainly M'hat it was t<^ choose Christ, or to choose what many young people might consider liberty to do as they please in regard to matters of conscience. May be she did not fully comprehend all that was included in this little act of rising to such an invita- tion, and, for that matter, I am not sure that any of us do when we make the decision. But I felt sure, when I saw her rise, that God would make it plainer as she com- menced taking these gradual steps from earth toward heaven. A young man present, who had once be- fore risen for prayers, did not rise in an- swer to this last invitation. When the pas- tor spoke his name, and asked him if he was not ready then to choose Christ for his friend and leader through life, he shook his head ; and as 1 saw him shake his head, a chill went over me. This young man knew of Christ and of Chrisfs teachings. He knew what it was to be a Christian. He knew what he must do to be a consistent follower of Christ, an n s( ttiiv a trime to ( iie ■^uif. cr Imimiui: it in the line, v i..„in„' at llu Imttoni and s< ttinn ".i.Xfil lust; sliak- ing about M hi n 111 Miu'ahne inslioit it you liislike to pry and wren, b \i>iir li iiiu >■ bn ak ( oiiil •- .u'ul kill bee.s while handling tliciLi, \ oil \m1I Ii.^ jilt, im-, 1 iMtb Ibis hive. VERY CONVENIENT. AGENTS WANTED. inC For "1st l"riiici|ilcsin lie- Culture. " It tells how to Divide, III Transfer. lMtroducerQueens,Feed, Ignite, Stop Robbing, Ac. ill Money returned upon return of book, if you are not satisfied EVERY GOOD FARMER WHO HAS USED The Columbia Chilled Plow Sayjti it is tlie Liulitest Draft, Easieist to Handle, Stroiig.e!>it and lYIoiiit Durable, does Better Work in all Soili>> ; in short, tlie Bej^t Plow in tlie Market. Don't fail to try a Coliiiubia before purchasing any other. Send for price list, testimonial, and calendar. If they are not sold in your vicinity send for Special in- troducing Price. Mention this paper. COLUMBIA PLOW WORKS, COLUMBIA CO. Copake Iron Works, N. Y. 2-STORY L. Hive, 80c We still have a few of those 2-story L. hives with II) lirood-frames, for BOc each, in crate.s of 5 or more. Who will have them'? Speak liefore it is too late. SJTIITH A: SMITH, 6ttdb KENTON, OHIO. OADAKT'S F071TDATI01T FACT0B7, WHOLESALE tndSETAIL. See advertisement in another column. 3tfbd Co.sf.s lt;s.-i fhtiii '' frttt.s per iccrk. THE CANADIAN BEE JOURNAL. THE FIRST DOLLAR WEEKLY IN THE WORLD. THE D. A. JONES CO., FUBLISHEES, BEETON, ONTABIO, CAN. D. A. Jones is its editor, and this fact is a guaran- tee of its worth. It is thoroughly practical and con- tains weekly excellent articles from leading bee- keepers in the United States and Canada. Fifty-two numbers make a volume of lOtO pages. American currency and stamps at par. Samples free. HEADQUARTERS For Cardi* and Sta- tionery for Bee-keep- ers and Others. Besides our beautiful eight-color chromo card, we have other neat designs, also a fine selection of fancy address cards, lor old and young, for business and amusement. Also two and three letter mono- grams, all at low prices. See Here, 50 fancy print- ed cards, 1,5 cts. ; 300 envelopes, 300 letter-heads, printed, $1. Package 2.") assorted cards, 10 cts. Neat box of cards and honey candies, 15 cts. Circulars free. Address J. H. Martin, Hartford, N. Y. 20tfdb E. W. PITZER, hTlLSDALE, IOWA, Producer of and dealer in Italian Bees, comb and extracted Honey; also M. B. Turkeys, Toulouse Geese, Langshan, P. Kock, and White R. Comb Leghorn Chickens. Our breeding stock is first-class, and judiciously mated. Send for price list. 58db 1888 GLEANINGS INnBEE CULTURE. 229 G. B. LEWIS & CO. WE make the best Bee-Hives, the best Sections, the best Shipping-Crates, the best Frames, &c. ^^We sell them at the Lowest Prices. Write for free Illustrated Catalogue. Itfdb G. B. LEWIS &CO., WATERTOWN, WIS. NOW IS YOUR TIME! DON'T WAIT! NO. 1 POPLAR SECTIONS, $3.50 per 1000. Special rates on 5000 or more. Sam- ples free, and price list of Bees, Hives, Frames, Crates, Supers. Fdn.. etc. I can suit you. 5-6d H. P. LANUDOH, East Constable, Franklin Co., N. Y. BEE- KEEPERS' iOPPLIES. HlVfeiS, FRAMES, CASES, SECTIONS, COMB FOUNDATION, ETC. Send your address for fkee circular to KEYNOIiDS BROS., 5tfdb Williamsburg, Ind. 4 YOU BUY your supplies for 1888, send for my 33-pag-e illustrated Catalogue, de- scribing my new reversible-frame hive and T super. They are per- fection. Address 6tfdb E. S. ARMSTRONG, JERSEYVILLE, ILLS. NEARLY THIRTY TONS -OF- sc:>IjX> ii W. T. Lyons, Deeherd, Franklin Co., Tenn. FOR CASH. Pure Italian queens in April. One untested, $1.00; one-half dozen, $5.50; per dozen, $10.00. In May and after, one-fourth less. Guarantee safe arrival. 67d Address S. E. ALDEBMAK, Clinton, Sampson Co., 17. C. 6-7d WANTPn persons who wish early queens, to If Mil I CUi know that I have the best pure Ital- ians. You want good ones— those are the kind I ship— hardy, prolifle, and which produce the best of honey-gatherers. Satisfaction guaranteed. Best of references given. R. H. Campbell, 6d Madison, Morgan Co., Ga. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. For the benefit of friends who have black or hybrid queens which they want to dispose of, we will insert notices free of charge, as below. We do this because there is ha»'dly value enough to these queens to pay for buying them up and keep- ing them in stock; and yet it is oftentimes quite an accommo- dation to those who can not afford higher-priced ones. Ready to mail now, 30 mismated queens, Italians, at 50 cts. each. G. Oberkampf, Crane's Mills, Comal Co., Texas. 1S8? GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 285 Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our usual rates. All ad's intended for this department must not exceed 5 lines, and you must say you want your ad. in this de- partment, or we will not be responsible for any error. You can have the notice as many lines as you please; but all over five lines will cost you according to our regular rates. This clfpartinent is intended only lor bona-Hde exchanges. Ex- changes for cash or for juice lists, or notices offering articles fur sale can not be insei tid iiiwier this head. For such our reg- ular rates of 20ets. a line will be chai'ged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. WANTED.— A beo-keeper to take charge of my apiary, on shares. . Robert Blacki.,ock. 4 8db Kilgore, Boyd Co., Ky. ^17 ANTED. —Correspondence on apples, potatoes. y V seed-potatoes, cabbage, onions, small fruit, and fruit and produce generally. Consignments solic- ited. Will <]uoto market at any time. Eakle Cltckkngeh, 4tfdL) General Commission Merchant. 119 East Town St., Columbus, O. WANTED.-To exchange for any thing of a stan- dard market value, full colonies of Italian bees on 8 L or Simplicity frames, in shipping-boxes, at S^t.dO per colony. 5tfdh VV. A. Sanders, Oak Hower, Hart Co., Ga. WANTED.— To exchange one first-class incubator, the '• Perfect Hatcher," for bees or wax. H. O. Salisbury, Gcddes, Onondaga Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To work wax and exchange fdn. for bees, eggs of best strains of poultry, and straw- berry-plants. C. H. McFadden, 5-6-7d Clarksburg, Moniteau Co., Mo. WANTED.- To exchange a Towmbly knitting- machine, with both fine and coarse plates, in ftrst-class order, for bees or supplies. Address •i-Vd J. Gardner, Westville, Ind. WANTED.— To exchange 3 Novice honey-knives. Cook's Manual, 7 upright show-cases, lt)x26 in., double-barrel (English twist) shot-gun and case, and tested Jtiilian queens, in June, for thoroughbred poultry and eggs. P. Rocks and W. and L Wyan- dottes i)rcterred. C. H. Watson. 0-7d Newtown, Bucks Co., Pa. WANTED.— To exchange Quinby Chatt Hives, with 10 standing frames, one 4-frame honey- e-vtractor, now, for beeswax, foundation, or offers. Mrs. Oliver Cole. tjtfdb Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange a bicycle, 54-inch Ameri- can Challenge, for bees and supplies. A bargain. 6-7d E. Carter, 611 Hampton St., Bay City, Mich. WANTED.— To exchange 250 colonies of bees, for horses, mules, wagons, buggies, and 4 h. p. en- gine, or any thing useful on a plantation. :iltfd Anthony Opp, Helena, Phillips Co., Ark. WANTED.— To exchange W. F. B. Spanish and Brown Leghorn eggs, from flrst-class fowls, for any hardy raspberry plants. Moore's Early or Niagara grapevines, or any good strawberry plants. John Burr, Braceville, (Jrundy Co., 111. WANTED.— To exchange Johnston's Sweet-rasp- berry plants, for new varieties of strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry, or plum and sour-cherry trees. 7-lOdb P. Sutton, Exeter, Luz. Co., Pa. \17ANTED.— To exchange a full-blood Jersey cow, VV six years old, her ]irogcny all heifei-s, will be fresh first of July, bred to registered Jersey, for Simplicity hives and bees. H. Logsdon, 7d Beck's Mills, Holmes Co., O. WANTED.— To exchange bees in Heddon hives, for a light one-hort^e buggy. 79db S. C. KiKKPATRicK, Hodgenville, Ky. WANTED.— To exchange Cuthbert red-raspberry roots, and Tyler black-cap, for 1-lb. sections, fdn., beeswax, pounds of bees with queen, or fe- male ferrets. 7-8d M. Isbell, Norwich, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange eggs of thoroughbred Langshan and Black Minorca chickens, also pair of Wyandotte chickens, for beeswa.v. comb fdn., tested queens, Flobert rifle, printing-press and outfit, type-writer, or any thing useful. 7d E. P. Aldridge, Franklin Square, Col. Co., O, WANTED.— To exchange best queen and drone trap made, for extractor or bee-supplies. Everybody send for circular. J. A. Batchelder. Keene, N. H. WANTED.— To exchange 4 ducks and 1 drake, thoroughbred Pekins, and P. Rock eggs, fine stock, for comb fdn. or bees. L. W. Light y, Mulberry, Pa. WANTED.— To exchange reliable vegetable and flower seeds, also plants, for printing-press in good order. George Mitchell, 7d La Camas, Wash. Ter. WANTED.— To exchange .^.0.000 raspberry-plants, Turner, Cuthbert, and Philadelphia, for fence- wire, wire for grapevines, poultry-netting, paint, nails, or any thing 1 can use on a small-fruit or bee farm. Address R P. Lupton, Excelsior, Minn. WANTED.— To exchange bees by the pound, for one Houdan cockerel, and one Plymouth Rock cockerel. Write before you ship the birds. 7d Thomas Gedye, La Salle, La Salle Co., III. WANTED.— To exchange eggs, for foundation, bees, or supplies. P. W. Corya, M. D., Moore's Hill, Dearborn Co., Ind. NEW AND SECOND-HAND FOUNDATION-MILLS AT REDUCED RATES. We have on hand the following fdn. mills that wc desire to dispose of ; and to do so we quote ihese special prices: One 14-inch mill, made about 3 years ago, but has never been used. This mill makes fdn. with the round, or improved cell. It is as good a mill as we could make a year ago; but with our new machine for cutting the rolls we do much bet- ter work now, hence we offer this mill at the very low figure of f25.(iu. Regular price $40.00. One 12-incb mill, second-hand; has been used about one season, but is in good order. We will sell for $15.00. Regular price $30.00. One 10-inch mill, made about 3 years ago; has been used almost none: it is at Church Creek, Md. Regular price, $20.00. Will sell for $15.00. One 6-inch di'one-mill, new; never been used; just right for making thin drone fdn. for section boxes. Regular price $15.00. We will sell it for $13.00. One 6-inch Olm mill, made 6 or 7 years ago; has been used a little, but will do nicely for one who wants to make his own fdn. We will sell it for $8.00. One 6-inch Pelham mill. A new machine, never been used. We took it in exchange for one of our make. Will sell it for $8.00. A. I. Root, Medina, O. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. For the benefit of friends who have black or hybrid queens which they want to dispose of, we will insert notices tree of charge, as below. We do this bec«use there is hardly value enough to these queens to pay for buying them up and keep- ing them in stock; andyetit is oftentimes quite an accommo- dation to those who can not afford higher-priced ones. For Sale.— A few hybrid Italian queens; three for $1.00. W. P. Davis, Goodman, N. C. I will have 10 black queens ready to mail May 1st, at 30 cts. each. I have also a few mismated Italians at 50 cts. each, all of 1887 rearing. Stamps taken. Satisfaction guaranteed. Fred Leininger, Douglas, Putnam Co., Ohio. 2^6 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Apr. To saj- that E. Baer, of Dix- on, lU., has sold out his sup- ply business to the Goodell A: Woodworth Mltr. Co , who will sell V-ffi'oove basswocd seelions at from $2 75 to •54.00 per M. Other supplies correspondingly low. Sam- ples and circular free. Ad- dress the GOODELL&, WOODWORTH MFG. CO., 3tfdb ROCK FALLS, WHITESIDE GO., ILL. XlMew Orleans Apiary.>o 1 will breed and mail guaranteed pure Italian queen-bees from the best stock for business, for one dollar each, the coming- season. Orders solicit- ed, and queens mailed upon the receipt of order. I will also sell 350 colonies of Italian l)ees in Lang-- stroth hives, cheap, or any number of colonies to suit purchaser. I can ship by river, railroad, or steamship to any point. Address etfdb J. \l\ ^^INDEK, New Orleans, L.a. iOUlVD.VnON,l(l-lb. lots or more. 35 cts. per lb. Stfdb JAS. MoNEIli, Hud*i«oii, N. Y. For Cards and Sta- tionery lor Bee-keep- ers and OtUcrs. Besides our beautiful eight-color chromo card, we have other neat designs, also a fine selection of fancy address cards, for old and young-, for business and amusement. Also two and three letter mono- gracns, all at low prices. See Here, 50 fancy print- ed cards, 15 cts.; 300 envelopes, 300 letter-heads, printed, $1. Package 25 assorted cards, 10 cts. Neat box of cards and honey candies, 15 cts. Circulars free. Address J. H. Martin, Hartford, N. Y. 20tfdb FOR CASH. Pure Italian queens in Ajjril. One untested, $1.00; one-half dozen, $5 5'i; per dozen, $10.00. In May and after, one-fourth less. Guarantee safe arrival. 67d Address D. E. ALDEEMAN, Clinton, Sampson Co , N. C. 6-Td I nni^ UFRF I 20 fresh egffs in season, for on- I.UUI\ nt.n& : \y ^i^. aigo agent for thor- oug-hhred Cattle, S\\ine, and Sheep, of fine pedig-ree, and Silver live-stock powder. Write for what vou want. Orders tilled in rotatioTi. 5 8db Fillmore Decker, New Florence, West'd Co., Pa., Breeder of Pare Jirown T.ef/liorn Fowls, IMuclea an^ Queens 7j At Living Rates. ^'p Send for Circular and Price List to C. O. VAlKiHN, 5tfdb Coliinilila, Tenn. MUTH'S HONEY-EXTRACTOR, SQUARE GLASS HONEY-JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY-SE€TIONS, &c., &c. PERFECTION COIiD-BLiAST SMOKERS. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, O. P. S. — Send 10-cent stamp for " Practical Hints to Bee-KeeperB." Itfdb NEARLY THIRTY TONS OF It is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicag^o, III.; C. F. Muth. Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich.; F. L. Doug-herty, Indian- apolis, Ind.; It. J.Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind.; E. S. Armstrong-, Jerseyville, 111.; E. Kretchmer, Coburg-, Iowa; P. I;. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., M.J. Dickason, Hiawatha, Kansas: J. W. Porter, Charlottesville.AlbemarleCo., Va. ; E. R.Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y. ; D. A. Fuller, Cherry Valley, 111.; J. B. Mason & Sons, Mechanic Falls, Maine; G.L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis. ; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wis.; J. >iattoon, and W. J. Stratton, Atwater. O., Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Free- burg-, 111.; Geo. E. Hilton. Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., U09 15th St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg-. Co., Hock Falls, 111.; J. A. Roberts, Edgar, Neb., and numerous other dealers. Write for free samples, and price list of bee sup- plies. We yuiirantec FA^ei-y inch of our foundation equal to xmnpie in ewni respect. Every one who buys it is pleased with it. CHAS. DADANT A: SON, 3btfd Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illinois. XS74 YOU BUY ^^^*~^ your supplies for 1888, send for my ^^ 32-page illustrated Catalogue, de- scribing- my new reversible-frame hive and T super. They are per- fection. Address C C Stfdb 4>-^\ JERSEYViLLE, LLS. HIVES, FRAMES, CASES, SECTIONS, COMB FOUNDATION, ETC. Send your address for fuee cif?cui^ar to REVNOI.DS BROS., 5tfdb AVilllanisburg, Ind. Nothing Succeeds Like Success. I have been successful in the production of Comb Honey for the past ten years, and my little pam- phlet "How I Produce Comb Honey," briefly explains the method 1 pursue. By mail, 5 cts. \)ev copy; per 100, *3.00. My illustrated price list of General Sup- plies, Bees, and Queens, free. Address 2-7db GEO. E. HILTON, Fremont, Mich. 200 COLONIES ofBEES FOR SALE IN MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. Both Hofiiian and Moon frames. For particulars and prices, address D. E. FLOYD, 6-9db Fort Plain, N. Y. WRITE TO JOHN CALLAM & CO., LUMBER DEALERS, KENTON, OHIO, — K01{ PRICES ON— BEE-HIVES, SECTIONS, And General Supplies for Bee-keepers yew Factory. Low Prices. Good TT'orfc. :i-U db WANTPn 1000 CUSTOMERS forPnre Italian bees iVHIl I LU \- queens. Address, MARTIN & MACY, o-lll) No. Manchester, Indiana, Oi- J. J. Martin \'^ Co., Publishers of Kaj'sof Light. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 287 FREE! FREE! FREE! Don't fail to send your address on a postal card for the March number of the American Apiful- turl!OOl,ITTL.E, 5-13d Borodino, Onondaga Co., N. Y. ITALIAN T)KR- HIVES, AIICCM& r\ T-Tiy CASES, SEC- QUEENS A> ^^[s/if.r^^ Honey- Extractor!*, and Fruit - Ooxes. 3tfd SEND FOR PRICE LIST. B.J. MILLER & CO., - Nappanee, ind. .6^ ^avters in th e ©I ITALIAIT BEES and QXJEE^S. Full colonies in 10-fraine Simplicity hives, $8.00. Tested queens, in May. .$3. 50. Dollar queens after June 15th, $1.00. July. 00c. In the 7 years we have shipped liees and queens, have not had one single complaint. SHOWN LEGHORN EGGS. Totld strain. No. 1 stock, with unlimited range, fl.00perl3; .fl.50 per 30. Safe arrival guaranteed. Illustrated catalogue free. 5tfd A. F. BRIGHT, Mazeppa, Minn. Oliver Foster, of Iowa. Italian bees, fiO cts. per lb. in July, to SI. 00 in April. Pkgs. with queens, brood, etc., cheap. No foul hroocl near. BEE SUI»PI,1ES.-Rest sections, cases, and hives. Catalogue free. Send 5 one-cent stamps for pamphlet, "HOW TO EAISE COMB HONEY,"— chuck full of practical information " in a nutshell." 4-1.5db Address Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, la. DADANT'S FOONDATIOM rACTOSY, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. See advertisement in another column PURE ITALIAN BEES In best hives, double-walled, in winter; 8 frames, 1314x1314 in. each, at .f5.00 per colony; or same in light strong shipping-boxes, 75 cts. less. Discount on l^arge lots. DR. ^i. W. YOIUVG, 3-5-7d liexington. Mo. ZSIITIPIilCITV B- hives, 2 covers, 10 brood- frames, 7 wide frames, and 56 one-piece 1-lb. sections, all in Hat, $1.10. Leconte, Kieffer's Hybrid, and Bartlett pear-trees, 30 cts. each; 13 White-Leghorn chicken eggs. .50 cts. 3-5-7d T. A. GUNN, Tullahoma, Tenn. WANTED.— The bee-keepers in vicinity of N. Y. City, to buy the V^aii Deiiseii Hive- Clamp from me (I keep a stock on hand), at regu- lar manufacturer's prices. T. O. PEET, 3d 27 Park Row, N. Y. City. I/I^E HANDLE THE BEST SUPPLIES or ILL MAyVIACTrilEKS. We also make the best smoker on the market. All dealers should handle it. Send for wholesale list. Jt should be in every apiary; let every bee- keeper send for my illustrated catalogue, free. All implements used in an apiary, sold at reasonable rates. Beeswa.x bought at Gleanings quotations. 3i0db W. E.CLARK, Oriskany, N. Y. FREE! FREE! FREH L'pou application, full line of Our 38th Annual Price List. A BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. CHOICE COMB FOUNDATION AND WHITE-POPLAR SECTIONS A SPECIALTY. 100 OOLOf^lESOF CHOICE ITALIAN BEES tor sale cheap. Also NUCLEI'S COLONIES and QUEENS. Orders booked now. Address WM. W. GARY & CO., stfdb Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass. Successors to Wji. W. 0.\RY. (Please mention Gleanixgs.) FOR SALET Italian Queens and Bees by the Colony. Nucleus, and Pound. Dealer in Bce-keepp7s' supplies. Ad- dress OTTO KLEINOW, .5tfdb (Opp. Fort Wayne Gate), Detroit. Mich. BEES, Queens, Hives, Given Comb Foundation, Apiarian Supplies, German Carp, Small-fruit Plants. Send for catalogue free. E.T. Flanagan, Belleville. Ills. l-34db. LIQUID GLUE. Few words ol' praise are neces- sary for this excellent article, so widely known and advertised. It is one of the best of liquid glues. Always ready for use. Mends every thing. We have 4 diflferent- sized packages. Glass bottle like the adjoining cut for 10 cts. ; 75 cts. for 10; S;7.00 per 100. Half -gill tin cans with screw cap, and brush fastened to inside of cap, price 15 cts. each ; «1.10 for 10; *10.50 per 100. This latter can be sent by mail for 10c. extra for postage and packing. Gill tin can with brush, 30 cts.; 10 for fl.50; 100 for .HU.OO; '/2-plnt tin cans, no brush, 35 cts.; $3.30 for 10; $31.00 per 100. LePage's Mucilage, in large bottles, with a nice enamel-hiindle brush, at 10 cts. each; 75 cts. for 10; $7.00 per 100. This is the best mucilage made, and will do nicely inlmany cases for glue, although it is pretty thin to be used as glue. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. LEPAGE'S 28S GLEANINGS lis BEE CULTURE. Apr. KENWARD-HALL APIARY TESTED QUEENS AT ONE DOLLAR EACH. We do not send out warranted queens. Our Tested Queens ai-e sold at the price asked for war- ranted. Our queens are from imported mothers, are large, LIGHT, PROLIFIC, and, ABOVE ALL, A PLEASURE TO HANDLE, and will prove A No. 1 in every respect. Satisfaction guaranteed. See ad. in Glean- ings March I. Untested queens $ 7.5 3-frame nucleus, 3 lbs. bees, tested queen - 3 00 Orders tilled promptly by return mail. Special rates to dealers. Write for price list. J. W. K. SHAW & CO., (Iberia Parish.) LOREAUVILLE, LA. J. P. Caldwell, of San Marcos, Tex. Pure Italian queens. April. May. Jun.toOct. Select tested *2 75 $2 35 . $1 75 Tested 1 75 1 ,50 1 25 Untested 1 GO 90 75 Six untested 5 00 4 40 3 75 Twelve untested 9 .50 8 CO 7 00 All queens will he shipped in cages which answer the double purpose of an introducing- and shipping- cage. Address .J. P. Caldwell, -San Marcos, Tex. 7-18db DR. a. L. TINKER, manufacturer of Open-Side White-Poplar Sections, the best-made sections ever offered to bee-keepers. The best-made perforated zinc. The best-made and only perfect wood and zinc honey-boards. Western agent for Crawford's Section Cartons. Sample section, zinc, and beautiful wood cards, 3 cts. Cat- alogue free. Address DK. (i. L. TINKER, 7-lOdb New Philadelplila, O. MY20TH ANNUAL PRICE LIST OF ITALIAN, CYPRIAN, and HOLY-LAND BEES, QUEENS. NUCLEUS COLONIES, and APIARIAN SUPPLIES, sent to all who send me their name and address. 7-1.5d H. H. BROWN, Light Street, Col. Co., Pa. The A B C of POTATO ^ Culture. HOW TO aEOW THEM IN THE LAEOEST QUAHTITT, AND OF THE FINEST QUALITY, WITH THE LEAST EX- PENDITUEE OF TIME AND LABOE. Cnrefttlly Considering all the Latest Improve- ments in this lirancJi of Affrieiilture tip to tlie Present Date. ILLUSTRATED BY TWENTY ENGRAVINGS. Written by T. B. TEEE7, of Hudson, 0. Table of Contents : Soils, and their Preparation.— Manures, and their Application.— When, and How Far Apart Shall we Plant?— Shall we Plant Deep or Shallow?— Shall we Plant in Hills or Drills?— How to Make the Drills, and Fill Them.— Selection and Care of Seed.— Cutting Seed to One Eye.— Planting Pota- toes by Machinery.— Harrowing- aft'^r Planting.— Cultivating- and Hoeing.— Handling the Bugs.— The Use of Bushel Boxes.— A Top Box for the Wagon.— Digging.— Storing.— What Varieties shall we Raise? —Potato-growing as a Specialty.— Best Rotation where Potatoes are made a Special Crop.— Cost of Production, and Profits. Besides the above, we have recently added an ap- pendi.x of 8 pages, bringing the book" up to the pres- ent date, and containing an account of all the im- provements made d\iring the past two years. Price 35 cts. ; by mail, 38 cts. A. I. ROOT, nfedlna, 01ito« BEE-KEEPERS, LOOK I to your interest. Now is the time. Strike while the iron is hot. It is smoking and sizzling now. Strictly pure, straight, nice, fresh, and clean FOIIND.VTION, 34 cts. a lb. Bound to please. Made and sold tons in three seasons. Not one dis- satisfied customer .Jersey hives our specialty. $2. .50 will buy one. MODE:!. B. HIVK <''0., W. Phila., Pliihi. <'o., Pa. APIARY FOR SALE. I will sell my complete apiary and outfit at a very low price. Any one about to invest in bee- keeping will do well to address PHILIP H. liUCAS, ITIouiit Vernon, West Cliester Co., N. Y. ITALIAN QUEENS --^3^ Untested, May, $1.25; June, ^^ $1.00; July, '.Kl cts. Send for 16- page II.LUSTKATED PRICE LIST of Bees, Queens, Chaff Hives, Barnes Foot - power Saws, Langdon Miter - Boxes, and Apiarian Supplies. Address Wll,L.IAM K. GOITL,I>, Fremont, Ne\vayjj;o Co., V-9db ITIiolifg-an. HELP THE AFFLICTED. I have 50 colonies of bees in Langstroth Hives to sell for an afflicted brother, at $5.00 per colony, or five or more. $4. .50 percolony. Safe arrival guar- anteed. <;E0. E. HILTON, Fremont, Newaygo Co., IVIieli. FOE SALE. One fine Wyandotte cockerel; price $2.00. Speak quick. W. K. Leavis, Dry Ridge, Ky. The a B C of Bee Cetdre. 320 THOUSAND NO^V READIT. AVEKAGE SAI^E, 200 PER MONTH. Ih ordering please state distinctly ivhctlier you want cloth or paper hinding. Single copies, cloth bound, postpaid by mail, $1.35; same as above, only paper covers, $1.00. From the above prices there can be no deviation to any one; but each purchaser, after he has paid full re- tail price for one book, maj' order the cloth-bound to anj' of his friends on payment of $1.00, or the paper cover at 75 cents each. This discount we give to pay you for showing the book, explaining its worth, etc. If you order them by express or freight, you may take off 15 cts. from each cloth-bound book, or 12 cts. for each one in paper covers. Of course, it will not pay to do this unless you order a number at a time, or order them with other goods. To those who advertise ABC books in their price lists and circulars, a discount of 40% from retail prices by mail >vill be made, and this discount will be given to all booksellers and newsdealers. To any one who pur- chases 100 at one time, a still further discount will be made, to be given on application, and the 100 may be made up of part cloth and part paper, if desired. Purchasers are requested not to sell single books at less than the regular i-etail prices, although they may sell two or more at any price they think proper; or the ABC may be clubbed with any other book or periodical, at such prices as the agent thinks proper. Cook'* Manual in cloth at the same price as above A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 239 Contents of this Number. Alsike Seed, Saving 257 Andrews' Case 246 Aster tor Honey 247 Bee Entomology 262 Bees on Mountains 260 Bees, Egyptian 258 Bee-balm, To Cultivate 257 Blue Thistle for Honey 247 California honey 259 Carp-ponds 256 Chaddock 's Picture 258 Clark's Smoker Improved. .266 Combs, To Preserve 260 Cyprian Blood, Detecting.. 260 Drone Comb (Q. B. ) .261 Editorial 269 Egyptian Bees ?58 Ensilage 250 Florida Flowers 252 Foot-scraper 247 Foundation Dipped Even. ...255 Fnd. to Sides of Section 249 Foundation, Thin 257 Heads of Grain 356 Hiving on Empty Frames. .253 Honey-plant of Africa 256 Hone.v, Tasmanian 259 Honey, Hoarhound 257 Honey Statistics 243 House Apiary 248 Italians Superior 257 Malaria 254 McFadden's Method 259 Melissa, To Cultivate 2.57 Mud-brush 247 Notes and Queries 259 Our Own Apiary 206 Queen Flying in January. . .260 Question-Box 260 Salt as a Lubricant 253 Sections, 2-oz 241 Sections, Ojien Side 251 Sep:u-ator.s. Slotted 267 Sermon to Husbands 248 SittiUK l>o«n (Q. B.).260 Space Between Combs 258 Spider, Bee-killing 26i Starters, Old (Q, B.),261 Stings, Peculiar 255 Stocking the Field 247 Swarms, Ownership of 219 Swarming with Unsealed Brood 256 Swarming, To Prevent '256 Sweats 258 Tailor Bee '246 Although not bee-keepers, we consider Glean- ings a necessity at our house. A. F. Beach. Larabee, Pa., Feb. 31, 1888. Let us have more like Terry's piece in Glean- ings where he says, " We want to try to do all we can for the queen of our homes. I like that name. Hatfield, Pa., March 16, 1888. Mks. S. S. Khatz, GLEANINGS A HELP TO SUCCESS. 1 enjoy reading Gleanings ver.y much, and should not like to do without it, for it has helped us to make a success of bee-raising. We started out a year ago with two swarms of black bees, and with- out any knowledge of bees either; but by the help of your journal and a little instruction from a friend we have now five swarms of Italian bees. Orlando, Fla., March 7, 1888. Mrs. A. L. Foku. gleanings as an advertising medium. Find inclosed thirty cents due you for advertising. The advertisement brought more letters tlian I can reasonably answer. David Hadley. Alva, Florida, Feb. 19, 1888. [We are glad, friend H., to know that you were pleased with the result of your advertisement; but no wonder, for you advertised for somebody to work for you. I presume if I were to put a similar advertisement in Gleanings we should get more letters than all the clerks in our office could answer. In fact, 1 have been obliged to advertise regularly in our county paper, " No more help wanted."! I thought I could get along without Gleanings. and told you to stop it in December; but I must have it again. Some of the other bee-papers are good, but somehow 1 miss the cuts that fused to see in Gleanings. Stick to the illustrations; noth- ing explains a thing so well as drawings. Macleay, Oregon, Feb. 31, 1888. David Craig. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. It seems to me that Gleanings is now all that could be expected for the money. J. W. West. Martinsville, O., Mar. 31, 1888. The Home Papers have been a great comfort to me. May you be spared many years, and go on with the good work. I should like to shake hands with friend Terry and his wife. I believe he gives us women more credit than the most of men will. 1 know women who never saw the inside of the pock- et-book; and if one asks for a little money, may be husband thinks she is extravagant, and the poor wife feels hurt, and would ratlier do without things than to ask for more. N. A. E. Ellis. Astoria, Mo. Inclosed please find express order for my renewal to Gleanings. It amuses me greatly how you get ofl" things in print of practical importance. I guess you have great opportunities to study human na- ture, besides thousands of other things. No wonder you are always busy. I wonder how you get around j to attend to them all and study your sermon be- sides. 1 can't imagine bow you get time for that half-hour sleep just before dinner, and, after falling asleep, not sleep too long and miss your dinner while warm. C. Theilmann. Theilmanton, Wabasha Co., Minn. THAT WHEELBARROW. I can not speak too highly of the bee-keepers' wheelbarrow 1 received from you about a month since. As I live in the edge of town, it is just the thing to wheel light things to market and a colony of bees to the depot for shipment, and many other uses I find for it. The boys come to my place and quarrel as to who shall run it. I get all my wheel- ing done for nothing, as they like it so well. Rossville, Kan., Mar. 13, 1888. M. F. Tatman. don't STOP. Don't stop Gleanings, for I will muster up enough in the spring to balance all dues. I never was attached to any periodical or journal as I am to Gleanings. Friend Koot, you certainly are a friend to the upright honest man. Adversities and misfortunes have overtaken me; many of my cal- culations have been disappointed, and I've been about persuaded to give up my strife for life; but God said to me, " Forsake your evil ways, and 1 will give you a new life." A New Year's life dawned upon me, and I resolved to work for my Master, let come what will. Like Job, " though he slay me, yet will ] trust in him." W. H. Swigart. Dixon, III., Feb. 35, 1888. BEST GARDENER AND FRUIT-GUIDE, ONE EVERY MONTH, WORTH $5.00. Good Seeds and good plants are not all; you must know how to use them right to reap success. Found cheap- TLlir AIUIPDIPAN OARHPN Largest, finest, handsomest magazine of hor- estandbestin ' n C. riJVI b.r\IVi/rill VanlAL^kili . ticulture in existence. Its practical writer.^ are famous and successful gardeners, fruit-growers, florists, and scientists in all sections. Price $\ a year; 10 cts. a copy. A Year's SiibKcrlptioii Free to tlie 1st and Kvery .5tli Applicant mention- ing this paper and its date, and l!Sen«liiii>' 10 <;ts. for our great March issue, and full directions for mak- ing The American Garden "t'osey " for Proteftiiij;; Plants Iroiii Frost, Insects, etc. Address THE AMERICAN GARDEN, 751 Broadway, New York. COR ^Al F Given fdn. dies, L. size; press p \^l\ On^[-» tor same, home made, but good and strong, dipping tank and boards. Price $20.00. Also, home-made circular-saw rig, three saws (two, .5 in., one, 4 in.), all gauges, etc. All in good working order. Price $1,5.00. Address 7d H. E. HARRINGTON. Walden, Cal. Co., Vt. V-GROOVED ONE-PIECE SECTIONS planed on one side, $'2.'M per 1000. Sample free. in. A. LOHK, Td Verniontville, Faton Co., micli. Apiarian Supplies — IN- PENNSYLVANIA. Do not send long distances for .your goods, when you can get them near home. Shipping facilities good. Send your name on postal card for price list to r. P. BISH, 7tfd St. Joe Station, Butler Co., Pa. ^0 GLEANINGS m BEE CUL1:UHE. Apti. pe^EY C0MMN. CITY MARKETS. C'l NCiNN ATI. --Hoiicjy.— There is no change to note, tieiuand is good for e.xtracted honey in all shapes. Arrivals are fair. It brings -tV^CSiflc on arrival. De- mand for comb honey is very slow, with a large supply on the market. It brings 14(5'17c in the .lob- bing way. Bef.snia.c— Demand is good, with fair ar- rivals. It brings 20(5'23c on arrival for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, March 34. Cincinnati, O. St. Louis —Hode;/.— We have nothing new to re- port in th(^ honey market. Trade is pretty well over for this season. Choice white-clover honey, comb, 1-lh. sections, selling slowly at lfi(«il8c; ex- tracted, in small cans. 8@l)c; in Obis., 0(0*7; South- ern honey, as to quality, in bbls.. 4(§j5i4. Beeswax is in good demand. Prime, in round lots, 23c; select- ed, on order, 2tlc W. B. Wkstcott & Co., March 22. St. Louis, Mo. Chicago.— //onejy.— The demand is very light, and even the low figures now prevailing do not seem to stimulate consumption to any extent. Quote 1-lb. sections, ir)@18; and otf in color or condition, 14@15. Dark comb, no demand. Extracted, 7@9c, accord- ing to grade. Beeswax, 33@2o. R. A. Burnett, March 21. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Columbus. — HoJicj/.— Comb honey is very quiet at 1.5(^18c; extracted honey, no change in price, and no demand. Beeswax.— 'None to speak of. Earle Cliokenger, March 22. 119 E. Town St., Columbus, Ohio. Boston.— Howej/.— We quote: 1-lb. sections, white, 16@17; 3-lbs., 14@16. Beeswax.— 250. Sales slow. BL.\KE & KlPLEY, March 22. .57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. St. Louis.— Honey.— Market bare. Extracted and strained, in bbls., 6V2@7!4- Comb, slow, at 17@19. Beeswax.— Frime, 22c. D. G. Tutt & Co., Mar. 22. 206 N. Commercial St., St. Louis, Mo. Kansas City.— Ho?(fj/.— Market is weak and low- er; Ic per lb. otf. This market is well supplied. ClEMONS, CliOON & Co., March 23. Kansas City, Mo. Albany.— Honcy.-Market quiet. Stocks light, and prices unchanged. Season about over. H. R. Wright, March 36. 328 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. New York.— HoTiej/.— Honey is moving slow; low prices and slower demand. Thurbeb, Whyland & Co.. Mar. 21. New York City. Detroit — Hnney. — Re«t whitf comb honey in l-lb. sections is now quoted at 15@,16c; not much in sight, but no demand. Ext'd, 8@10. Beeswax. 23@23c. Bell Branch, Mich.. Mar. 22. M. H. Hunt. For Sale.— 1000 lbs. extracted, clover honey, in 60-lb. cans, at 9c per lb. ; sample 6c. .7 B. Alexander (Nurseryman), Hartford City, Ind. For SaIvE.— 2t0() lbs. extracted honey, principally clover, and a little hasswood, all of which is good and well ripened, put up in oak kegs, lii gal. and 10 gal.; average weight 180 lbs. and 125 lbs. Price per lb.. 10 cts. and 10^4 cts. here on board cars. No charge for kegs. Sample .5 cts. Mont. Wyrick, Cascade, Dubuque Co., Iowa. CONVENTION NOTICES. Tlif first ineetiug-. lor 188S. ,if thi' Fayettf Co. Bee-kee)H-rs' As- sociation will be held at the residence of J. W. (Jilli.sple. Wash- ington C. H., on Thursday. April 26th. at 10. \.Ji. A full attend- ance is desired,' as the annual election of ofticers takes place. S. R. Morris, Sec 'y. The tenth annual meeting of the Texas State Bee-keepers' As- sociation will be Iield at the bee-ynrds of Vice-president W. R. Graham. Greenville, Hunt Cc... Te.xii.s, May 2d and 3d, 1S88. A leading feature i>l tin iiventioii will be criticisni> upon sub- jects that have trnne tliii>u>,'li the- bei -journals. .Ml Tc.v.ms and .\rkansas bee-keepers are expected to be present. .\ll are cor- dially invited. No hotel-bills to pay. B. F. Carroll, Sec'y. The itnnual meeting of the Western Bee-Keepers' Associa- tion will be held at Independence. Mo., at the court-house, on the 25th of April, 1888. The meeting will be carried on as a .sociable, friendly gafnering. Take vour baskets with you and let us have a good time. \ cordial invitation is extended to all. Peter Otto, Sec. PfllCB LISTS RECEIVED. Since our last we have received price lists from the follow- ing persons: .1. E. Pryor, Dexter. Iowa; an 8-page list of hives, etc. C. M. Hicks, Fairview. Md.; a 4-page list of queens, etc. D. E. Mater, Clare, Aiich. ; a 4-page list of hives, sections, etc. J. W. K. Shaw & Co., Loreauville, La. ; a 4-page list of Italian queens. E. L Goold, Brantford, Ont., Canada; a 20-page list of bee- keepers' supplies. C. F. Rood, Romeo. Mich. ; a list of supplies, printed on Mar- tin's chromo cards. S. W. Morrison, Oxford. Pa; a 4-page circular relative to Carniolan queens. G. H. Kirkpatrick, New Paris. Ohio; a 12-page list of supplies, queens, and honey. .1. W. Krewson. Drain, Oregon; a 4-page circular relative to hives and supplies in general. G K. Hubbard, La Grange. Ind ; a 12-page circular, describing the ■' Hubbard " hive and fixtures. Oliver Foster, Mount Vernon, Iowa; his circular and price list of Italian queens, supplies, etc. A. O. Crawford. South Weymouth, Mass.; a 20-page list of specialties. mostly labels; very pretty. W. W. Bliss, Duarte, Cal.; a nice business card relative to foundation, and supplies in general; also an 8-page list. The largest list we have ever yet received is one of 72 pages, from Abbott Brothers, Soulhall, London, England. Price 2 pence. J. H. Howard. Holme, near Peterborough, England, issues a 48-page list of hives, feeders, extractors, etc. It is vei-y nlcel.y printed, and I'ulJy illustrated. C.H.Smith, Pittstield, Mass.; a little work on bees. The fiist 18 pages relate to the different races of bee.s and how to handle them : after this, 30 pages of matter relating to bee- supplies. The D. A. Jonps Co.,Beeton, Canada; a 20-page list of every- thing pertaining to bees. We notice described and illustrated their new section-crate and honey-board. Oh, yes! a regular counter-store of 5 and 10 c. articles will be found in the back part of the catalogue. The following were printed at this office : S. P. Yoder, East Lewistown. Ohio; a chromo advertising card of bees, queens, and poulti-y. Dr. L, L, Loomis. Pemberville. Ohio; an advertising eard of bees, queens, and nuclei. IJVIPORTANT! QllFFIM^ to be shipped by return mail, when *''-*-''*^ ordered. It is best to get two and four frame nuclei when ordering hees. Choice, fine, solid red and yellow Italian queens, at the fol- lowing prices: Untested, from now through the season, ifl.OO; tested, f2.00; select tested, $3.50; standard breeders, »3.00. Bees by the pound, $1.00; frame of brood, 75 cts. My bees are gentle Italians, with great power of wing, and fine honey-gathering capacity. No foul brood, no moth. 7-18db L0CZB0Z215 Madison, Morgan Co., Ca. Tested, »1.00; untested, 75 cts.; after May 15th, 60 cts. Bees, per lb , 50 cts. to all who will send cages to ship them in. C. C. KIRKMAN, 7d Coxville, Pitt Co., N. C. FOU SALE CHEAF. The following articles: One section-box machine, one cutter-head for making the entrance to section- boxes, one mandrel with dovetailing saws, one planer, for planing hives and sections, one mandrel, two 10-in. saws, one 8 and one 9 in. saw. two 6-in. saws; one 6-in. dovetailing saw. Machinery as good as new. THOMAS GEDYE, La Salle, La Salle Co., 111. Eggs-for- Hatching. p. Rocks, 1st pen, *1.00; 2d pen, 75 cts. Langshans $1.. 50 for sittings of 14 eggs. Warranted pure. Sat- isfaction given. MRS. C. E. HATCH, Kentland, Newton Co., Ind. o Vol. XTI. APR. 1, 1888. No. 7. TERMS:«1.00PEBAinroM,lNADVAlicE;'l JP cf+ rt hi T oTi £> rl T-M 1 Sk '7 ^ r Clubs to different postoffiees, NOT LESS 2Copiesfor81.90i3for«2.76;5for«4.00; -C/Ot/Ct'Ct't'OAfc'tJtt/ VlO ^ O / t> . than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid in the 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- \ i it o — ■ ^ j_„ m_ _., ,. . _ Additions to clubs may made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postopfick. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BT A. I. ROOT. MEDINA. OHIO. U. S. and Canadas. To all o'ther coun- tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 cts. per year extra. To all countries NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. SMALL SECTIONS OF HONEY. A FIVE-CENT PACKAGE OF COMB HONEY, ALREADY WORKED OUT AND IN THE MARKET. XT was just 12 o'clock at night when I m reached my sister's in Manistee ; and M my leave of absence was so brief that I ^ had to leave at 12 o'clock next day at noon ; and during these brief hours I was to see mv sister and the little flock of eight around her. Some of them I had nev- er seen before at all. Then, of course, I must look at my brother-in-law's store and fine business ; and, knowing where my curi- osity lay, he took me to see their " farm " as they called it, a few blocks away, and which consisted, perhaps, of five acres, more or less. I admired the plum-trees (they are great on plum-trees in Manistee), and I ad- mired the strawberries and their l)eautiful sandy soil that seems so specially adapted to fruit culture. C'lose by was a little green- house. You know I always have to look in- side of greenhouses. Well, over the fence from the greenhouse was a bee-keeper. The minute I got my eye on his premises I thought I had found a little paradise, if I may be excused the expression. The friend who kept the bees loved strawberries and raspberries and garden-stuff. The garden was carpeted with white sand, without a trace of a weed ; and the neat regular order of every thing, even if it was in December, quite captivated rny fancy. I found the owner in a poultry-house, and there was an incubator. The different kinds of fowls were divided off into such tasty little apart- ments that I decided at once we had come across an original genius. I began collect- ing facts, and storing up information for the readers of Gleanings, about as rapidly as I did that summer evening when I went to see friend White's carp-pond. The ar- rangements for the nests, the arrangements for the feed, the arrangem.ents for rapid work, etc., were all taken in at a glance, lie asked me to look at his bees. They were not out in the yard inside of the hives that were so neatly and tastily placed on the same carpet of vvhite sand, for our friend Wm. Harmer has his hives so made that the inside parts only may be lifted out and stor- ed in the cellar. I wanted to take a look at the bees in the cellar ; but before I got down cellar my eyes fastened on some little sections of honey, just such as I tried to make more than ten years ago. I did not go down cellai- just then, but "went" for the little sections. "Look here, old friend, you are indeed a genius if you have gone and worked out this problem of five-cent packages of comb hon- ey." " Well, Mr. Root, I have spent some time and pains on it, and I believe I have brought it practically to perfection too.'" "Why, have you really put these on the market, and made a business of it V " " Well, I have sold several thousand." You may be sure I was all eyes and ears ; 24-2 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. and I stayed so long' in looking at friend H/s bees in the cellar (the cellar was just as handsome and cosy and nice-looking as his garden was ; but he could not help having things nice with white sand everywhei'e to cover up every thing unsightly), that broth- er Clark began to urge that I would not catch that train ; and, besides, I had to see my sister again, and get my dinner. Friend IL and I got to be friends very fast, you may be sure. He showed me his machine for making the little sections, and told me how it Avas done. The cuts below will help me to make it plain to you. AN L. FRAME FILLED WITH 2-OZ. SEC- TIONS. When I made my little sections years ago, I supposed, as a matter of course, the cheap- est way to make them would be by folding them up as we make one-piece sections now- adays ; but friend II. has got away ahead of that. In the first place, he takes a I board, just long enough to slip inside of an L. frame. Then with a jack-plane, set coarse, he scoops off the shavings. The shavings, of course, roll up as anybody knows they would ; but he tumbles them in- to a pail of water ; and when they get w^ell soaked they are straightened out, piled up and dried. Tliis gives thin strips of veneer, and cheaper than you can imagine. He then fixes a board as in the cut below. FOR3I FOn 3IAKl\(i li-O/. SE( TIONS. The L. frame is slipped over this board. I want to say, first, that these little blocks are made by gluing a t board on top of a i board, as you see. Xow, with a circular saw. cut grooves clear through the thin board until the saw just strikes the thick one. These grooves are of such a width that three of the afore-mentioned strips of veneer will drop into each groove, the strips running lengthwise of the frame. When this is done, three short pieces of veneer are drop- ped into the grooves crosswise. But to make these bits of wood stay in place when the frame is pulled up, a little glue is put in- to each corner, with a camel's-hair brush. You want to be careful, so the glue will not run in too far, and stick to the form. Before you put in the glue, however, drop some lit- tle squares of foundation into each little sections. The glue should just catch each corner of the foundation. When the whole thing is dry, lift it off and hang it in the hive. When the little sections are full and sealed over, take frame and all to the gro- cer ; slip oft the outside, and show him that he can separate the squares into long strips. With a sharp knife he can now cut them up into little cakes as wanted. If a customer wants two, four, six, or eight, let him have them all in a slice, to save handling so many loose pieces. Well, I got as many ideas as my head could well contain, for the time being, and got around to my sister's just in time to have a nice dinner of fried oysters. She presided, while I ate and did what talking I could. I came pretty near missing the train, as I told you on page 9-51, Dec. loth issue. When the tiain was well under way, T was so busy thinking of what 1 had glean- ed for Gleaninos, that I did not notice the individual who came in a little time aft- er, and sat down by my side. I noticed he had an oblong package in his hands ; and when he addressed me familiarly I looked him full in the face, and could not then quite remember where I had seen him. I hope you will have charity for me when I tell you it was my new-found friend of just about an hour before. He had taken off his working suit, put on his Sunday clothes, and this, with the fact that 1 did not dream of seeing him there in that car, made me slow to comprehend. He laughingly explained that he felt something as I did — so loth to have our conversation broken off that he decided to take a trip of ten miles and back for the sake of having a little longer talk with the editor of Gleaxings. It was very kind of Iiim, and I shall always remember it. Tlie bundle under his arm was the form and frame I have illustrated above, and he gave me a lot of the veneers made with a jack-plane, to carry home. Below^ is a further explanation which he kindly fur- nished : WHY I WAS INDUCED TO EXPERIMENT IN THEIK CONSTRtrCTION. Getting- small sectinns filled, never troubled me; for I knew that bees would fill spaces with comb honey that are a little more than a quarter of an inch, so that, with a good honej'-flow, I was not afraid but that they would fill a two-inch space. I would say just here, that I have had sections well filled, only three-fourths of an inch square, so that, in this particular, T was all right; and I have proved to my satisfaction, and, I thinli, to the satisfaction of the few bee-kf^epers who have called on me, that I have developed a practical system for making small sections out of shavings from a common hand-plane, and will suit any size of sections for less than 1 lb. of honey, with the proper mold or form for adjusting them. The reasons why I wanted them are, first, be- cause I have seen comb honej- cut in pieces, mak- ing it leak in every instance, often being a nui- sance, daubing every thing, causing considerable trouble, and making it difiicult to give a customer, perhaps a boy or small child, a few cents' worth of comb honey; for everyone has not 'ZO cents to spare to buy a whole section; and if they had, they do not always want so much. I think there are very few grocerymen who would cut a comb to suit such customers; and there are thousands of children around us that do not know the taste of comb hon- 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 243 ey on this account. I also thought that well-to-do people would buy them for the purpose of putting- one on each plate instead of serving or cutting in- to a large comb. These reasons have all been veri- fied, for I have found such customers delighted in every instance. I have not had the opportunity of trying them at fairs, but 1 should think they would be just the thing, and would as readily bring .5 cents for a 2-oz. section as 4 oz. would on a piece of pa- per. That is what 1 sell them for, which is at the rate of 40 cents per lb., so that, in making these sections in the winter, you have profitable employ- ment. It was about four years ago that the shaving idea struck me; and now I come to think of it, I wonder that something else did not strike, and that I was not tumbled out of the house along with shavings. water pans, mucilage, forming-blocks, frames, tack- boxes, baskets, and glue-pot; but I kept things to- gether as well as possible, and was building a house apiary for myself in which I did all my work after that winter. I was the eldest of the three, my sis- ter keeping house for two brothers. I have the best brothers and sisters in the world (eight all told). My brother hero is a carpenter; but then, he could not make shavings for me that winter. He did not know any thing about it. Nobody- knew any thing about it but myself; nobody's advice was of any use; but, lo and behold! my knowledge did not seem to increase any, and it was not until the next winter that they began to assume a practical form, or that I struck a practical system of forming them; and now, after three seasons more practice and improving, I can put hundreds together, and comb foundation in them in a day, ready for the honey-flow in summer. The size I have been mak- ing you will find by dividing a Langstroth brood- frame by 10 one way and 4 the other. The shavings for this size are ''s of an inch wide and ;,'„ of an inch thick. I find this size, when filled, to weigh 3 oz. I have just weighed 1.5 separately, which are on the work-bench, ready for market, and were not se- lected for uniformity of weight, and they each one just balanced the scales at 3 oz. I will not say any more now on th" subject, excepting that, if it has interested any one, he may thank our worthy edit- or, Mr. A. I. Root, who called on me a few weeks ago and gave me encouragement in my little enter- prises. When he saw the small sections he seemed much pleased, and said, " Why don't you write':'" I said, "I can't write; " and I make this statement as an apology for the rambling lines above. Mr. Root's call was a surprise, I can assure you, and has caused a bright spot in my memory whenever 1 think of the few pleasant minutes in his company. I verj' much regret that his time in Manistee was so short. W. Haumek. Manistee, Mich., Jan. 10, 1888. The following we extract from a previous private letter: The success 1 have had with them here in this very poor comb-honey locality shows that they are practical, and more especially so when we reduce the frame to half the depth, and this would do away with most of the cutting-apart operation, and which I think can be done away with altogeth- er. It seems to me that there is a great deal too much wood in all sections, and that these shaving sec- tions will some day take their place, especially for local markets. I wish I had known you were coming. I wanted to show you ray glass hive and many other things. I had not been in such a muddle for days, as I had been working at my new poultry-house. Manistee, Mich., Dec. 12, 1887. W. Harmer. Friend H. has, I believe, introduced these little cakes for sale on the cars. He said they were filled as fast as the honey is brought in from the fields, and he has also fed back extracted Iioney to get the ))ees to fin- ish them up. The latter are not as nice : and if honey is used that lias been candied once it will "candy again, even after the cells are sealed up. If you wish to make fur- ther inquiries in regard to the matter, send them to me, and friend H. will answer through Gleanings. Friend 11. himself will furnish forms, ve- neer, and every thing necessary for these five-cent packages. As the idea is' his own, we think it no more than fair that he should be permitted to furnish them as supplies ; that is, where you prefer to buy them rather than to make them yourself. FROM ALL PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. E herewith present our readers with the first installment of something in the way of statistics, gathered from every portion of the United States. We are aware there are some defects in the plan which we have carried out. It is impossible at this time of year, in North- ern localities, to make accurate statements; but sufficiently accurate, we ho])e, for the present. What we aimed to arrive at for now were the present prospects. We have located our honey statisticians, as nearly as may be, in the four corners and the center of each important honey-producing State. Those States which are not so conspicuous in the apicultural world have only two statisticians, and these are in the localities where the largest amount of honey is pro- duced. Instead of making a general sum- mary of the whole, we thought best to in- sert the data just as they came from each man, with his name and locality. First the State is given ; then the names of the con- tributors with the respective postoffices. The next indicates the date at which the statements were rendered. To indicate ht- cality, the usual abbreviations are used— W., E., N., S., for west, east, north, south, and N. E. for north-east, etc. The letter C. indicates the word '' central;'"' and E. ('. " east central,'* etc. The letters designate the answers as printed in fine print below, and correspond to the letters in the follow^ ing questions: (a) What proportion oftlicbees do you esti- mate have wintered up to date in your section of the Statef (b) What are the present prospects for a hon- ey crop the coming season? (c) If you live South, state whether new hon-j ey is coming in, and the amount of the flow. 244 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. x\PR. ALABAMA. W. V. W. Duke, Nettleborough. S. W. .-t^O. a. At least two-thirds are in fine condition; b. promising; c. new honey has just commenced coming In. .J. M.Jenkins, Wetumpka. C. ;i-20. a. 90 per cent; b. good; c. new honey coming in for 10 days past. Flow is moderate, not much in excess of quantity used in brood-re.nring. etc. ARIZONA. J. L. Gregg. Tempe. C. 3-18. .1. 9.5 percent; V). magnificent ; eyes. I could today take 50 gallons from 100 hives. lALiroRNIA. Wm. Muth-Rasmussen, Independence. E. 3-21. a. Probably 100 per cent; b. very good; c. bees are working on willow. COLORADO. Mark W. Moe, Denver. N. 3-22. a. I think fully nine-tenths, if not 95-100, have wintered well. I have not had time to hunt around much ; b. good. CONNECTICUT. Daniel H. .Johnson. Danielsville. E. 3-20. a. I think ninc-teiitlis; b. can't sa.v at this date. L. C. Rot.t. Stamford. S. W. 3 19. The terrible storm which has just visited us has proven very di.sastrons to bees in S. W. Conn., which must, of necessity, greatly i-educe the honey crop. for brood-rearing. I returned from Lake Worth yesterday, lati- tude 26 degrees A minutes north, visited all apiaries accessible from the river. Bees are in excellent condition at all points. Swaiming in some localities 80 miles south. Bees in this lo- cality are further advanced at this season than for two years previous. A. B. Dawson, Narrows. E. C. 3-22. a. All— no loss; b. good, so far as we can judge; c. new honey is coming in; flow nonnal. ILLINOIS. Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria. C. 3-20. a. 90 per cent; b. fair. Dadant & Son, Hamilton. W. C. 3-16. a. No loss of Ijcfs to speak of, except by starvation. Perhaps there is one-lifth of loss, if we include the careless apiarists' bees, Carclul apiaiists have lost but few; b. prospect of white-clover honey is rather slim, as plenty of clo\-er was killed by drought in 1887. C. C. Miller. Marengo. N. 3-15. ;i. 90 percent: b. fair. Frank Howard. Fairfield. S. 3-21. a. Seventy-five per cent, all wintered on summer stands; b. too early; can't tell; c. pollen, and little honey from maple. INDIANA. J. A. Burton, Mitchell. S. C. :J-'22. a. Ninety per cent; b. white clover is all dead; further, I can't say. I. R. Good, Nappanee. N. 3-15. ». About two-thirds of the bees have wintei-ed; b. not good; white clover is badly winter-killed. I.N'DIAN TERRITORY. G. C. Stokely, Arnoldville. S. 3-19. a. Too late to make up estimate; b. good; c. none. IOWA. .1. M. Shuck, Des Moines. C. 3-16. a. About 26 per cent out of doors, and about 95 per cent in cellars; b. good. Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon. E. 3^16. a. Seventy per cent; b. clover seems scarce. Z. T. Hawk. Audubon. W. 3-17. a. Probably 85 per cent; b. too early to predict. Bees are all in winter quarters yet. .J. W. Bittenbender. Knoxville. S. E. 3-17. a. Loss is 60 per cent out of doors and 5 per cent in: b. fair; c. no honey or pollen. Eugene Secor, B'orest City, N. 3-15. a. 'This question can not be answered in this latitude as early as April 1. All colonies are or should be in cellar; and with- out a complete overhauling (impossible) no one can tell what will be the spring " round up;" b. same is true of this ques- tion. KANSAS. J. B. Kline, Topeka. E. C. 3-25. a. The loss in wintering in 1887 and '8 will be a very small percentage; b. our season is opening very early, and looks very favorable for a good honey crop; c. no new honey to speak of, although bees are very busy, and will soon start pol- len and honey g:ithering, as the early flow will soon develop. B. F. I'hl, Holing. E. 3-20. a. Eighty per cent; b. good; c. no new honey. J. E. Stanley, Wichita. S. C. 3-15. a. From 90 to 95 per cent, all on summer stands; b. good; c. a very little. KENTUCKY. .1. p. Moore, Morgan. N. 3-17. a. Bees have wintered well so far as I have been able to as- certain—95 per cent, perhaps; b. the season is not far enough advanced to give an intelligent answer, but we expect a fair season; c. no honey yet. Johns. Reese, Winchester. C. 3-20. a. About 95 per cent of bees that went into winter quarters areO. K. now; b. prospects good as ever, at this season, for crop; c. honey and pollen in very small quantities, from water-maple. LOUISIANA. P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, S. W. 3-16. a. Prospects are ttne; b. so far the flow has been sufficient only for brood-rearing— due, I have no doubt, to unusual cold spells lately. J. W. K. Shaw, I^oreauville. S. C. 3-17. a. All, if not dead from starvQ,tioi) or wyrnjs. Tlje pAst suiji- mer and fall was very dry ; honey crop short; many colonies starved in the winter; winter cold and wet; rain daily; b. good. China is nearly in bloom, white clover very promising; c. little. We have not noticed, so far, any honey, although live oak, willow, and other trees are in full bloom. MAINE. C. W. Costello, Waterboro. S. W. :{-20. a. Seven-eighths; b. good. John Reynolds, Clinton. S. W. 3-20. a. About 95 per cent, in 6 apiaries: b. good us usual, perhaps. MARYLAND. S. Valentine. Hagei'stown. N. W. 3-15. a. Bees have wintered well so far. 1 suppose 90 to 95 per cent are still living; b. the prospect is good. Bees have not been carving any pollen yet; too cold. JUSSAI HUSETTS. J. E. Pond, No. Attleboro. S. E. 3-15. a. Nearly if not quite two-thirds; b. it is early yet to state with any degree of accuracy; but judging from "precedents, shown by the appearance, the prospect of a honey crop during the coming season is good, E, W. Lund, Baldwinville. N. C. 3-19. a. Would say one-half; b. very good. A. A. Sanborn, Westfleld. S. W. 3-22. a. Nine-tenths ; b. fair. MICHIGAN. George E. Hilton, Fremont. W. 3-15. a. About 90 per cent; b. good. A. J. Cook, Lansing. S. C. 3-13. a. I think 90 per cent have wintered thus fai-. Bees are now generally kept in Michigan by those who read and study, and so winter with less loss; b. we can onl.y guess at prospects for next year. Poor last ; good next. James Heddon, Dowagiac. S. W. 3-14. a. One-half of bees are dead; b. poor i)rospect for 1888 crop. R. L. Taylor. Lapeer. W. 3-15. a. Eighty per cent; b. below the average. H. D. Cutting, Clinton. S. W. 3-17. a. About 80 per cent; b. prospects are always good at this time. It is the dry seasons that fail. No pollen as yet. T. F. Bingham, Abronia. S. W. 3-15. a. Nearly all, 90 per cent— unusually well ; off year for ba.s.s- wood; and clover we are not sure was not injured by last sea- son's drought. We expect an average honey-yield. Open freezing weather now may injure clover some. MINNESOTA. Bright Bros., M.izeppa. E. 3-19. a. About 95 per cent; b. good. The loss on bees up to date is very light ; but if you were to ask this question six weeks later the answer would be altogether different. W. Urle, Minneapolis. E.G. 3-20. a. As far as my information extends, the bees are in good condition; not niany losses up to date; prospects are good for a hone.v crop. Clover is yet covered two feet deep with snow, which keeps the clover all right. No bees taken out of winter quarters so far as heard from. jllssissiPPl. Oscar F. Bledsoe, Grenada. N. 3-17. a. About 90 per cent; b. no indication that it will not be as good as usual; c. a small quantity from peach, plum, and other early bloom, MIS.SOURI. Jno. Nebel & Son, High Hill. E. C. 3-20. a. Nearly one-half; b. for ,i clover crop, good, though bees are very weak to build up in time to be ready for the flow. S, E. Miller. Bluffton. C. 3-19. a. About 96 per cent, to the best of my knowledge; b. fair; c. bees arc gathering pollen,. nnd rcrliaps a little honey, from soft maple, March 17. Thi> ahuve refers only to our own apiary; will try to send . iiinm;u izcd statcitient of reports from various important .apiaries in my section next time. E. M. Hayhurst. Kansas City. W. 3-17. a. Two-thirds; b. one-half per colony; c. no new honey yet. NEBRASKA. Jerome Wiltse, Fall City. S. E. 3-17. a. About 80 per cent; b. the prospects arc favorable; c. noth- ing is yet in bloom. J. M. Young, Rock Bluffs. E. 3-20. a. Not far from 65 per cent, caused by starvation; b. very favorable ; c. no honey to come in until apple-blossom. NEVADA. E. A. Moore, Reno. C. 3-19. a. Over two-thirds; b. good; c. very little at present. NEW HAMPSHIRK. J. A. Bachelder, Keene. S. 3-20. a. Too early to estimate; been very cold ; no chance to ex- amine bees; b. can not tell; snow is three feet deep. NEW JERSEY. Watson Allen, Bernardsville, N, C. 3-20. a. From 85 to 88 per cent; b. fair for white clover, which is the main crop in summer. NEW ME.MCO. Wm. H. Newcomb. Silver City. S. W. 3-19. a. I do not know of any bees in this locality; think there are some at Las Cruces and La Mesilla. about 100 miles distant, in Dona Ana County. I should think bees might do well here if handled intelligently. NEW YORK. P. H. Elwood, Starkville. C 3-17. a. Bees will be out of cellars just about in time for next re port; 1 expect average wintering; b. ground is well covered with snow, and clover ought to winter well. Full blow of basswood last year, and can hardly expect as much this year; expect average crop. F. Boomhower, Gallupville. E. C. 3-20. a. About 90 per cent; b. good ; c. no honey yet. G. M. Doolittle, Horoiiino. C. 3-15. ^. iVbout nin^teeu-tweutjeths; b. good for clover; oft" year 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 245 for basswood; c. cold, with lots of sixnv and prospects for a month of winter yet. E. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley. S. E. .'M5. a. Four-fifths; b. fair. NORTH CAROLIN'.\. H. M. Isaac, Catfish. W. 3-19. a. About 95 per cent; b. not very good ; c. none yet. Abbott L. Swinson, Goldsboro. E. 3-19. a. Fully 75 per cent; b. I should .judge it excellent; c. no honey, but pollen plentiful since January. >iii( 3-lB. A. B. Mason, Auburndale. a. Nine-tenths; b. good. Dr. G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia. N. E. 3-20. a. Nine out of ten colonies have survived In good order. There has been much loss from starvation; b. good, except from white clover; o. honey in limited amount, and pollen came in to-day from the soft maple. Ur. H. Besse, Delaware. C. 3-23. a. About 80 per cent, I should think, from present indications: b. It seems to be good. OREGON. Geo. Ebal, Baker City. AV. 3-21. a. About 80 per cent; b. can't tell yit J. D. Rusk, Milwaukee. N. 3-2(1. a. AboutSO per cent have wintered; b. prospects fur a honey crop are good. c. new honey, yes; How light. PENNSYLVANIA. M. H. Tweed, Allegheny City. S. W. 319. a. From eighth-tenths to nine-tenths; b. nothing unfavor- able as yet. Watts Bros., Murray. C. 3-20. a. About 90 per cent; b. fair. (Jeo. A. Wright, nienwood. N. E. 3-17. a. About 98 per cent; b. never better. S. W. Morrison. Oxford. S. E. 3-16. a. One-half. Bees have been lost, and more will be from star- vation. Nine-tenths of the bees in this State are in box hives, and are utterly neglected, therefore lost. 0. W. King, Emlenton. N. W. 3-23. a. About 95 per cent are all right; b. I hope it will be good. SOUTH CAROLINA. W. J. EllLson, Stateburg. C, .3-19, a. About 95 per cent; b. very good; call consumed in exten- sive brood-rearing; no surplus. Harvey T. Cook, Greenville. N. W. 3-15. a. IfuUy 100 per cent; for those who use the old hive, and rob close, lost 33}ij per cent or more; b. good— most blossoms kept back b.y cold; c. not now; some was brought in earlier. TENMESSEE. W. H. Greer, Paris. N. W. B-17. a. About 90 per cent; b. good; c. small quantities fiom soft maple. J. J. Lawson, Lookout Mt. C. 3-20. a. About 97 out of 100; b. good to very good; c. honey and pollen enough for brood-rearing only. Honey, though scarce in the valle.y, was unusually good on the mountains in 1887. G. B. Cartniell, Jackson. W. 3-20. a. .\t least 90 per cent; b. good, at least better than for two years past; c. no new honey coming in as yet. C. C. Vaughn. Columbia. C. 3-15. a. Eight-tenths; b. good; c. no honey .yet. TEXAS. B. F. Carroll, Dresden. N. W. 3-20. n. About 75 per cent; b. prospects very good; an abundance of rain has fallen since Aug., 1887; the mint (monarda punctata) is up nicely. Bees are gathering hone.v rapidly from Judas- tree blooms and fruit-blossoms. J. P. Caldwell, San Marcos. S. W. 3-17. a. About ninety-two per cent; b. ver.y flattering; c. we aic having a light honey-flow. T,. Stachelhausen, Selma. W. 3-17. a. About 98 per cent have wintered; b. prospect for a honey crop is good; c. some honey is coming in— less than is needed for breeding. J. E. Lay, Hallettsville. S. W. 3-19. a. About nine-tenths; b.gond; c. new honey, but little. UTAH. William Harrison, Provo City, C, ;!-20. a. Seven-eighths; b. prospects good; c. no honey is coming in yet. John H. Snider, Salt Lake City. S. 3-17. a. About nine-tenths have wintered; b. the pi-ospects are very good at present. VERMONT. A. E. Manum, Bristol. W. 3-19. a. I think 95 per cent have wintered; b. favorable, owing to the heavy body of snow we have had all winter: c. our bees are snowed in yet. Howard J. Smith, Richford. N. 3-21. a. .\bout one-half have wintered; b. the prospects are good for a hones' crop the coming summer. VIRGINIA. .James E, Duvall, Bellefair Mills. E. 8-19. a. About 95 per cent, as nearly as loan learn; b fair; c. no (loney coming in yet. J. C. Frisbee, Suffolk. S. E. 3-17. a. About nine-tenthsi b. fair; c. eome new honey— light How. The excessive cold snap of the past two weeks has en tirely stopijed the work of the bees. H. W. Bass. Front Royal. N. 3-21. a. About 93 per cent alive, and generally stong; b. we think good, but too early to tell; c. no honey yet; a little pollen. WEST VIRGINIA. M. A. Kelley, Milton. S. W. 3-16. !>.■ About 90 per cent ; b. medium, Will Thatcher, Martinsburg. E. 3-16. a. About 90 per cent; b. good; c. too previous. The latter part of October. 1887, I placed 41 colonies in Simp, hives, singlc- walled, no contraction at sides, with 6 or 6 inches wheal chaff over frames, and every one has wintered well up to date. WISCONSIN. George Grimm, Jeffer.son. S. E. .3-16. a. Probably nine-tenths; b. loo early to tell. Joshua Bull, Seymour. E. 3-21. a. Ninety-live ]iei' c( nt of the bees in this locality are, I think, safely through thus tar; b. clover roots have been well pro- tected from the severity of the winter, having been deeply covered with snow. If tlie weather is favorable in June and July, we may reasonably hope for a good crop of honey the coming season ; c. no new honey coming in yet E. France, Platteville. N. W. 3-21. a. Half: b. am in hopes of half a crojj. E. E. Tongue, Hillsborough. S. W. 3-18. a. I have been around and made inquiries about bees, iust to satisfy )riysi'll', not thinking that any one would care to know the s:iinc. So far ;is I have lieen able to learn from about 300<1 colonii's. none ;irr lic.Kl, ;i]]il all seem in good order, and promise to gel through all light. Frank McNay, Mauston. C. 3-21. a. About 95 per cent; b. good as usual. S. I. Freeborn, Ithaca. S. W. .3-20. a. Of my own and others, aggregating 1000 colonies, I think 95 per cent will be alive Ajiril 1; b. not extra good; two years of drought has nearly wiped out the whi te clover. J. C. Sayles, Hartford. S. E. 3-20. a. I would, as a mere estimate, say 90 per cent; b. I consider it favorable. We have not, at this writing, March 30, heard from all the honey-statisticians, as ref- erence to three of the leading honey-produc- ing States will show. To all of these, there should be at least five reporters, whereas there are only two or three. In the way of a summary for the whole of the U.S., the answers are as follows: a, exactly 84/, per cent; b, favorable ; c. honey has been com- ing in for three or foui' weeks in the ex- treme South ; in those a little further north, honey is just coming in. OUR BEES. Will you walk into the apiary* Said the apiarist to his friend; 'Tis a wondrous little workshop. Where love and friendship blend. I've a noble set of workers As ever you did spy, .\t home or abroad, or When coming through the rye. They are u]) and out at sunrise. To search the flowers over; Perchance may be a spider plant. Or bunch of alsike clover. They roam at large o'er hill and dale. And up and down the meadow, .\nd no complaint is ever made Except by some old fellow Who fears his rights may be " abridged,' Or some such hallucination. Yet wants a law to keep bees out. Or off his whole plantation. 1 wonder why they toil so har(( From (lay to da.v for one another; 1 ne'er could tell, unless it be The love they have for mother. Their papas dear are " lost. " you know. Their brothers seem to idle round; They have no beau.x to ask to tea, Arid hence they wear the same old gowi]. These hapless maidens, busy workers. Are the menials of the hive; While queen and drones are on the wing. They are on the drive. And if the Till i-t.-ir can b<- had. rath. Thcv sonicl imcs i,'ct upon a " strike " And then begin to swarm. But why this labor, why the zeal ; It brings to them no money; .\11 they get from year to year Is only stores of honey. Now, this lesson we may learn ; " With food and raiment be content;' But if through hibor more we earn. Receive if [iipekly, for 'tis lent. " Seek first the kingdom," then the rest Will he :i(l(led to your store; Faith. rep(iit:iiicc. godly walk. Heaven ;it last you want no more. Winona, Miss 246 GLEANINGS IN BEE .CULTURE. Apr. T. P. ANDREMTS' SECTION-CASE. A SUGGESTION IN REGARD TO MAKING IT. fOK the past year or two I have thought that I was about done raising comb honey; but hu- man plans, especially bee-keepers', are mu- table, and I find myself, at this date, decided to run the greater part of my 250 colonies to comb honey the coming season. As I had discard- ed my former method of handling sections as not being up in line with the modern improvements, I have been looking around the past winter in search of the best surplus arrangement for comb honey. 1 had decided that my section-case must hold sec- tions 414 X 414, 7 to the foot; that the sections must have open sides; that it must admit of the use of separators; that it must have no unnecessary bee- spaces between it and the brood-frames; that it must be so arranged that the sections and separa- tors can be easily put in and removed; that it must protect the outside of sections from propolis; and, lastly, it must not be expensive. By the accompanying sketch and description you will see where I stand at present in the matter of a section-case. T. p. ANDREWS' PROPOSED SECTION-CASE. The case is about 17 x 13 x 4% inches, inside meas- ure. ] make it of 'a lumber. The ends are nailed on to the back'side of the case. The front, or mova- ble side, is as long as the outside length of the case, and is held in place and drawn up tight against the sections by a pair of Vandeusen's hive-clamps, as shown in cut. This arrangement holds the sections tlrmly in place without T tins or other device. The separators are kept up in place by two nar- row strips of tin. If used without a bee-space be- tween it and the slatted honey-board, the openings between slats must be made to correspond in size and shape with those between the sections. If it is decided that a bee-space is desirable, the case can be made deeper, leaving the bee-space above the sections, and fix the honey-board with a bee-space on the upper side also. To fill this case with secticms and separators easi- ly, set it on a flat smooth board, with the open side toward you. Raise the front of the board on which the case sits, an inch or more, so the separators will not fall over when placed against a row of sections; spread the loose ends of the end boards a little further apart, and you are ready to put in your first row of sections. Then put in the two narrow tin strips, and afterward the first separator. Rows of sections and separators are then put in till the case is filled. The movable side is then put in place, the clasps are pressed down over the screws that project from the center of each end of the movable side, and the case is ready for the hive. Now, if any one who reads this has any sugges- tions or criticisms to offer, with a view to improv- ing this case or of giving us a better one, let him or her speak quick, for I want to adopt the best ar- rangement attainable at our present state of ad- vancement, and I want to decide soon. Farina, 111., Mar. 6, 1888. T. P. Andrews. Very good, friend A. As we have not, of course, had a chance to try your case, we can speak only from what experience we liave had with other section-cases similarly constructed. In the first place, it seems to us that it was hardly wise to dispense with all the usual supports for holding the cen- tral rows of sections. No doubt the Van- deusen clamps will, by compression, hold the sections when they are first put into the case. But then there would be danger, from the shrinkage of the lumber in the sections, of their dropping down so as to close the l)ee-space entirely between the sections and the honey-board. We have found by long ex- perience, that sections will shrink in width more or less. The lumber may be ever so thoroughly kiln-dried ; but when cut up in- to narrowstrips we find that it will shrink a little more. Now, while you can cut sec- tions just of a required width, yet in a few months' time you will find them a little smaller and a little narrower, although but a very small trifle. I presume you know, also, that your ar- rangement comes pretty close to Oliver Foster's ; that is, if you use it with a honey- board having spaces to correspond with the spaces in the sections— the honey-board, of course, coming in contact with the sections. Friend Foster, however, wedges the sections endwise as well as sidewise. You speak of using the crate w'ith separators or without separators. I suppose you have taken into account the thickness of the tin. Perhaps the Vandeusen clasp, however, has draw enougli to take this up. But there is anoth- er trouble that you and others seem to over- look, with such arrangements. Basswood sections season unequally ; and your mova- ble side will generally strike two rows of sections, leaving the other two more or less loose. Sections can not be made so that a row of seven will measure exactly alike. THE TAILOR BEE. HOW TO recognize HIM. fHE cells sent by Fred A. Hunett, Casco, Mich., are, as he supposes, the larviP of the tailor bee. He is also right in supposing the ma- ture bee will come forth next spring. The tailor bee is about as large as our common honoy-bee, but can be told by the heavy brush of yellow hairs on the under side of the abdomen. These are their pollen-gathering hairs which they use to collect the pollen. All bees collect pollen for food. Some feed this directly to their young, or, rather, place it where the young can feed on it. Others, like our hive-bees, bumble-bees, etc., digest it and secrete food for their young. The nests of the tailor bee, made as 1 hey are of regular oval or circular pieces of leaves which the bees cut with their scissor-like jaws, are curious and interesting. A. J. COOK. Agricultural College, Mich., March 21, 1888. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 247 A FOOT-SCRAPER AND MUD-BRUSH. SOMETHING TO PREVENT THESE MEN PROM GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE WITH MUDDY FEET. f^HE accompanying engraving sliows a l'' handy foot-scraper and mnd- brush, ■> devised by one of our bee-keepers. ' Mr. E. P. Churchill. It would be a great saving to carpels, as well as something conducive to the good nature of the housewife. It is a little strange, but it is nevertheless a fact, I believe, that in a great many homes the men and boys are never overscrupulous about cleaning their feet before entering the house. But they have a shadow of excuse ; and that is, that it is often not convenient ; and as the sod near the doorway is soft and muddy, noth- ing will l)e gained by scraping the feet on spongy soil, and so the male members track through the house, much to the discomfort of the mother and wife. The device below figured is quite ingenious ; and, as our friend Churchij] says, it can be made of material found around almost every home. The engraving below is almost self-explaining. CHURCIlll.L h FOOT SCRAPER AND MUD BRUSH. Friend liixi' :— Knowing you are in tor utilizing all lhing-8, and making: little things count, I geud you my idea of using two articles that have been a waste so many years. I have studied much on it, and I can say I am pleased every time I come to the door. A number have caught the fever and are using old brroma and scythes as foot-cleaners. There arc other uses lor the broom. It can be fastened up in the stable, to clean shovels on. I have one, and it tills a big gap as it were. Cut the handle off 1.5 to W inches from the brush, and round out a piece of four-inch joist a little for the handle next to the brush to rest on; then nail a strip of tin or leather over it, and one near the lower end, the end to be chamfered off to fit the boarding. The brush should set a little quartering from the boarding, so as we stand to draw the shovel across it we shall be clear of the wall of the stable; and it's only fun to clean a tool on it. The end of the broom should be about :5>e feet high, or according to the person using it. For cleaning roots in the cellar, fasten the handli' of a broom (after being cut off the proper lengtlu in the corner of a box. With a bo.Y large enough ;o stand tirmly, one can clean turnips and other lonts quickly and much better than with a knife, and no waste of trimmings either. I think old brooms are worth as much for these uses as when new to sweep, so the usual waste is saved, and we are pleased besides. I pre- sume in time we may use them to clean other things, such as extracting-knives. I love to make improvements in all little things. Hallowell, Me. E. P. Churchill. We are sure it pays in dollars and cents to have a foot-cleaner, something as repre- sented below. Your wife will tell you that the mud and dust grind into the carpet and wear it out prematurely, and carpets cost money. With little expense, such as friend Churchill suggests, you can save a great deal in floor wear. The old scythe will doubt- less have to be bent in the shape illustrat- ed, and the holes bored at your nearest blacksmith-shop. For the broom, instead of using a heavy piece of tin, while about it I would have tlie blacksmith make a lug out of i iron, bent in the shape shown in the engraving. Although friend Churchill does not say so, I should judge that the broom has been sliced off to make an even brush. At our house we have not only foot-scrapers such as we keep on our live-cent counter, but a matting whose upper surface is thick- ly set with luistles. After tlie greater por- tion of the mud has been scraped off on the foot-scrapers, llie slioe bottoms can be wip- ed clean. In time these mats will become dusty and clotted somewhat with dry mud. They can then be taken out and whipped with a stick, after which they will be nearly as clean as ever. These mats cost 50 cents each, and answer the purpose perfectly. Friend Churchiirs brush, however, has tlie advantage of cheapness as well as the fact that it is adapted to cleaning vegetables, etc. STOCKING THE FIELD. HONEY FROM THE ASTER, BLUE THISTLE, ETC. 'T^DITOR GLEANINGS:-Mr. Freeborn's letter E^i in your issue for March 1, 1888, throws valu- I*' V able light upon this subject. The fact that '*^ such results can be attained with such large numbers is valuable, as is the fact stated by Mr. France, about his large product, and that it was done in so short a time. Can not Geo. Grimm give us some light upon this subject? We all know that the season is the one potent factor, and that there arc times when the secretion of nectar in every good locality seems to be illimitable; and then in such a season as 1887 the best localities fail. In such a season as the past one, what is the relative differ- ence in the average results between large and small apiaries, in like good localities'i' As bearing upon this, J can say that 90 colonies, spring count, pro- 248 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. duced a larger average that 15 in an out-apiary 3' 2 miles distant. Now, if the light production comes from bad weather and a limited secretion in our flora, extend- ing throughout the whole season, the effect is very different from a condition that prevents the yield of nectar only in certain flowers, while that in others remains normal or large. Take linden and white clover. There are localities where both are very valuable sources of supply. If one utterly fails and the other is very abundant, the average product will be largely reduced; yet it would have no bearing upon the question of stocking, if the stocks have full employment during the clover sea- son. With us the season of 18S7 would have been as bad a failure as elsewhere but for the unusually abundant bloom of aster. Orchard and foi-est bloom and white clover and blue tliistle were abun- dant here, yet none of these gave us any surplus, except blue thistle, which, by the way, gives very nice honey. Now, if one important source of supply is so abundant, say for but ten days, as to fully employ 100 colonies in one locality, that locality, it it has other sources of supply in ordinary seasons, can not be said to be overstocked, even though all other flowers were cut off, though the average pro- duct may not be high after providing for winter. Here in Virginia, where we all winter on summer stands, your question No. 38 is a matter of interest. Bees fly out more or less all winter, and are i-arely confined 30 days. The consumption of honey is much greater than in the North, not only because of the activity, but because of earlier brood-rear- ing. Having kept bees in New York, the fact has been long apparent to me. J. W. Porter. Charlottesville, Va., March 8, 1888. SERMON TO HUSBANDS. HUSBANDS, BE GOOD TO YOUR WIVES WHILE YOU AND THEY ARE ALIVE. fWENTY-FOUR years ago I boarded with a young married coup e. They were nice- mannered, gentle-spoken young people, in poor circumstances. They had at that time five children, all small, so that the wife had no help worth speaking of. She was an industrious Christian woman, ambitious of her housekeeping, and proud of her children. All through the haying season, with all her household work and other cares, she had to go out every time a load of hay came to the barn, and drive the horse that was hitched to the rope that moved the hay-fork. This she did cheerfully; but there came a day when she, almost blind with sick headache, could not drive the horse steadily, as was her wont, and the fierce yells that came to her from the depths of the hay-mow made her still more nervous, until at last the horse got frightened and kicked himself loose and ran away. The young wife crept back to the hot kitchen, and began cooking supper for the men. That evening, as we went to hunt the cows (it was her regular work to hunt the cows out in the woods every evening, and to milk them after they were driven home) she told me of the trials of her married life. I did not believe her then; 1 did not believe her for years; l)ut I believe now all that she told me then. She told me of the hundred little ways that Uer bus- band took to annoy her. One of these was a habit he had of being prompt. He would set a time to start to town, and if, as sometimes happened, she could not get all the little ones ready in time, he did—what do you think? helped her dress them, and told her not to worry, as there was all of life before them? Well, not exactly that; but he drove away and left her— left her when fifteen minutes' help, ot- a half-hour's patient waiting would have made every thing smooth and pleasant; left her, the wife that he had promised to love and protect as long as they both should live; left her with tears in her eyes and a rage in her heart that was fearful to behold. This was only one of a hundred of his little ways; but, worse than all was his whipping her with a stick. I could believe all the rest that she told me; but this seemed too much. He was a quiet-spoken, intelligent man; he went around and made speeches at farmers' clubs and political meet- ings, and was so nice and polite to every one. The children grew up, the daughters married, the hus- band died; and the widow said to mo in the midst of her grie'', " I can love him now; I loved him before I married him; but from our wedding-day he has been a tyrant to me. I have been no dearer to him than his horses or his lands— something that helped to make him money, and save it for him. I have been his slave, but now I am free; and with his dead body lying there, I love him as I used to love him before I knew him. It seems as it the feeling of aversion had all dropped away, and I see only the bright-eyed lover whom I married thirty years ago;" and these words were from the lips of the woman whom he had chosen from among all others, and whom he had promised to love and protect un- til death should part them. Young husband, take the hat from ott' your head and the shoes from oft" your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. Mahala B. Chaddock. Vermont, 111. Mrs. Chaddock, it is a sad and serious story you have been telling us ; but I am afraid you are making a mistake when you put the heading " A Sermon to Husbands." I am sure it ought to read, " A sermon to any man or woman who goes through life without the love of God in the heart." There may have been mimcn as awfully wicked and cruel and hard-heavted as this husband of whom you speak, but I never knew of any, and I hope tliere are none. You say this woman was a Christian, but you did not say that her liusband was, and I am glad that you did not say so. If this story be true, his record is a dishonor to his sex ; and had he made any sort of profession of Christianity it would liave been a dishon- or to Christ Jesus. Now, while we censure, perhaps it would be well to remember that many of us, without the restraining power of the Christian religion, might beat least somewhat like this man. Your old friend A. I. Root, before he acknowledged Christ, might have done sucli a wicked thing as to drive away because his poor overworked wife was fifteen minutes late in getting the children ready. In fact, before 1 became a Christian it would have been just like me to do such a thing ; and wlien vexed and impa- tient, 1 might be tempted to think of doing such a thing now. I say, think of such a thing ; but the thought would be but brief GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 249 and momentciry, thank God — in fact, I dare not do it. I am afraid to do it, even if I want to do it wlien vexed and angry. You may ask what I am afraid of. I am afraid of the awfid remorse that would follow. There was a time when it did not. I am afraid, too, of the loss of the peace of my mind. I am afraid when I think of asking God's blessing at every meal, or as I go to bed for the night. If 1 should do such a thing, I should not dare go to him in love and confidence. I am afraid, above all, of the dishonor it would cast on the name that I profess to be following. I am afraid of the pain and anguish that it would bring into the heart of my poor wife. If I slwuld be tempted to start off in that way, before I got half a mile, I would whirl " around and go back faster than if I saw my house on tire, to try to undo the fearful thing I had contemplated doing. Now, friends, let us not make a mistake and put the depravity of the human race all on the shoulders of either man or woman. Let us remember that either sex, without Christ, or, say, a spark of Christianity, to restrain them, might be worse than brutes. And let us also remember that either one, even the worst and most depraved, can be, by this same redeeming love, transformed into saints. Let us hate, loathe, and detest the prince of darkness with all our might, wherever his work be found, whether in man- kind or womankind ; and then let us turn to Christ Jesus who came into the world to save just such sinners as Mrs. Chaddock has told us about. OWNERSHIP OF STBAY S"WARMS. FASTENING FOUNDATION TO THE SIDES OF THE SECTION BUT NOT TO THE TOP OR BOTTOM. T WAS very much surprised at the position taken M by the editor of Gleanings, at the close of the ^r replies to query No. 10, page 787 of hist year. ■*■ There was nothing- said in that query to denote that the employer was a bee-keeper, or that he was in any way interested in bees; nor that he would have accepted the bees had the finder of the swarm presented them to him. I say " presented," for I can not see why the employer should say he had any claim upon them unless, as Mr. Robinson puts it in last Gleanings, " it was among his duties to discover and hive bees, or search for swarms." Let us suppose a case: The editor of Gleanings writes me he wishes me to go to friend Betsinger's and make a draft of his honey-house, which I have spoken of in Gleanings, otfering me 25 cents an hour for the time I spend, from the time I leave my home till I return again. On the road to Mr. B.'s I tlnd a twenty-dollar gold piece, and stoop down and pick it up. After duly advertising it in our local papers, no owner is found; whom does it belong to —Mr. Root or myself? I claim that it belongs to myself and should consider Mr. Root very unjust if he took the course toward me he proposes to take on page 787; not only unjust to me, but unjust to himself as well. If it had been a swarm of bees I had found, which took any time of any amount to care for them, then I should be dishonest were I to report full time for all of my absence from home; but the bees would not be his any more than the 1*20.00 would have been. I think friend Root does not take the right view of what is real worth in the man or woman who works for him. What I consid- er as real worth in hired help is the doing the rery best they can at the work 1 set them at; for in- stance, I hire a man to hoe a field of potatoes for me, giving him so much an hour for so doing. If that man studies into how 1 want my potatoes hoed, and then works till he gets my mode perfect, after which he strives to see how many he can hoe for me in each hour as it passes, till he reaches per- fection both as to speed and work done, then I think I can well afford to increase his wages and put confidence in him, rather than base his worth on his chance findings or any thing else. What he gets outside of the nature of the employment I set him at is his, less the damage he does me by the loss of his time; nnd it seems to me that, should he not secui'e to his family the benefits of a f20.00 gold piece picked up he would not be fulfilling the duty he owed to that family. On page 929 of Gleanings for 1887, Dr. Miller, un- der the head of " Sections Built to one Side," gives us his views as to why bees cause such a state of afi'airs to exist, and says, " The remedy is not easily found." I think the cause of foundation being curled, so as to be attached to the separators, is just as the doctor says; i. e., the bees lengthen the cells on one side of the foundation and put honey in it before the other side is worked to so great an extent; but with some of us the remedy is not hard to find. Soon after foundation first came around, I made some plaster-Paris casts, fitting them so they would just come up to the middle of the sections, when a section was slipped over them. On this cast melted beeswax was put, painting the cast over with the wax, and at the same time attaching the wax to the sides of the box all around. This, of course, gave only the cell impression on one side of the wax sheet, leaving the other plain and smooth. On this the bees worked well at all times when hon- ey was coming In plentifully; but in times of a slow yield they built out the side having the impression on, and left the other untouched, as the doctor speaks of, so that I often had sections all finished on one side, with nothing but a plain sheet of wax on the other. However, as these sheets of wax were attached to the sections on all sides they al- ways kept their place, never curling or twisting. When I first began to use other foundation to any extent I was often met with the same difficulty of which the doctor speaks. One day I chanced to think of these former experiences with the old casts, and at once fastened the foundation to all sides of the sections. This worked well, only on foundation which was inclined to sag, except that it took too much time. Later on I fastened the foundation only to the sides of the sections, leaving it short at the top and bottom 14 inch, when I found I hart the thing perfect, as in this way the sag was provided for, and no curling could be done, on ac- count of one side being filled before the other. G. M. DOOLITTLE. Borodino, N. Y., March 13, 1888. Now look here, old friend; suppose that I " suppose a case,'' as you put it. Whoever owns fifty hives or more will soon learn that these fifty colonies of bees are a sort of at- 2-50 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. traction for *' strays," as we sometimes call them. These strays in the spring and fall of the year are often bees that swarm out on account of lack of stores. During the swarming season they come and cluster close by an apiary, for some reason I can not explain. Sfot a season passes but that we have more or less of these strays. They generally cluster on the evergreens sur- rounding our apiary, sometimes on the hedge across the road ; and whoever has charge of our apiary, sooner or later meets these strays and has to be instructed what to do with them. Only one man that 1 re- member of ever raised the question as to whom these bees rightly belonged. A great many times the apiarist declares they did not come from any of ouv own hives, when he afterward finds out they did. — My esti- mate of a man's real worth would depend a good deal on how closely he felt disposed to work for me when he liad sold me his time. If he were employed to work for the bees, and considered it no more tlian fair and right that he should look up from his work to see every team that passes the road ad- joining the apiary, I should think it detract- ed from his money value. If, besides that, he should stop a farmer who had potatoes on his wagon, and buy them l)ecause he needed some potatoes, he might think it was all right, even though the farmer start- ed from home to bring the potatoes to me in answer to an advertisement of mine. Now, there are some hired men who do that way, and some who don't. I do not often quarrel with either class ; but I can well afford to pay the latter kind the best wages — some- times double what I could pay the former kind. I do not care so much about the prof- it or loss in these little transactions, as I do for the fact that it indicates his plan of do- ing business ; for even such straws almost always unerringly indicate which way the wind blows. I quite agree witli you in re- gard to the gold piece.— At the Utica C'on- vention a Mr. Dickinson said he had excel- lent success by fastening the foundation along the top and down one side of the sec- tion. In this case the sheet of foundation was squarely cut, so it nearly filled the sec- tion. To get it in accurately he has a groove cut with a saw along tlie top and side of the section. The square foundation is pushed into the grooves, and fastened with melted wax. ENSILAGK. FKIENU TERUY ANSWERS THE OB.JECTIONS BKOUGHT FORTH BY I.ANDKETH AND OTHERS. TT may be, that some will inquire what we M have to do with ensilage ; but as friend ^t Hayhnrst puts it in his note below, I -*■ thiiik it must be admitted that the ((ues- tion concerns every one who buys milk of our milk-men ; therefore we thought best to give it a place : Ed. Oleaniiigs.— Some time since you published an article favoring " ensilage, " by Prof. Cook, if I am not mistaken. At the time 1 felt a strong desire to write him, asking In regard to the effect of the fer- mentation on the cattle; but I was prevented by sickness. Ever since I first read on this subject I have had the Impression that the "mash " from a silo was quite as bad as that from the brewery. Many of the dairies about this city use the latter stuff— a most abominable practice which should be sui)pressed by law. Here Is a scrap from Landreth's, which 1 hope will have the effect of calling out enough discussion for us to arrive at the truth. I am inclined to think the Landreths are correct. I use the mangolds for winter food for my cows, and find them Invaluable. E. M. Hayhurst. Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 28, 1888. Below is the paper referred to, cut from Landreth's Companion for the Garden and Farm : ENSILAGE. What Is this about which so much discussion Is held? Is it a new system, and is it one worthy of general adoption? We reply, first, it is not new, but is as old as his- tory, practiced by Ciesar during his invasion of France, and since resumed at intervals by all the European nations. And, second, that it is of high value only in sections of country where, through a moist climate, the making of good dry hay is diffi- cult, or in far Southern sections in which good hay- making grasses do not flourish. In England, and in countries bordering on the west coast of Europe, where constant moisture pre- vails, the system has been pursued with very great profit; but in the United States, where we have an almost tropical sun, the farmer for profit rather than show, can do without this process, costly and of questionable utility. Ensilage is that system of preserving green grass, green fodder of any kind, in chambers where it is compressed and entirely removed from the action of the atmosphere. These chambers may be above or below groiuid; may, for instance, somewhat re- semble an underground ice-house, in which the green material, cut into pieces less than an inch in length, to facilitate compressing, is placed and weighted down with stone or screwed down with jacks. The green material, if properly compressed, and if air and water be excluded, will keep for months, and turn out somewhat after the character of sauerkraut. Fermentation soon begins, tlie tem- perature rising to 150° F., at which point, as the chambers are air-tight, the further progress of fer- mentation is extinguished, and the mass preserved with traces of alchohol sufficient often to produce noticeable effects upon the bearing of cattle. The action of ensilage upon milch cows is to stim- ulate them to a large jiroduction of milk— straining the producing powers unuaturallj'. as becomes evident upon ceasing to feed it— the animals be- coming languid and limp, the same resultant effects as in the case of a drinking man deprived of his whisky. The process is only within the irach of the most wealthy class of farmers; and it 1s well, as we venture to predict that, in a few years, we shall hear much less of ensilage than wo do now. Con- centrated food for wintei'ing catti'' can be best ob- tained by the culture of matigolds. carrots, and turnips, as twice as many tons can be grown to the acre as of green fodder, and the roots can be kept in ordinary cellars or in simple pits behind the barn. We advise ordinary farmers to hesitate before building exi)ensive silos, but they need tiot hesitate to cut down the ration of corn arid feed more roots. On receipt of the above we forw;irded it to friend Terry, with request to answer. I presume our readers are aware that, through the institute work of the past winter, throughout the different States, friend Terry has had oppoitunities of being per- haps as well or better posted than any other one man in the United States. I think his statements can be received as conclusive in regard to the matter. He says : Friend Boot:— I have found that the ones who talked against ensilage were those who have never i8^ GLEAiflNGS m BEE CULTURE. 2SI tried it, and simply had a theory on the subject. The farmers who have actually tried it are well sat- isfied, almost to a man. I have yet to And a single man, who has tried it, who is down on it. Now and then one has made some mistake, and got poor feed; but they do not say any thing against the system. Silos are getting to be quite common in this vicinity, and I have met and talked with quite a large number, at the institute, who have them. Friend I.andreth is evidently not posted in regard to the latest irapiovements in silo building and filling. He says the process is only within the reach of the most wealthy. Years ago, when they were built of heavy masonry, there was some call for that statement; but to-day they are built of wood, cheaply. We have good ones, large enough for an ordinary farmer, costing from f60 to $l."iO only. They have been built cheaper and chetiper, and more simple, until Mr. H. Talcott, of Jefferson, our Food and Dairy Commissioner, has one made by only just lining the inside of his barn with matched lumber one inch thick. Just a box one inch thick is all. When I talked with him he said they had emptied one box, or compartment, and did not have a bushel of ensilage that was poor. The cost of pit was a mere trifle. A plan much used now is to board up inside, furrow out half an inch, and then lath and plaster with cement. This makes a cheap silo, and gives perfect satisfaction. Our farmers have been in the habit of paying from f 1.50 to *200 to get an outfit to do the cutting and elevating, and power to run it. This is not a serious expense; but Mr. I. J. Clapp, with whom I am acquainted, claims in a late number of Hoard's Dairuman, that it is all unnecessary to cut the corn to be put ill a silo. He is a business man, has a cutter on hand, power, etc., but does not use them; he simply puts the corn in whole. The cattle eat it with but trifling loss. It was filled with but little expense, the work being done by the regular help, at their leisure, filling the bins about two feet at a time, and then letting them stand until the corn heats up to 130° before filling any more. This makes " sweet ensilage," not "sauerkraut." 1 do not know of any one who has made any of the sauerkraut kind late years. And that weighting with stones and use of jack-screws is also a thing of the past. They simply cover with tarred paper and lay on a few boards, and then throw on a load of poor hay, straw, or a little sawdust. Weight is of no use, now, only to hold the pai)er and boards down in place. Mr. Talcott was hulling clover just as his silo was filled, and put no paper or boards over, even, but just ran the clover chaft' and straw right on the corn. Cows ate about all the covering. Again, they used to cut the corn for ensilage when green and soft, sowing the seed thickly. It was poor, flashy feed. Now they sow only 8 to 13 quarts to the acie, so the sun can get in and make it healthy, and let it stand until the ears are about glazed. Nearly every stalk has an ear. A little bran with this makes a grand ration; IW) lbs. of Mr. Clapp's ensilage has about Iti lbs. of ear corn in It. Now, the idea has all exploded that one can get a good deal more out of the silo than he puts in. The outrageous statements in this line at first, set many against it. But there is no question what* ever now, friends, that the silo as now built and filled is a success, particularly in the dairy districts. At Windham Institute we heard figures of returns from a 60-cow dairy that were more than double the average. Inquiry showed that the man had built a silo every year for three years, and was in- tending to build two next year. The silo was not the only cause of his success; but the point is, the successful man is the one who knows whether a thing pays ornot. His testimony would have more weight with me than that of a thousand who had never tried it. If one raises corn, the silo furnishes the best kniiwn method of preserving it— that is all. You take the corn when just at its best, and put it in the silo and keep it in that condition, pi'actically, until you get ready to feed it, and you can put a large amount of it in a very small space. Any one knows that, if that corn was left outdoors, put up ever so carefully, it would lose much of its value in two or three months, particularly it much rain fell. The silo saves this value, and makes the man more independent of weather. And, again, the succu- lence of the food makes it worth more to the dairy- man. I know of a man in the East who kept over 70 cows, last year, on 70 acres, and sold 60 tons of hay. Ensilage the year round did it, and I think this man would laugh at friend L.'s talk against ensilage, and say, " By their fruits ye shall know them." Or, again, as friend Geo. F. Austin, of Wisconsin (who feeds 100 animals on ensilage), puts it: "When science says ensilage isn't a good thing, and my cows say it is, I will stand by the cows, every time." T. B. Tehrv. Hudson, O., Mar. 6, 1888. I think, friends, the above covers the ground in a few words. How strange it is, that every great discovery or invention must first pass through the preliminary stages ; and that, after these preliminary stages are past, we find many things that were the most expensive are of no impor- tance at all. OPEN VS. CLOSED SIDE SECTIONS. SOME STRONG POINTS IN FAVOR OF THE FOKMEH. aUKING the past four years I have used per- haps 15,000 open-side Sections without sep- arators. For six years previous to this time, I used the ordinary closed-side sections, so I can speak from experience of the merits and demerits of each style. I started out about ten years agoiwith the double-tier wide frames, with tin separators. In comparing the work of colonies in top stories filled with these wide frames of sections with the work of similar colonies in similar top stories filled with large frames of comb or founda^ tion for extracting, it was evident that the supers for extracting had some strong point in their favor. Even where both frames and sections were fur- nished 'alike {with comb or foundation), and other things being etjual, almost two pounds could be ex- pected in the large frames to one In the sections. We naturally look for some practical ditt'erence in the conditions which could cause this difference in results, and we notice those three impassable par- titions running from side to side and from top to bottom of the one super, caused by the closed sides of the sections. At some person's suggestion I tried removing? one of the central frames of sections, and placing in its stead a comb for extracting, thus breaking through M GLEA:5«ri:ffGs In b:£e cULtuke. Apft. those partition walls. This proved to be quite an impi-ovement. I decided that bees like large frames better than small ones. A neig-hbor of mine was using large 2-lb. "California" sections without separators, and with only a small scrap of comb as a starter. He got as nice comb honey, and tbore of It, than I did with my expensive separa- tors and extra work. In 188:J I changed to ~-lb. sec- tions and adopted a case to hold them, similar to the old-style Heddon case, only with three apart- ments instead of four. I believe these large sections were entered more promptly and filled more rapidly than the smaller ones; but, not mentioning the common objections to large sections, our object was not yet fully ac- complished. A new start must be made in each separate apartment, or cross-row. "Bait "combs could not well be used as an enticement, for it will not answer to place a section filled with coml) by the side of one with only a starter, without a sep- arator, which could not be used in this cnse; and if we have comb in all the sections of one cross-row it does not serve as an enticement for any other row, as there is no direct communication between the rows. In 1883 I conceived the idea of opening up com- munication between these cross-rows by making entrances between the sections at the sides, like those at the top and bottom. I accordingly went back to the 1-lb. section with open sides, and con- trived a case especially adapted to their use which has since developed into what I now call the " ad- justable" case. The chief object of this change was to combine the advantages of large frames with those of small sections. One important advantage is, that after work is once started anywhere in the case, the bees gradu- ally work through into the next row, and on to the ends of the case in the direction the combs run, which is the natural way for bees to work; whereas with the closed sides, work must be started in four places, and then progress " across the grain." Another advantage claimed is that of a more per- fect ventilation, facilitating the ripening process. Practice proves that the objects sought are realized. The main object is the same as that sought by the many expensive and complicated contrivances under the heads of "reversible frames," "contrac- tion dummies," " invertible hives," and " divisible brood-chambers " with the queen-excluders, which these things necessitate. In brief, it is to get hon- ey stored in sections rather than in brood-combs. With full 10-frame L. brood-chambers, without con- traction, inversion, or queen-exclusion, but with open-side sections above, I have found, throughout a good honey-tlow, the (jueens holding their posi- tion up close to the top-bar, leaving always plenty of empty cells below and around the brood. From such colonies I have had good yields of comb hon- ey with but few swarms, and at the closfe of the season I have found scarcely honey enough in all the ten brood combs to winter the colonies. I do not claim that the use of open-side sections will give us all the advantages claimed for contrac- tion and inversion; but with them there is not the necessity for the unnatural extremes of compul- sion, to which many are now resorting. The unfavorable reports from open-side sections are evidently the result of improper construction, poor workmanship, or the want of a suitable case to hold them. They should be pressed close togeth- er, especially from the etids of the case; and for easy manipulation the case should be capable of enlargement. Oliver Foster. Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Mar. 5, 1888. Friend F., before I ever thought of put- ting four one-pound sections in an L. frame, I had made some experiments similar to yours. I found that, by tiering up Simplici- ty hives and letting tlie bees build full-sized combs, and till them with honey, they could, under favorable circumstances, store enor- mous tjuantities, and I made some large yields in this very way, cutting up these brood-frames full of white comb honey to retail or put on the table. The next thing was to divide the brood-frame into eight square cakes. Doolittle and others had al- ready been using a wide frame holding larger sections one tier deep. I first tried to get along without separators ; but as my sections were full two inches wide, 1 had trouble. The quantity of honey stored was satisfactory, but some of the sections were fat and some were lean. I very soon decid- ed that separators were detrimental to the rapid storage of honey ; but it did not occur to me that a part of this objection to separa- tors might be because the frames were press- ed tightly together, dividing the whole hive into deep '' pigeon-holes," as it were ; and I confess that, with your explanation, it seems to me very likely that more honey can be secured with open-side sections than where the openings are only at the top and bottom. We should be very glad indeed to get reports from others who have tried both. FLOKIDA FIiOWEKS. THEIR FRAfiRANCE, ETC., AS DESCRIBED BY MRS. CHADDOCK. X^ AST night we received a beautiful bouquet 1^1 from Mr. Irving Keck, of Bowling Green, Ji*T Florida. It was made up of orange-blossoms, "*" grape-tlowers, honeysuckles, yellow jessa- mine, roses, and a bud of the pomegranate. Orange-blossoms' just think of iti We have been reading of orange-blossoms all our lives, but never saw nor smelled any before. At first when we opened the box we thought that Mr. Keck had made a mistake. You know all the people in Flori- da have been busy sending fruit and fiowers and presents of all kinds to Mrs. Frances Cleveland, and we thought this must be one of the bouquets in- tended for her that had gone astray, and come to us; so we hunted up the wrapper and read the address again: "Miss Jessie B. Chaddock, Ver- mont, 111. ;" then we doubted no more, but fell to enjoying the flowers, without restraint. The yellow-jessamine flowers are the same kind that the bees gather the poisonous honey from that kills those who eat it. What adrcadful strong smell it has when held close! No wonder that the bees never work on it when they can find any thing else. All last evening till bedtime, all our rooms were full of the fragrance of orange blossoms. Last night we put them in the cellar to keep them from freezing, and to-day we are inhaling them again. This afternoon the husband of a sick woman call- ed, and he admired the flowers so much that we di- vided the bouquet and sent half of it to his wife. She has been sick for eight months, and is tired of 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 253 everything-; and if those Florida flowers brighten an hour for her, and give her something to think of besides the pain in her limbs, they will not have traveled their thousand-mile journey in Uncle Sam's mail-coaches for nothing. Vermont, 111. Mahala B. Chaddock. HIVING ON EMPTY FEAMES. HUTCHINSON'S PLAN OF SECURING COMB HONEY NOT A SUCCESS WITH .1. P. ISRAEL. fHB cheapness of sugar, and the almost uni- versal failure of the honey crop throughout the United States, has, for the first time in many years, brought the latter up above the former. Last year I sold most of my honey (all comb) at 6 cents, while I paid 7 and 8 for sugar. Before sugar fell so low it was far worse. Now, however, we have cheap sugar, and are likely to get a good price for our honey next season. I do not think Mr. Hutchinson's plan of hiving swarms on empty frames will pay— at least, I know it does not in tins locality. Mr. Hutchinson pleads hard in conventions and through the press to hive swarms on empty frames— arguing that they would do better than on a full set of combs or full sheets of foundation. It was an after-thought with him to advocate "empty frames, or nothing more than strips of foundation." Now, I had practiced putting in strips of foundation for three years before that, so T know exactly how bees would do on that; but I did it from economy, not because I believed they did better than on full sheets of foundation. But I took it for granted Mr. H. was a better bee-keeper thati I, and that he knew what he was talking about. " Eureka! " I cried; " if we can hive swarms on craptj' frajBCs, it will save me a world of work "—save me from " sitting up of nights" put- ting strips of foundation in frames. Last year was a good honey j^ear in California. I therefore pro- ceeded to put this plan into execution. With what glee and satisfaction I would catch up a hive, carry it to the swarm (they generally settle on low bushes here), give the bush a jerk, and land them at the mouth of the hive! "There, now! No more work for poor old Ned," and then I would dash on to the next swarm. So 1 went gayly through the honey season, putting 163 swarms on empty frames. It is not our custom to disturb the brood-chamber dur- ing the honey season; but you may imagine my surprise and consternation, after it was over, to find that, out of these 162 swarms, not more than 13 had built straight combs. Some were built right across the frames. The others were built cat-a-cor- uered, catawampus, and any other and all cats that you can imagine. I fell down under the shade of a friendlj' bush and groaned in spirit. The noise at- tracted my grandson, who came running up to me. " O grandpa! what is the matter with you?" My hand spasmodically rose and fell upon my stomach, and I could only groan, " Hutchinson, O VV. Z. ! W. Z. ! " " What is Hutchinson, grandpa? Have you got it in your stomach? " "Yes, yes! I am full of him— O W. Z. ! W. Z.!" Off dashed the youngster to the house, and cried, " Kun quick ! run ! grandpa is lying up in the apiary under a sumac-bush! He's got the Hutchinson Jiad in his stomach! And the W. Z. too— that's in his stomach tool " In a moment the whole family were around me; but to all their questions I could only moan, "Oh! W. Z! W.Z.!" The name of our friend is no more mentioned in my presence, fearing I may take a relapse. This past year of 1887 was a sad one for the bee- keepers of California. My own situation will give you an idea of all, or nearly all, of them. In 1886 I sold from my apiary nearly ten tons of honey. Last year, " tell it not in Gath," I had not a pound to eat; and this, too, in a bee-range which is not ex- celled, if it is equalled in the world. The cause of the failure was simply tJic tvay in which the rain fell. Half an inch would fall at a time, followed by a dry wind, which would drink up all the moisture from the ground. Then may be an inch would fall, fol- lowed by the same result. So it kept on all winter. There was quite a profuse bloom of honey-plants, but no honey in them. The bees did not get enough to keep them six months. J. P. Israel. Olivenhain, San Diego Co., Cal. I will explain to our readers, that the above was received six months ago, and it has been all this time waiting for a place. I presume friend I. has by this time hived new swarms again, and I would suggest that, no matter what the bees do, he keep an eye on proceedings. 1 would no more think of letting 162 swarms go ahead with- out watching, than to let the same number of men go to work for me anywhere. No mat- ter how good men we have, we want to keep track of proceedings, in order to explain to them our wishes, even if nothing more. I presume the poor bees thought you wanted the combs built cat-a-cornered. etc. I do not remember that friend W. Z. specially advised us to do as he did. He simply gave us the results of his experiments, just as you, friend 1., have given us the result of t/ours. ^ I — ^ SALT AS A LUBKICANT. MORE ABOUT THAT INVENTION FROM A TUMBLE INTO A PORK-BARREL. §N page 111 you say that old readers will re- member E. A. Morgan as the ABC child that grew so fast. Indeed they do, and well do I remember the zeal and eagerness I felt then. I fairly worshiped bees; and, if I do say it, there is not the man living to-day who studied, worked, and experimented more than I, and I claim to be as fully familiar with the trade from alpha to omega, or from the bee to the cash in pocket for honey as most of the fraternity. I shall never quit the business. You speak of the salt-water lubri- cant as a great invention, and the pork-barrel tum- ble as jumping from the sublime to the ridiculous. I hope friend Secor may give us a poem, as you sug- gest. To be sure, I did not study out the Invention; but how long would it have taken for another bee- man to tumble into a briny pork-barrel? The se- cret has gone out, but sooner than I intended, and in a different way. As far as study or accidental discovery is concerned, I have this to say: That there are great principles existing to-day in nature, unknown to man, given by our Creator in the be- ginning, which will be discovered in time to come, which, if you or I could discover by study or by accident now. would make us millionaires in three minutes. They M'llJ be brought out! but in what 2o4 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. way no one can tell, and It makes little difference, as I see, to us. If we get the benefit. My bees are in winter quarters, where they will remain a month yet at least. Their condition I know nothing of. We have had the most terribly severe winter I ever experienced. Spirit thermom- eters dropped to .V; below zero here; and across the river in Wisconsin to 68 below on one occasion, and 40 below began to be called moderate weather. The snow is three feet deep on a level here now, and the weather shows no sign of spring. Winona, Minn., Mar. 12, 1888. k. A. Morgan. Friend M.. I for ohe do not want to be made a millionaire in three minutes; in fact, I do not want to be a millionaire at all. Even the thought of such a thing, with its attendant cares and responsibilities, makes toe tired now. The above expression, and that one about 68 degrees below zero, sounds exactly like you. May be we are not very well posted here ; but we were under the impression that 57 degrees was about as low as Dr. Kane found it when np near the north pole. ^ I — MALARIA AND THE HOME. SOME SENSIBLE KEMAKKS IN REGARD TO THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH. R. ROOT:— I like the remark you made last fall, that windmills enhance the purity of water: and this, in turn, must favoralily affect both man and beast. While this is essentially true, yet I have noticed in most ca&es where the water supply is dependent upon a single well, whether a windmill is used or not, the arrangements are faulty. The well is in the back yard, usually not far from a barnyard fence. As a matter of economj', the stock-trough is pl4 to -'8 inches. Nearly all the bees in box hives have died in our neighliorhood this winter. On examination of some I found the frames home- made, and at very irregular distances apart, com- pelling the bees to build very thick combs. Is it probable that the honey put in these thick combs did not ripen sutHciently for winter food? Would a queen lay as readily in these thick combs as those of the right thickness? What is the rijfht thick- pess for combs? J. I. Brought. Strode's Mills, Pa., Feb. 2.5, 1888. Friend B., the irregular combs, and those of great thickness, would be a detriment to rapid brood-rearing; but I should hardly think it was the cause of the bees dying. Brood can not be reared in these thick combs. They must be cut down first ; and the bees often do this, even if it leaves a big space between one comb and the one ad- joining. I should think it quite likely that the contents of thick combs would not be as good for winter food. ABOUT THAT PORTRAIT ENGRAVING. Mr. Root:— Ho you know I do not think that I am a big enough bee-keeper to be put in Gleanings? I am a big enough woman, plenty big enough, but not a big enough bee-keeper. If I were running Gleanings I would not admit anybody's picture to its columns who had less than a hundred colo- nies of bees, and who had not realized at least a thousand dollars from the sale of honey and bees in a single year. This would bo my test of a suc- cessful bee-keeper— lots of bees and lots of money. I have never had more than thirty colonies at one time, and never made more than a hundred dollars out of bees in any one year, and these hundred-dol- lar years are about as scarce as angels' visits. I must thank the engraver for making the picture better than the photograph, and also thank Mrs. L. Harrison for her complimentary sketch. Mahala B. Chaddock. Vermont, 111., Feb. 14, 1838. Why, my good friend, your condition of admittance, 1 am afraid, would take us all out. It is true, there are a few who make a thousand dollars a year from the sale of bees and honey ; but when they make so much money they generally get proud, and won't send us their picture nor write for Gleanings, nor answer questions ; so you see it may be lucky after all that you have not made any more than you say — that is, lucky for the rest of us THE HOUSE APIARY ; SHOULD ANY CHANGE BE MADE IN THE ONE DESCRIBED IN THE ABC OF BEE CULTURE? I have been interested in bee culture for a good many years, and have always been especially in- terested in your writings on the subject. Your ABC has been invaluable to me, and is often con- sulted. I contemplate moving my apiary, which consists of 20 colonies, from my home in the city to the country. It seems desirable for many rea- sons that I should build a bee-house. In the ABC you describe an octagonal house which you say had been in use for two years. In your experi- ence since then, would you suggest any changes or improvements on the plans there given? Syracuse, N. Y., Feb. 27, 1888. M. C. Hand. We have no improvements to suggest in house apiaries, other than those already given in the A B C. If we made any change, however, it would be something to carry away the smoke that accumulates from the smoker while at work inside. Per- haps a ventilator in the top of the room might answer the purpose. Oh, yes ! a bee- escape in the door would be very desirable too. W^e will shortly give a diagram and descri{)tion of C. C. Miller's bee-escape. THE EGYPTIAN BEKS, AND SOMETHING ABOITT THEIR DISPOSITION. Please let me know if you know any one in the United Suites who has the Kgyptian bees, as I want to get them. A. Y. Chhisman. Hanford, Cal., Mar. 4, 1888. Friend (' , we believe there is no one in the United States who fiunishes the Egyptian bees. Some years ago a colony was import- ed, but they were found to be so vindictive -—yes, so terribly savage— that no one would handle them. They have been known in their native climate, when enraged, to even pursue sailing crafts down the Nile, com- pelling the sailors and passengers to go be- low. Mr. D. A. Jones said that, while on his Eastern tour, he once opened a colony by working with the utmost caution ; and, moving as gently and as slowly as possible for him to do, he was enabled to make some sort of an examination. If we are correct, however, he was finally obliged to retreat in inglorious defeat^ GOT THE SWEATS. I have lost one hive with the sweats, I think. The combs were all sweat, and there were scarcely any bees. There was 2t) lbs. of honey in the hive. I have another hive, the bees in which are hum- ming all the time. I gave them three frames of honey, but they still hum. What is the matter? I have read your ABC Itook, but can't find any thing about it. J. Peaker. Macksburg, O., Mar. 5, 1888. You say your bees have the " sweats." From your description I am inclined to think they have the dysentery. Look for 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 2.59 that liead in your A B C book. 1 have sometimes seen colonies affected with dys- entery, which appeared- wet, or "sweaty,'' as you express It. \Vhen tiiis condition of affairs is observed, the colony is pretty bad- ly affected. The other colony you speak of is probably likewise affected with dysente- ry. They are doubtless uneasy, and you will possibly find them scattered pretty well throughout the brood-nest. A few warm days, so that they can fly. will be about as good a remedy as they can have. A colony may be queenless; if so, tliey will hum, about as you state it, and not be diseased either. Very recently we found one such. These we united with another C()h)ny, as we feared they would die before warm weather. TASMANIAN MEDICINAL HONEY ; IS THE STORV TOLD ON PAGE 875 OF LAST YEAR THUE ? Mr. Boot.— Gleanings of Nov. 15 has a paragraph on Tasraanian medicinal honey, and you ask, "Can any of our readers tell us if such trees exist?" Is it necessary to ask the question? If it took 40 Kanakas joining hands to reach round one of these trees, that tree must have had a circumference of at least 300 feet, as most men can easily stretch 5 ft. Now, sir, how did Mr. Guilmeth cut two or three of these ti-ees down? and how long did he take for the job? Fancy cutting down trees 60 feet in diameter, to get at a honey-nest I This "cutting down " statement seems to me to spoil the story entirely. That eucalyptus honey has certain me- dicinal virtues I believe is true; and many people here can vouch for its excellence for throat affec- tions. But I much question the value of the state- ment of Mr. Caraman, a copy of which I inclose. F. A. JOYNEH. Adelaide, South Australia, Jan. 14, 1888. Many tlianks, friend J. I am ashamed of myself to think that I let that paragraph go into print without noticing the point you make. I did protest some, you may remem- ber, and I thought the wliole story looked fishy. Is it not possible that this number 40 is a misprint, and that they meant only four men V And I tell you I should hate to chop a tree down that would take even four men to reach around it. 1 do not think I should cut very many of them the same day, espe- cially if I had to do it by chopping. Many thanks to you also, for the additional facts you furnish. DANIEL M'FADDEN'S METHOD OF WINTERING PUT TO THE TEST. Friend Root:— J was greatly interested in Daniel McFadden's plan of wintering bees without stores, and thought I would sacrifice one swarm to see if I could make it work. So when feeding up my weak swarms for winter I left a large light one without feeding. When the first snow came, or when it was about six inches deep, and it was very cold. 1 took off the cover of the hive in the forenoon, thinking that the bees would soon freeze; but they com- menced a roaring noise, and kept it up all the after- noon. Is that not their way of warming up their hive? I went to them after sunset, and they were still roaring. I carried them to the cave I had fix- ed, and set them in and put the cover on, but did not put it down tight. I left them till morning, when I found them quiet. I then covered them with snow carefully, and they are now under about three feet of it. You have mentioned the canning of tomatoes several times in Gleanings. Can it be done on a small scale, and by one who is not an expert at the business, and be made profitable? A year or two ago you were asking for some method to keep green corn. If 1 remember cor- rectly, I ate some a few days ago that had been boiled and then put in brine. It was just as good as when fresh, so far as I could sec. Bees are wintering well, I think. They are pack- ed incliatf, and are in a bee-cellar where it has not frozen any this winter. How much will you give me for the one under the snow? A. B. C. Woodville, Wis., Jan. 16, 1888. I am glad you tried tlie experiment, my friend ; but 1 liave not I'aitli enough in it to make you an offer for the bees. — Tomatoes can not be canned on a small scale very well, so as to pay expenses, at the prices we buy them for in the market. As those we canned ourselves are already sold out, we are now buying very nice ones at a little less than 10 cts. per can ; and unless you work very closely, the labor and cost of cans will amount to the 10 cts., so you see you get nothing at all for your tomatoes. These things have to be done in a systemat- ized way, in a factory, or something equiva- lent. 1 do not quite understand how you could put your boiled corn into brine with- out getting it so full of salt that it would spoil it for use. Can you make it a little plainer for the readers ()f Gleanings V ]S[0¥EJ$ ^]\[D ^UE^IEg. THAT CALIFORNIA HONEY. F any one wants any reference for your Cali- fornia honey, just send him to me. I was where it was produced, and had a taste of the mountain-sage honey from friend Wilkin's ta- ble, and it was as good as our white-clover hon- The blue sage is not quite as good. I found friend Wilkin a very sociable bee-friend. I went to California to make it my liome, if every thing could have worked to suit; but I had to leave for the east soon, and did not get back to see triend Wilkin. Jewett, Ohio, Mar. 16, '888. David Lucas. ey Is ventilation from the top of a hive necessary to safe wintering? D. A. Townsend. Portageville, N. Y., Mar. .5, 1888. [The matter of ventilation is a mooted one. Top ventilation is not absolutely necessary, if a large entrance is allowed. We use both in outdoor win- tering— that is. such top ventilation as is afforded through 6 or 8 inches of loose chaff. 1 FOOT-POWEH and hand-power, VERSUS STEAM FOR hive-making. Which is the best or most convenient for hive- making— a Coot or hand power buzz-saw? Fowlerville, Mich. N. T. Holmes. LIf you have got a good strong man to turn the crank of a Ijand-power machine, and yourself do the cutting, you can get along very well: but a lit- tle online would be cheaper. Foot-power and hand-power both are (|uite unsatisfactory if you have very much hive-making to do. Small engines are now sold so cheaply that it is much better to use Bteara. 2fi0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. A CORRECTION. There is a mistake in your figures, page 164, sec- ond column, near the top. The winter of 1881 and '2 we lost two colonies. Gleanings says, 42 lost out of ].'>7. It should be 2, not 43. All the rest is right. Platteville, Wis. Edwin France. Will one of your two-horse engines run a 36-inch circular saw? I suppose T should have a larger en- gine, but 1 am not able to purchase it. Miles Coleman. Powell's Mills, Ry., Mar. 7, 1888. [A two-horse-power engine would hardly run a 36-inch saw and make it do any work; in fact, a 5 H. P. engine would have all it could do. If the saw were going through. 8ay, 14 inches of hard dry wood it might require a six or eight H. P. engine.] A QUEEN FLYING OUT IN .JANUARY. I had a queen come out the ."jth of January. What is the cause? Does such occur often? She flew in front of the hive like bees marking the lo- cation. John W. Palmer. Marble Hill, Bolinger Co., Mo., Jan. 18, 1888. [As a rule, it is unusual for a queen to come out in January; but in your warmer locality it may not be so strange. Without knowing more of the facts in regard to the case, I would suggest that the old queen had been superseded, and a younger one came out on her wedding-trip, supposing, of course, the weather was warm enough for the bees to fly freely. Her behavior in marking the location would indicate this] can bees be kept with profit a mile and a HALF above the LEVEL OF THE SEA? I should like to know if one could reasonably ex- pect to succeed with bees at this altitude— 7-500 feet above the level of the sea. I have had some ex- perience. Because of the cold nights, honey was not secreted in any considerable quantity. There is an abundance of flowers here, but the nights are always very cold and even frosty. C. E. Carroll. Liberty, Rio Grande Co., Colorado. [I am afraid, friend C, that there are not many of us who have had experience in the line you men- tion; but I should say, on general principles, where there are flowers that secrete honey the bees would prosper, no matter how high up or low down they are located.] CAN CYPRIAN AND HOLY-LAND BLOOD BE DETECTED IF PRESENT IN THE BEES? In testing Italian queens, can it always be detect- ed if the queen mates with a drone part Cyprian or Holy-Land? If so, how? B. J. Rice. West Fallbrook, Cal., Feb. 27, 1888. [If the progeny of any queen has any of the blood of any Holy-Land bees, thej' will show more or less disposition to build queen-cells and increase. The fuzz-bands will also, perhaps, be a little whiter, and the yellow bands a little lighter yellow. If the bees are crossed with Cj'prians, the yellow bands will also be a lighter color, and at the base of the thorax you will find occasionally on the bees the characteristic shield of the pui-e Cyprian.] HOW TO KEEP COMBS FROM BEING WORM-EATEN. I have 40 or .50 empty or partly filled frames that I shall not need till summer. If I put them in a tight box before warm weather comes, will I be troubled with moth worms? Rufus Buckley. Hampton. Neb., Feb. 29, 1888. [Combs stored away as you mention will not be troubled by moth worms. We keep ours in Sim- plicity hives, with the entrances closed tight, often- times during the entire summer. When the moth miller has once got at them, shutting them up in a tight box will not prevent their being worm-eaten. In your case, if there were any eggs in the combs tbey have doubtless been killed by freezing. 0aR QaEgTi0N-B0^, With Replies from our best Autliorities on Bees. AU queries sent in for this department should be briefly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked, '• For Our Question-Box." Question No. 43. -Js it policy to sit down a part of the time when at work oi^er the hives'/ Jones thinhsit IS, and is lanuhrd ot liu Brown hecause he (Jones) Wies to tahe it cty. Both are energetic men, and hoth make bees pay in avernqe seasons, flinch of the two. in the same time, will accomplish the larger cimountof work consistent with the proper economy of physical strength? It is policy to economize our strength. w. Z. Hutchinson. 1. Yes, sir'ee; It is policy for me, and I'd enjoy Brown's laugh. 2. Jones. Dr. A. B. Mason. Yes. Place edgewise on the ground the cover of the hive removed, for a stool to sit on. Jones is right. H. R. Boardman. I can't answer for Jones or Brown, but I like it. I believe a hard-worked horse will do more with an occasional breathing-spell. A. J. Cook. If you feel like it, and more particularly if your back requires it, sit down. The bow that is never unstrung will lose its elasticity. Mrs. L. Harrison. Yes, if you can work as fast while sitting as while standing; and Jones can do the most work if he doesn't carry his sitting-down to an extreme. O. O. Poppleton. Do as you please. When we are tired, we rest. Some people take the world hard, others take it easy. There is a reasonable mean between the two. Dadant & Son. 1. Dr. Miller, who is good authority, says sit down. I used to think otherwise; but now the more I can sit down at my work in the bee-yard, the better. 3. Very little difference, after a person gets used to either plan. G. M. Doolittle. I have never seen the sit - down bee - keepers make the business pay. I do not think I should do it, and I don't want any of that class in my employ. Our hive and apiary system are based on a different plan altogether. James Heddon. It is always wise not to go beyond one's strength. I never could stop to sit down or rest, and years of suffering have been the result. Older bee-keepers need no advice. To the young I would say, with all sincerity, " Go steady and sure." L. C. Root. Neighbor Brown, do you just let neighbor Jones alone, and mind your own bees' (nestK Neighbor Jones, don't you heed him. Adopt brother Hutch- inson's invention, and have a nice convenient stool strapped to your person. That will make sitting down a fine art, as it were, and give Mr. Brown something to laugh at. E. E. Hasty. With our hives some kinds of work can be done to better advantage sitting than standing, and our hive-caps are just the right height for a comforta- ble seat. When I can find a queen more quickly by sitting, why should I stand? The hired man who accomplishes the most work with the least labor or exertion is the best, and I suppose it is the same with bee-keepers who work tor board and clothes. P. H. ELWOOp, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 261 If your hives are only two or three inches from the ground you will soon find out that you would like to^do as Jones docs. Brown may have an iron- clad back, but you will not find many who can stoop down over hives all day, wishing they had some- thing to sit on for a while. Paul, L. Viallon. Marion Harland, in that excellent book, " Com- mon Sense in the Household," says, " I lay it down as a safe and imperative rule for kitchen use, Never stand when you can do your woih as well while Hit- ting." It's a good rule for bee-keepers, if you make it '* as well and as rapidly." The man who sits part of the time will accomplish more, because he does not waste strength in standing or stooping which can be utilized in solid work. C. C. MiLLEH. If I get tired working with the bees, and have time to sit down to rest, I prefer to go and sit in the shade, instead of sitting down and working over a bee-hive. If Jones will come and work in my crew of honey-slingers, and tind any time or place to sit down and keep the work moving right along as lively as those who are on their feet, then I shall be mistaken. Very likely a man working over nu- cleus hives, raising queens, could find it practical to sit a part of the time; but working over our big hives extracting honey, 1 don't think any one could make it pay to sit down to work. E. France. I always sit down when working over a hive, and I'll wager a sum that I'll handle as many colonies as the next man. I have, with one assistant (who did the running and carrying), done all the work on 900 colonies, except the hiving of swarms, and I think I did it well too. A man must have a back of cast iron to examine colony after colony, lift heavy combs and boxes, with the hot July or August sun overhead, and all the while maintain a "Grecian bend" attitude. The first thing I do on approach- ing a hive is to lift the cover-box from the hive, set it up edgewise on the side of the hive, sit down on it, then go ahead. When I am througli with the work on the hive I go to the next and the assistant replaces the cover-box. Geo. Grimm. Well, friends, when I started out to read tlie above, I began to think it was going to be all on one side. Heddon, however, comes right down emphatic ; and our good friend France backs him up pretty well. Dr. Miller thinks the bee-keeper ought to sit down, and no wonder. If 1 were as big as he is, I think 1 should sit down a good deal oftener than I do, very likely, whether I wanted to or not. Well, Ileddon, who weighs about the same as I do— may be a little more— and very likely gets over the ground about as I do, would have no pa- tience with one who has to sit down. May be if friend Ileddon and I should hire out to somebody by the day, so that we were oblig- ed to put in a solid ten hours or more, stoop- ing over the hives, perhaps we should think difterently, and perliaps have a little more charity. Dadant says there is a reasonable mean, and I think he is riglit. There is quite a difference between a man who sits down because he is too lazy to stand up, and the one who has done so mucli during the day that it is due, both to himself and his employer, that he should save his strength by sitting down a little ; therefore I tl)ink it is hard to hiy down rules. Let a man do as he chooses in such a matter, and gauge his pay according to the amount he accomplishes. 8ee an article touching on this from George Grimm in next issue. (^)UESTiON No. 44 — r havCi a lot of sections with starters in them, which the bees did not draw out. Woiild you use them, or put other starters in them the coming s eason? Geo. Grimm. W. Z. Hutchinson. Dadant & Son Dr. a. B. Mason. Mrs. L. Harrison. C. C. MlI.tiEH. Use. Use them. Use them, if clean. I would use them. I would use them. I always use them. I would use them as they are. James Heddon. Use them, if not discolored or soiled. H. R. BOARDMAN. Put others in. I have tried old ones. P. H. Elwood. All that are in good condition I would use as they are. L. C. Root. I would use the sections with the old starters in them, if clean. Chas. F. Muth. I should use Ihem, but would alternate in the crates with sections having fresh foundation. O. O. POPPLETON. If you use them, warm them up before putting the cases on the hive. They are just as good, if the wax is softened. A.J.Cook. If the starters are quite large, very hard, and badly daubed with propolis, take them out; other- wise use them next year. E. E. Hasty. I am in the same boat, and should like to know. It is a big job to cut out several hundred and put in new. I think I shall try both plans. E. France. I should use thcra.itnice and clean, even if all the rest of the fraternity said no. Little of this craze regarding unfinished sections will be heard of ten years from now. G. M. Doolittle. It may make no difference, but I have always made it a duty to cut them out and put in fresh ones. Such starters seem to dry out so much that I never used them, and can speak only from opin- ion and not experience. Paul L. Viallon. Well, friends, your replies are just about what ] should expect. If the foundation put ill the year before is apparently in good order, use it ; and 1 don't know but I would use it even if it were not in very tiptop or- der. Elwood says, put in others. I am a littlp surprised at this ; but very likely he has had more experience in the matter than any of us. Friend Poppletoifs idea of al- ternating them would, I think, certainly obviate any tendency on the part of the bees to refuse to commence work. Question No. 45.-/8 it profit<^''l^ '" w*'^ ilro)ie foundation in the surplus apartment for either ex- tracts or comh homy? No. No. Doubtful. None at 4II. I think that it is. O. O. Poppleton. Geo. Grimm. W. Z. Hutchinson. Paul L. Viallon. Mrs. L. Harrison. I much perfer the worker size. G. M, Doolittle. 262 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. All things considered, no. L. C. Root. Yes; but worker comb is preferable. H. R. BOARDMAN. No. There is not an apiarist among- ten thousand who wants drone foundation for any purpose. Dadant & Son. Worker foundations are generally filled first; and it is my opinion that they are the most profitable to use in the surplus apartment. Chas. F. Muth. No; foi- with me the queen is sure to go into the surplus if there is drone comb, unless a queen-ex- cludinfr board is used. Dr. A. B. Mason. For comb honey T think worker comb looks best. 1 don't think drone comb in the surplus apartment for extracted honey is any detriment. E. France. 1 think not. Honey in small cells looks best. Possibly if one is to keep combs exclusively for ex- tracting it might pay; but I should prefer all work- er combs. A.J.Cook. I think I wouldn't use it. There are quite a num- ber of reasons that we will not take space to give here. Certainly I would never use it without the queen-excluding honey-board, and I wouldn't use it any way. James Heddon. I think I would never use drone foundation any- where. In sections, drone comb doesn't look as well. For extracting', I would rather have every comb so it roi/W be used in the brood-chamber; but if I already had drone combs for extracting, I would not melt them up. C. C. MiLtEK. I have had no experience with drone foundation. My idea is, that it does well when the nectar to be put in it is thick ; but when, as it often happens, the nectar is very thin, it refuses to stay in. and makes the bees trouble. If this idea is correct it is never wise to g-ive drone foundation for surplus— many bees having to stay at home simply to hold the nectar until it is evaporated enough to stay in the large cells. E. E. Hasty. Pi obably not. Drone comb does not look quite as well when sealed. Foreign bee-keepers just now are talking a good deal about a size larger than drone, in which the queen will not breed, and no pollen be stored. The original "Long " foundation was of a size intermediate between drone and work- er, and it shut out brood and pollen pretty well. I tear that the bees will not work as well on an un- natural size of cell. It might be well for some of the Hutchinson school to try drone founiiation in sec- tions, with the expectation that it might lessen the amount of bee-bread in boxes and the amount of drone comb in the brood-chamber. P. H. Er>woou. And on this (iiiestion, too, there seems to be a remarkable uniformitj; of opinion. Friend Hasty's suggestion is indeed novel— that the bees have to stay at liome to keep the hoiiej; in the cells until it evaporates. This reminds me of the good old lady who wanted lier l)oy to go to tlie store for some clothe.spins. It was freezing weather at the time, and he suggested that she might hold the clothes a little wliile, and then they would freeze fast to the line, thus saving the necessity of the pins. AVell, friend II., sup- pose it should liappen that the honey ripens faster in the large cells. I would remind friend Elwood that we, years ago, made a test of cells a little larger than drone-cells ; but the bees avoided it, evidently having ideas of their own about going beyond cer- tain limits. We also made a good many htindred pounds of foundation of tlie Long size. Some of our customers thouglit at the time it was just the thing; but sooner or later tliey decided they didn't want any more. We have for a good wliile felt some- what as the Dadants do— that, when a man ordered a considerable (piantity of drone comb, we feared lie did not exactly know what lie did want. Bee Ent@M0i^@6Y, Or Enemies of Bees Among the Insect Tribe. bee-killing spider. BELIEVE that most people enjoy hating the t spider, even if not possessed of the senseless t dread which is felt by most for these harmless animals. It seems Uncle Samuel is no excep- tion, ifwemaj' judge by the condition of the spider sent by Mr. I. WykofT, Cameron, Pa. The mails left a sorry-looking creature of him; and were it not for his more solid head-thorax I should not be able todiagnosc him at all. Spiders are quite different from insects. They have ri>j|it legs in- stead of six; have no transformation; thus a baby- spider, instead of being a grub, maggot, caterpillar, is only a little spider, and, except for size, looks just about like lis mother-spider. Again, as all have noticed, the spiders have only two divisions of the bodj'— head-ihora.v and al)domen, instead of three— head, thorax, and abdomen, as have our bees and other insects. Spiders arc also without an- tenna», or the horn-like organs so familiar in all insects. Spiders arc also without the beautiful compound eyes which we admire so greatly in wasps— at a distance— and in most twowiiiged Hies, or diptera. The spiders have several simple eyes, usually eight, the arrangement of which is much used in classifying this group of animals. The jaws and feet of many spiders are very peculiar, and well worth study by any one curious as to Na- ture's wonders. The spider sent me belongs to the genus Salticus. or the jumping spiders. These do not spin a web, but hide in some crevice; and when their victim comes nigh they jump and fasten on its back and soon crush or suck its life from its bodi". Mr. Wykoff says this one kills a bee in less than a minute. It is said, that these spiders, when thej' jump, always leave a thread, so that, if they miss their prey, they can have a tight rope to aid them in regaining their place of concealment. These arc among the most agile and swift of spiders. I wish Mr. W. would send me four or five of these this spring, by mail. Insects and spiders should not be sent in glass bottles or pasteboard boxes. The heavy mail-pouches are too much for either kind of package. I shall hope to get many insects this summer from bee-keepers in all parts of the country, and I hope they will be sent either in tin or wooden boxes. A very nice box is made by bor- ing with a bit into a small piece of wood. Bj' taking a piece of board four or five inches long, two or three inches wide, and one inch thick, several holes can be bored in the same block. This makes a very nice, cheap, and safe transporting-eage. Ag'l College ,Mich. A. J. CooK, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 263 JljY^ELF WB fIY]\[EI6pBeR^. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swal- low a camel.— Matt. 23: 34. Y friends, my talk to-day will be prin- cipally to Christian people, or, if you choose, to church-meml)ers. I do not mean by this that none but church-members are to read this ; for I hope to be able to be helpful, especially to those who are not members of any church. I wish especially to impress upon the minds of professors of religion the importance of being careful that they themselves are not stumbling-blocks; that they do not, by their daily deportment, drive away instead of drawing all men to Christ. In the verse before the one which I have chosen for our text, Jesus severely denounces the Phari- sees ; in fact, he calls them hypocrites, or " actors," as the word means. He says, " Ye pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith." Now, he does not say this matter about the mint, anise, and cummin is wrong or out of place, for he adds, " These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Then follows our text, "• Ye blind guides which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel," or, as the New Version more clearly renders the passage, "which strain out the gnat," etc. Now, dear friends, 1 feel that I myself am stepping on dangerous ground ; and just at this moment I feel that I want to ask your prayers that I may be wise, and tread with care on this dangerous ground where so many have been shipwrecked. I have sometirnes thought that Satan has for ages been so accustomed to having the run of things in this line that he feels perfectly at liome — so much so that we may start out to rebuke these sins of inconsistency, and nine times out of ten we fall into the same error we were trying to correct in others. I mean, particularly, selecting certain portions of the Bible and giving them undue prominence above other portions. I suppose one reason why it is so easy and natural to do this is that we instinctively avoid any passage in the Bible that strikes directly on our own besetting sins ; but we take up with great zeal and energy some passage that hits our neighbor and does not strike us at all. The Pharisees, to whom Jesus was speaking, found it very much easier to comply with ordinances and external forms than to root out the evil in their own hearts, and obey in spirit as well as in letter. He tells them further along, " Ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, ])ut within they are full of extortion and excess." Again he says, '^ Ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Notverylong ago a temperance lecturer asked the question, " If all the saloon-keep- ers in Medina were to die to-night, would the cause of temi)erau('e be enhanced V " I do not know that anybody answered the question, but I felt in my heart that it would probably make little or no difference with temperance. The speaker added, " The sad fact we have to face is, that there are right now in your midst plenty of meu mean enough to step right into the dead men's shoes, and the saloons would probably all go rightalong as before, as so on." Now, then, this indicates that the trouble is not with the men who run the saloons. Tlie real root of the evil is the depravity of aver- age humanity ; the low state of spirituality, or the lack of Christ in the hearts of men. Killing the saloon-keepers would do no more good than pouring water on the stove- pipe while you keep the fire burning in the stove. If you want to get the stovepipe cool , and keep it so, get down into the stove and pour water on the glowing brands. We have had proof of it here in Medina ; yes, I may say, thank God, not only in Medina, but in Ohio, our schools and churches have so enlightened the people that the supply of in- iquity that has been welling up constantly to keep the saloons going, or to keep the stovepipe hot, if you choose, has been counteracted or cut off. The demand for intoxicants has cooled off so that it is possible to enforce our laws, in fact, we are sur- prised at the feeble lesistance which was made when we went about the business in a sensible way. Well, fighting the saloon- keepers alone is not what Jesus meant we should do. Of course, these things need at- tending to. Outside appearances are a factor in the work. Ordinances and forms are all right, but the work of the heart must go along with them. The time was, perhaps, when there were people who would claim that bajjiizivg a man would fit him for heaven without doing any thing else. No doubt the fact that he was willing to submit to baptism was a good indication; in fact, we may rejoice to see a bad man get so far ; but, rny friends, he would make a sad, sad blunder if he thought that this alone was all that was necessary. Now, in the same line we see people going to great lengths and extremes on some particular point of Bible doctrine, ignoring every other point. Men whose lives are bad and inconsistent — in fact, sometimes where they are guilty of breaking many of the commandments, will be so vehement on the matter of intemper- ance that they pain good people by pushing it forward, in season and out of season. In fact, 1 have thought many times that the cause of temperance was greatly hindered because of the inconsistent lives of such individuals. We must take the Bible as a whole, and God's commands as a whole ; and he who deludes himself with the belief that he can make the world believe that lie is a Christiaii simply because he is vehement in the advocacy of temperance as regards liquor, and yet leaves these other matters as they are, makes a grievous mistake. Since what I said in reply to Mrs. Chad- dock in regard to baptism, many kind letters have been sent in. Most of them are in a kind spirit ; yet some of them, I can not but feel, come under the condemnation of the words of our text. May be 1 have been a littleloosein my treatment of these subjects ; liut if 1 have,l am glad that I have so many good kind friends who are not only willing but able to set me right. Among the many :2r>4 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. kind letters received, the following is writ- ten in such an excellent Christian spirit that I have thought best to give place to it here. May God give us all the grace that seems to dwell in the heart of brother Whitney ! Dear Brother Root:— I have been pleased and edi- fied many times, in reading your articles In Gleakings, and wish you much success in your good work. Your earnest and liberal efforts to les- sen the use of tobacco are doing much good, for which we have great reason to be thankful. Hav- ing been some sixty years trying to serve our Lord Christ, I am happy to find a comrade so efficient in the good cause. You aie right iti urging us to con- sult the will of God. and obey it in all things. Do- ing that, we can safely and quietly leave all things to his dispo.=al, assured that all shall be well. But my object in the present writing is to call your at- tention to one instance in which you do not seem to be as clear as usual, and to try to help you out a little in the Master's woi-k. In Gleanings, pages 18—20, we have a friendly interchange of religious views between Mrs. Chad- dock and yourself. On her part she represents fairly the form of religious faith and worship iu which (notwithstanding her disclaimer) it is evident that her education began, many .vears before she was born. I suppose your numerous cares and in- tense activity in practical affairs have hindered you from giving so much attention to the subjects introduced as their importance really demands. Now, I would not have you think that I am some clergyman or professor of theology. I am only a plain mechanic, with vei-y little chance for educa- tion, and have worked hard for a living. But iu the intervals of work I have studied religion; and I thinking, perhaps, I can help you a little about the theory of it, as you do me about the practice. The morality of the gospel is certainly the purest and best that can be found on earth; and it is urg- ed upon us with the highest concei%'abie sauctions. But its morality is not, after all, its most peculiar and distinctive characteristic. Other religions claim and teach more or less of the same excel- lence. There are plenty of religious systems that would make a man stop swearing and beating his wife, and yet may leave him with such a spirit of selfishness that, if he should be admitted to the New Jerusalem, the city would need an extra po- lice force to px-otect the pavement of its streets. They may go much further than this, and teach him to be honest in his dealings, and to be as con- scientious and devout as the Pharisee in Luke 18:11, and yet not be a Christian. The doctrine of Christ is, "Ye must be born again." That is, man is so utterly lost and ruined by sin that no reformation or good works or religious rites or offerings or ser- vices can save him. Already dead in sin, he must perish unless he shall receive a new divine life from God. This doctrine is not readily received by men, and they have devised many ways to discred- it and evade it. All false religions and all corrupt forms of what is called Christianity occupy them- selves with scht mes to set it aside and substitute something more acceptable, and many are ready to follow them. Our Lord knew all this, and more. He knew how liable words are to change their meaning with the different opinions and customs of men, and how liable a disagreeable doctrine would be to be misunderstood and modified to suit the popular opinion, and so he did all that could be done to guard against such a tendency. He re- peated the statement on many occasions and in a variety of forms in his own words, and in the words of his apostles; and in addition to that he com- manded that each convert should submit to a cer- tain rite, or ordinance, which should represent by action that he was dead and buried, and raised to a new life— an act that could not well be misunder- stood, nor change its meaning as words do, but should in all times and places and tongues declare, ■'The Christian is one who was dead and is alive again." I know full well thi.t many men reject the doctrine, and so reject or change the ordinance; and that some do the latter, and still hold the doc- trine, but that is their affair not mine. I am speak- ing only to our text, " Fear God and keep his com- mandments; " and to enable you the more readily too see whether I have faithfully declared his com- mandments on the subject of baptism I will ask you to read Christ's commission in the last chapter of Matthew and Mark, also the book of Acts, chapters 2, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18, 22, 24 ; Romans 6 : 4; or, by the use of a concordance, examine each reference bj- it- self. B. Whitney. Kahway, N. J., Jan. U, 1888. There is not very much daiigei' that any human being will goto too great an extreme in keeping tlie first coinmandinent. God should be lirst and foremost: and to him. and him only, are we to bow in reverence. I do believe it is possible, however, for one to dwell on this first commandment to such an extent as to overlook or forget oth- er duties and responsil)ilities. 1 knew one individual who would neglect his work, and go off and pray, when I think lie would have honored Christ more by doing his work faithfully and well, with his whole energy, leaving his devotions, as a rule, for morning or evening or noon time. In the same way, perhaps no one ever went to too great a length in forbearing to take God's name in vain, although I have known some young men who took great pride in the fact that they never used an oath in their lives. In fact, they paraded this virtue whenever opportunity offered. So you see that even in this matter reason and common sense should guide us. We might be tempted to think, in the same liue, that no one ever kept the Sabbath day too holy. But most of us have seen instances where one had a foolish regard for the Sab- bath. Some years ago a small cyclone blew down the trees and fences so that people had hard work to get home from church. One of our deacons stopped his carriage, pulled off his coat, and pulled the cross-cut saw until they could get the tree out of the way so the biiggy could pass. AVhen they got through they found the fences blowii down to such an extent that stock was roam- ing at large through the grain and crops. He did not put on his coat. l)ut worked hard to put up the fences and in putting the stock into stables or pens all tliat Sunday after- noon. Well, if it was right in that case to work on Sunday to save property, why is it not right to get' in grain when losses jiist as great would happen by letting it stay out exposed to the gtormV Yoix see, friends. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 265 there is chance to exercise judgment and in- telligence as well as conscience in this mat- ter. If we should show more zeal in observ- ing the letter rather than the spirit of the law. we might in this way dishonor Christ, and cause our brothers to stumble. We may ask, that, where opinions difter so much, how shall w^e avoid hurting the feel- ings of some? Well, it may be dilflcult ; but I think a good deal may be' accomplished by talking over these matters. Ask your pas- tor, the deacons, and good Christian people wliat they think in regard to certain cases, and try to have some sort of agreement laid down beforehand for emergencies. A father and mother should be very careful about exhibiting differences of opinion or disa- greements before the children ; so should Christ's people beware how they dispute, or have controversy before the Vorld. The spectacle of large bodies of Christian people disagreeing in regard to the proper day to be observed as a day of rest, it seems to me, is a sad spectacle, and, I fear, may be a seri- ous stumbling-block. Are they not strain- ing out gnats? At first thouglit one might think that no one could go to too great lengths in honor- ing his father or mother ; yet I have heard people urge, as an excuse for absenting themselves from public worship almost en- tirely, that they felt it a duty to stay with the old people. I think there^ are extremes here. " Thou shalt not kill," the Bible says ; and yet a few months ago, when I gave it as my opinion that it miglit be a Christian act to" shoot down the burglar who makes his way into our dwelling at midnight, a good brother took me to task almost fiercely. He said the Bible command was, '' Thou shalt not kill," and that we have no right to kill anybody under any circumstances. I might have urged that the New Version changes it to " Thou shalt do no murder;" but he would probably declare emphatically that killing of any kind is mnrder, therefore 1 felt it was hopeless to try to reason with him. I think that Christian people may hinder Christ "s cause in the hearts of men by taking posi- tions like these. Some say tliey must stand by their honest convictions; but I don't be- lieve I would admit even this, as they put it. Apply the same rule to that, which I have just given above in regard to working on Sunday. Present the matter at your prayer- meeting; and if the great majority of 'the good men and women, inclnding the pastor and deacons, are against you. I think it is a Christian duty to give way. If the church of Christ is not a unit on such matters, of what avail would it beV " United we stand, divided we fall.'" In regard to the seventh commandment, I do not know that I ever heard of any individ- ual laying too much stress on this. In fact, Christ himself laid a tremendous emphasis on it when he said, we should not only keep it in deed, but in vei y thought. May God help us to live up to all liis commands, not only in deed, but in very thought. See Mat- thew b : 2S. " Thou shalt not steal." Here, too, there is not very much danger of anybody carrying the command to excess, especially if we define the word " steal " as it is defined in the dictionary. Of course, this would not include forbidding one to help himself to anybody's property, to save life. A boy once drank some bedbug poison, think- ing it was only vinegar. His mother ran over to tlie neighbor's after some milk, and the folks wei e away. She kicked the door down, tore the house upside down for milk, ran home, and made the boy drink the milk until he begged piteously not to l)e made to drink more. She, however, kept him at it until he vomited up not only the milk, but also the corrosive sublimate dissolved in the vinegar. She not only took property without leave, but she was guilty of' housebreaking ; but woe betide you, my friend, if you should ever be tempted to construe G6d"s commandments or the teach- ings of Christ into any thing that would for- bid your doing the same imder like circum- stances. Let all of the commandments be kept in the spirit of enlightened reason and common sense. I am often very greatly pained, not only in the talk I hear, but through letters that are written to me, by hearing the expression, '' He lies;"" " He is a liar;" " It is a lie."" In almost every case where these words are used, I feel like taking the user by the shoulders and shaking him. "Look here, my friend; you have no right to use such language. It is not true." I am answered, perhaps, " But it is true. He tells what is not so." Now, very likely a great many of my read- ers will insist that, when a man tells what is not so. he lies. But, my friend, you are making a mistake. Even if a man tells a thing that he knoirs is not true, it does not follow that he is a liar, or that the thing that he tells is a lie. Go to your dictionaries once more. I do agree with you, that one of the saddest things to contemplate in this world of ours is the wit ruth that passes current ; there are few things that I know of that would help us more in our slow plodding from earth to heaven than a more careful observance of this very commandment — " Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." As I contemplate the matter, my little prayer wells up again, '• Lord help! Lord, help me to be more careful about bearing false witness against my neighbor."" I am ]-eally afiaid, my dear friends, that in some way dr other I break this commandment every day of my life, and I came very near saying almost every hour of my life. The world gives me credit for being truthful and honest ; people want to come and work for me l)ecause they think me truthful and honest, until I am obliged to put a notice in the papers every little while, " No more help wanted."' But I tell you, there is an unexplored region in this matter of truth and honesty that no human being has ever entered ; but notwithstanding these strong expressions there is such a thing as carry- ing this matter to foolish extremes. People every little while insist as an excuse for the commission of grave wrongs, that " it is the truth,'" imagining that the truth should al- ways be told. People's feelings are hurt by 266 GLEANINGS lis BEE CULTURE. Apr. truths bluntly and coarsely expressed ; yes, those who had started heavenward and were almost ready to take the proffered hand of Christ Jesus, and follow him, have stumbled and been set back by some, perhaps a pro- fessor of religion, who foolishly and indis- creetly told the truth. May God help us to use sanctified common sense in keeping this commandment. And now, friends, we approach the last of the ten commandments ; and at first thought one miglit say the command in re- gard to covetousness could not be carried to an extreme ; yet as we look at dissatisfied humanity about us, who has not wished that a certain friend were a little more selJisM We occasionally see a boy or girl who lets every thing slip through the fin- gers. Tl\ey lend their money to everybody who talks fair, and seem to have no sort of an idea of taking proper care of " Xo. 1." Again, we see people who are so listless and inactive that they have to be cared for. A healthy desire in their hearts to possess such things as their neighbors have would be the making of them. You see that almost every one of the sins these commandments strike at, may have an element of good in it if sanctified by Christ's love, and held in control by clear reason and common sense. What would a human being be good for who had no temptations whatever? He would soon find a lodging-place in the infirmary. And 1 have sometimes been tempted to think that he who sees only one evil — one sin or one crime in this world, and puts all his energies in this one direction, to the dis- regard of all other sins, is almost as useless as he who has no temptation. May God help us all to so live that it may never be said of us, ve have been through these busy lives ''straining out gnats and swallow- ing CAMELS!'' CONDUCTED BT ERNEST R. ROOT. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLARK SMOKER. §OME time ago, you will remember, we stated that we expected to make some changes in the Clark smoker. Just what these changes should be, was not then definitely settled. That the smo- ker needed some alterations, was plainly evident. The principal defects were, the clogging of the blast-tube and of the valve —the latter wheezing when in this condi- tion. To overcome this difficulty, one or two (among whom was our friend Dr. Miller) recommended making the blast-tube re- movable, so that, when it became clogged, it could be taken out, cleaned, and returned. It was also suggested, that the valve be like- wise made removable, so that the sooty ac- cumulations could be the more readily cleaned fiom the surfaces wiiich come in contact. For a while we thought this was the most feasible means of obviating the difficulties. The more we experimented, however, the more we became convinced that the smokers so constructed could not be made at the price we are now selling them ; and, furthermore, they would be ricket- ty at best. To make a smoker with the blast-tube removable would require cast- ings, screws, buttons, and what not. We finally came to the conclusion that the blast-tube (the tube inside of the fire-box) as we have made it for several years back was too small, and that if enlarged would not fill up so soon and would likewise clean easier. Judging from the few trials we were able to make late last fall and early this spring, the large blast-tube is a great improvement. Sucn a smoker was sent to Dr. Miller, and in a letter he expressed him- self as believing that enlarging the tube was better than making the same remova- ble. After we had made the change, we remembered that the inventor of the Clark long ago recommended that the size of the tube be increased ; but for some reason or other the matter was dropped for the time. In order that the reader may more clearly see what enlargement we have made, we have had the following engraving made. THE NEW CLARK hJIOKER, WITH THE EN- LARGED BLAST-TUBE AND LOOSE VALVE. At the top of the picture you will notice three circles. Circle l,the innermost, rep- resents the end ot the blast-tube we former- ly used. Circle 2 represents the size of the muzzle end of the one now in use. Circle 3 shows the size of the breech end of Fig. 2. You will see that, although this large blast-tube may fill up with sooty accumula- tions in time, it will take much longer to do it than with the small tube. It is impossi- ble to tell just how much longer, because we have not had an opportunity to test it fairly. Those who purchased the old Clark smokers will remember that, when they were new, nothing Itetter could be expected. After they had been in use for a month or so, the little tube did not work so nicely. On the contrary, the large tube will take some time to get filled up, even to the size of the old blast-tube : and, consetjuently, will not re- (|uire so fre(iuent raking out to work freely. Besides the alteration in the blast-tube, we have made a change in the size of the perforations in the grate. We found that, in using fine fuel, such as sawdust, small pieces of rotten wocH, etc., burnt embers 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEt: CULTtlltE. 26*7 and small chunks of the fuel would occa- sionally drop througli and shoot out of the nozzle. Last summer we ttnind it a de- cided advantage to have the size of the per- forations decreased, and use more of them. The size of the holes as we used to make them was S ; it is now scant i inch. Another change consists in enlarging slightly the capacity of the bellows, by in- creasing its length at its small end. By re- ferring to the engraving you will see that the spiral of the spring reaches out just as far as the fire-box, so if you are careless enough to drop your smoker-nozzle down- ward the spring will receive all the concus- sion. For a like reason this will also be (piite an advantage in shipping by mail and express. Another change consists in so construct- ing the valve that it will work loosely. We used to make them so that they fitted tight to the U-inch auger-hole on the inside of the bellows. As the air to supply the bel- lows could pass through the blast-tube (car- rying along more or less smoke) about as readily as it could through the valve, the consequence was that the inside of the bel- lows became covered witli soot, especially the surfaces of contact, in the valve. As long as the smoke was sucked into the bel- lows because of the close working of the valve, just so long would the latter become clogged and wheezy. To solve the diflftcul- ty, it occurred to iis that the valve should work so easily that the air could pass into tiie bellows easier through the proper open- ing than by the blast-tube. In the engrav- ing you will .see that the leather of the valve is hinged so loosely that it can drop back half an inch from tlie wood. We are sure it is an improvement to have the valve made thus, and I will tell you why. We have an old smoker in our house apiary, which has been in use every season for six or seven years, and it has outlasted all others. The boys were quite partial to this smoker, even if it was an old thing, because "• it didn't fill up quite so quick.'' It was made exactly the same as the other smokers, only the valve, by some clumsy handling, was bro- ken loose, so as to be " floppy." as they said. Every time the bellows would work, the valve would drop back from the board half an inch, or perhaps three-quarters. It worked so easily, in fact, that little if any smoke sucked back through the blast-tube, and, as a consequence, it took a good while for the latter to become clogged, and there- fore this smoker usually had the cleanest blast-tube. In addition to enlarging the blast-tube, we have enlarged the nozzle of the fire-box itself. We have made a complete set of new dies, also a set of machinery for turning out the smoker as above. We do not, however, make any extra charge, and the smoker will be sold at the same price as before. Just one thing more on this subject : I am not going to say that a smoker, made as above, will remedy all the defects of the former smoker beyond any ' of peace. As a Christian you should kindly infiirni a]iy sueli characters that you will not hear evil spcikiii of iiny ol your brethren or neighbors, and stop it short otf. (Kherwix' \"\i are not among the peace- maliers, but arc disturbers of the peace. .-Vre you ft peace- maker; If you want to help him, send to C. S. Hanley, as above, for a sample copy, or, better still, send him a dollar for the paper for one year. Friend Hasty commends the undertaking ; and after having looked over a single copy of the paper I think brother Hanley is in the strait and narrow path, and no mistake. "LOOK OUT FOR THE ENGINE WHEN THE BELL RINGS." On page 763 our friend W. F. Clarke spoke of a great forthcoming invention; and a good many jokes have been cracked at his expense because of the slowness with which said locomotive has got up steam. By the la.^t issue of the Canadian Bee Jour- ?K(l, however, we find that steam is up, and the lo- comotive has started. One good thing has cer- tainly been accomplished: We have got an unusu- ally long editorial, presumably from friend Jones himself, illustrated by some nice ])ictures. Per- haps, now, we are permature in offering criticisms; but I am sure the new arrangement will be the means of having more streaks of propolis on the sections, to be scraped off, than we have heretofore had; and I am not sure, either, that the new plan has lessened the number of " chicken fl.Kins." The new idea, however, is quite ingenious, and it offers valuable suggestions, and furnishes food for thought. Had I gotten up the whole arrangement, I am not sure but that I too should have imagined that it was going to revolutionize fixtures for comb honey. I want to say, in closing, however, that, from what experience I have had with side-opening crates and supers, I do not believe anybody will ever want them a great while. Don't go to work and make a great many of them until you have tried them one season. ORDERING HEAVY SHIPMENTS BY EXPRESS. Friend E. Ervine, of Phrenix, Arizona, has just sent us an express order for hive stuff in the flat, etc. Now, while the entire shipment is worth only $l.').90, the express charges alone would amount to $76.00. It is true, his directions read, "Please ship the following goods by express immediately." Now, the point in question Is, does friend E. know the express charges are going to be nearly #i'e times the value of the goods? and is he a man who is both willing and able to pay for such a blunder if it is a blunder? Wo find from our ledgers that he is a good customer, and he has always been up with his promises. We also find him quoted well by the commercial reporters. Had he simply added one line to his order, something like this, " I know the express charges will be awful, but I must have the goods at once," it would have been plain sailing. As it was, we decided to risk the delay and expense of a telegram before filling the order. The tele- gram cost $2.50, and the goods were held at the ex- press office for 36 hours. Finally comes the reply: " Follow the directions which I gave in the order." Perhaps many of you will say that it is our busi- ness to obey orders; and we might do so, were it not for sad experiences in the line of ohexiing orders, no matter what they are. Sometimes the party who orders goods in this way could not raise the money to pay the charges, to save him, and then we have to stand it all ourselves. At other times we get the most hearty thanks for having used our judgment instead of following directions, and sometimes we get a fearful blowing-up for not doing exactly as we were bidden. Well, the moral to this, good friends. Is, when you know the orders you give are going to necessitate express charges a good deal more than the value of the goods, please say so briefly. Just indicate to us that you have had experience in such matters, and know what you are doing, and I as- sure you we will jump with alacrity, the whole of us, to get just what you want, right at your door, at the earliest possible moment. In fact, we like the fun of sending such orders; but we hate to get a lot of abuse, and a big bill of expense on our hands, as a reward for obeying orders strictly to the letter. Ernest suggests, as a remedy, ordering early by freight; but we do not always know beforehand what we are going to need. I suppose friend Er- vine will tell us pretty soon about some wonderful honey-flow that came suddenly in the neighbor- hood of Phd'nix, Arizona. <3RAVENH0RST'S BEE-BOOK. The crowded coniUtlon of our columns has till now prevented our giving this work such a notice as its merits demand. It contains 380 pages, 10 x 5'/^ inches, printed on new type and on the best of pa- per, hence the letter-press is of the very best. The cuts are remarkably fine, and show a painstaking care and fidelity that is astonishing. The frontis- piece represents friend G.'s bee-yard. Among the 2?0 GLEANINGS IN BEE CtJLTtJEE. Apr. portraits f?iven we notice that of our old friend L. L. Lang-stroth, Weygandt, Dzierzon, Kanitz, Schonfeld, Hrusehka (the inventor of the extract- or), Butlerow, and others. These are very fine, for the Germans excel the world on fine portrait wood engraving. Although the general management of bees as laid down in this book is peculiar to Ger- many, we can heartily recommend it to all who can read and understand the German language. The price is not stated, but can be obtained of C. J. H. Gravenhorst.. Wilsnack, Germany. A SPANISH BEE-.JOURNAL. No better evidence of the spread of modern bee culture over the world has lately reached us than a little journal published in Mahon. Balearic Islands, east of Spain, entitled Revista Apicola (Apicultural Review). It is edited by Francisco F. Andreu, and is thoroughly abreast with the latest improve- ments. Mr. Andreu has just been traveling through France and England, and has adopted the sj'Stem most prevalent in the latter country. The large yields per colony made in England seem to astonish Mr. Anilreu; but we seem to think his as- tonishment will increase when he learns the large yields made by Edwin France, for instance, in hundreds of colonies. He speaks of apiculture in France as being in a very backward state. He says that in the garden of Acclimitizalion, in Paris, the old box hives are shown as representative of api- culture in France to-day. The journal has 8 pages, and is published at a nominal price which does not seem to be stated. NO MORE HELP WANTED. We are obliged to put a notice like the above in our county paper every little while; and with the number that are wanting to come from a distance to Medina to work for us, I do not know but I shall have to keep such a notice in Gleanings. I should be very glad indeed, dear friends, to furnish em- ployment if I could; but the truth is, I can not pos- sibly find work for more than a small part of those right in our own town. I appreciate the compli- ment you pay me in wanting to come here; and I believe it is indeed true, that we have a pleasant place to work, and that we have succeeded in a re- markable degree in making work a pleasant pas- time; but the same thing may be done on almost any spot on the face of the earth, providing you take Christ Jesus along with you to that spot ; and wheth- er you work or not, or whatsoever you do, do it all for his honor and glory. You do not need to come to Medina at all. If you want a more detailed ex- planation of what I mean, I must refer you to the book I have been writing, on this very subject, for the past two or three years. CLEANING ALSIKE CLOVEB-SEED. Anothek reason besides the one given, why we can not sell alsike as low as it is sometimes adver- tised, is, that nearly all we handle is re-cleaned be- fore we send it out. We have the best clover-clean- er known, and this runs by the power of our big en- gine. By this means we get a steady uniform blast. The different sieves have a steady motion, whereas by hand sometimes good seed is jerked over with the waste, and at other times the bad seed gets over with the good. Where the mill is run by pow- er, we can also afford to take a great deal of time in the cleaning process. The clover-seed Is put into a large hopper in an upper room. The mill is set so as to take only a small stream of clover-seed at a time; and as it works for nothing and boards Itself (which is not true of the average hired man) we can go oft' and leave it and let it take its own time. If anybody can by any process send out any cleaner clover-seed than we do, we should like to know it. THE DEATH OF MRS. TUPPER. We note by the Prairie Farmer, that Mrs. Ellen S. Tupper, well known to our older readers, died sud- denly. March 12, at El Paso, Texas, while she was visiting her daughter. At one time Mrs. Tupper was considered not only as a standard authority on almost all ([uestions pertaining to bee culture, but she was also remarkably successful as a honey-pro- ducer. She finally went Into the supply-business in company with a Mrs. Savery. under the name of the Italian Bee Company, at Des Moines, la.; but in consequence of financial troubles and overwork it is said she became partially deranged, since which time we have heard little or nothing from her. SPOILING THE MARKET. A GREAT deal has been said at our conventions and through our journals in regard to offering small lots of honey below the price, and thus break- ing or spoiling- the market price for honey. A great many times we have been told that this is not the case with the great staples; that wheat, corn, potatoes, and such commodities, bring what they are worth. I think, friends, this is a mistake. Take clover-seed, for instance. We have been advertis- ing alsike at 8*7.50 per bushel; and as this price is below that of many of the large seedsmen, we thought it was a very fair rate. A few days ago. however, a friend who had ordered a bushel or two wrote us, countermanding his order, saying he thought when the order wss made, A. I. Root could be trusted to furnish goods at what they are worth, without watching, or something to that effect, and asked how it was that it was now advertised at $6.3.5 in the Ohio Farmer, while we kept asking and tak- ing $7.50. I looked up the advertisement, and im- mediately wrote to the advertiser, asking him how much alsike he had at $6.25, and what he would take for his whole stock. He replied that his three- line advertisement in the Fai-mer had taken it all. or nearly all, and he would probably have to disap- point many. Now, I do not mean to complain be- cause this man advertised it at $6.25. It was his privilege; but is it our duty to put a price on, say, 100 bushels or more, down to $6.25 (regardless of what it cost us) because this man decided to get rid of a few bushels in the above way? Surely not. Another thing: Whoever sells alsike must furnish a bag to put it in. and a good stout one too, or he may have loss in transit to make good. There is one good moral to this matter, however; that is, subscribe for the agricultural papers— a good lot of them. Read them through, advertisements and all; and when you see something advertised at a low price that you want, just "go for it." It makes things lively to have people on the alert to catch up every good offer like this that is made. It makes it lively for the producer, and lively for the editor to have his paper filled with lots of offers, and it makes it lively for the transportation companies, etc. But, dear friends, before you put an advertisement like the above in such a paper as the Ohio Farmer, be sure you have got a good lot on hand to back up your promise. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 271 ITALIAN BEES%QUEENS GOSHEN BEE-SUPPLY CO. Tested queen, $1.75; untested, .fl.^i"); bees per lb., $1.00; frames of brood, 500 each; 3-framc inicleus, containing- Sfi lbs. bees, 2 L. frames of brood and tested (jueen, $4.50. With untested queen, $4.00. Prices are for April and May; mistnated queens, 50c. 7-9d IWIiSfS A. M. TAVLOR, Mulberry Grove, Bond <"o., 111. Box 77. hmw?> ■■■ Gnwhmm of Hives, Smokers, Foundat;on, Queens and Uees. My new Comb Guide. Sample 5 cts. Catalogue free. Our motto, "Good goods and Low Prices." R.B.LEAHY, ~d Higginsville, Mo., Box If. Pure Italian Bees For Sale. Full colony in A. I. Hoofs Simp, hive $(i 00. Two- frame nuclei $3.00. Three-frame $;-! 51). Each nucleus and full colony to contain a tested queen and plenty of bees and brood, all on wired L. frames, combs drawn from fdn. Hives new, every thins' tirst-class. To be shipped in May. Safe arrixal g-uaranleed. I shall do by all as 1 would be done b\. Address N. A. KN.^PP, 7-lOdb Koiisiil(i-c(l tlic lM>i>k u.ll wc.itli i2M>. I iliilii't siippdSi- there wen- inan.v who wmild " ant tn pay that prici' for a hook iif that I'haiai-tfi-. When we take into eonsulei-ation. hmvever, that it is nut only about as handsome a book as can be found in oni- bookstores, externally and internally, but that is also a liook in which g-odiiness and purity shine forth from every paj^e, it is perhaps not so very snrprisinf?. The book is not, in one sense, a i-elifrious book, t'or the- piinciples arc la\if;ht in- directly, in the form of a little story, or fable, and soinetiiiics the i-eader does not see at once the ai}i)lication; but when it bui-sts upon him he feels a spirit of thankfulness for ha\'in^ been tau(?ht perhaps the ver>' lesson he needs, by wa\' of a sort of parable. The t>ook contains .'il'i pa^cs anil li'iO eiiy-raying-s. Man.v of the latter are some of the finest ciiK-r.avinKs that are to be found in modern print. The author PIK< K V-^ 1.00 | $20.00. 3 lbs. thin foundation. 49 c 1.47 I 7 lbs. brood foundation, 39 c 2.73 [ 10 enameled sheets 80 I No. 11. At Johnson City, Washington Co., Tenn. One honey-extractor that will take frames U>^ x 16. or smaller. Value $7.00. Will sell for $.5.00. No. 12. At Caribou, Me. 900 sections, 4K x 5 x 1 ' le wide, open on all four sides. Value $4.50. Will sell for $2.50. No. 15. At Rockdale, Mass. 1000 sections, i'/i-xty^x 1^, open all around. Value $4.60. Will sell for S3.00. No. 16. At Lochiel, Ind. 20 slatted honey-boards to use between brood-chamber and T supers on Simp, hives, bee spjice top and bottom as we now make them. V.ahie $1.80. Will sell for $1.50. No 17. At Berlin, Wis. One 36-inch Exhaust Kan. second hand. It Avas used about 8 years in our factory. Boxes h.ave beenre-babbiit'd ;ind the fan is in first-class Tunning order. A new one this size is worth about $l(io (ki. We will sell this for $25.00. It is a bargain to the oiu- who is in need of one this size. No. 18. At Kuoxvillclown. One light-power sn w inaTUlril. $5.00; one 8.in. rip-saw. $1.15; one 6-in. cutoil siiw. >.K0; and one5-in. dovetailing saw, $8,5. Worth if;.. HO Will sell for$6..50. >'o. 19. At Marslilii-lil.Ohio. 500 one-piece sections, 4Ji X 4M X 1 and 11-16. Value $2.00. Will .sell for $1.80. Also 600 dovetailed section-, same size and width. Value .$2.25; will sell for $2.00, or both JotB fO)- $3.70. A. I. ROOT, Medina. O. OUR SECTION FOLDER SHOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF EVEEY HONEY-PEODUCfiE, FOE IT DOES ITS WOEK COMPLETE. Bee-Hives, Sections, Section-Cases, Foundation, and other Apiarian Supplies. Send tor ovir new Catalogue with description of THE "SUCCESS HIVE," which i.s fast gaining- the favor ot many bee-men. Albino Queens and Bees for 1888. It should be remembered that we are also Headquarters for the '*Albiiio Queens." We also breed Select Italiaiifs. Address, 7d S. VALENTINE 6c SONS, HAGERSTOWN, Wash. Co., MD. TMy catalogue of Bees, Queens, Api- arian Supplies, Standard Poultry (7 * varieties), Japanese buckwheat. Green Mountain and Empire State potatoes. My stock is tlrstclas.s. You should see my prices 1 or 1888 before you order. CHAS. D. DU V ALL, 5tfdb Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md. ^ EARLY ITALIAN ,0 ^ 1 untested queen - - - _jl ].") .1(10^ O 1 tested " ... 32.50 g3 (KiU-l C/3;i " " . . . 'lite!«t Draft. Easiest to Handle. Strongest" and Most Durable, does Oetter AVork in all Soils; in short, tlie Best Plow in tiie Marlcet. Don't Tail to try a. Columbia before purchasing any other. Send for price list, testimonial, and calendar. If they are not sold in your vicinity send for Special in- troducing Price. Mention this paper. 69db COLUMBIA PLOW WORKS, COLUMBIA CO. Copake Iron Works, N. Y. HEADQUARTERS IN THE WEST FOR PURE ITALIAN BEES and QUEENS. Full colonies, from $.").(I0 to .1*9, UU each; :i-frame uucleus, untestf d queen, in May. $2 ,50; June, 12.2.0; after, J2.00; 3-frame, in May, ^3 50; June, !}'3.(J0; aft- er. $2. .50. With TESTED queen, add .50c more. Bees, per lb., in May, 90 cts : June, 7.5 cts.; after, 60 cts. Untested queens in Mav. $1.00; afler, 75 cts. ; six, $4.00. Tested, in May, $1 .50; lifter, $125. Write for circular of Rees, Queens. Sections, Foundation, etc. 6-14db Address JNO. NEBBL A: SON, High Hill, Mo. Cash for Beeswax! Will pay 2Uc per lb. cash, or 23c in trade for any quantity of good, fair, avei-age beeswax, delivered at our R. R. station. The same will be sold to those who wish to purchase, at 25c per lb., or 28c for best selected wax. Unless you put your name nn the hnx, and notify us by mail of amount sent, 1 can not hold myself responsible for mistakes. It will not pay as a gen- eral thing to send wax by erpresx. A. I. ROOT. Medina, Ohio. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULtUttE. 273 I sold more alsike seed lost season than all the supplj'-dealers combined. Write to headquarters for prices. No poor seed in stock. Also 2') large pkts. of garden-seed, fresh and No. 1 in all respects, tor 65 cts., postpaid. Write for further particulars, to C. M. GOODSPEED, Box 3V, Thorn Hill, N. Y. Be sure and name Bo.k 37 in answering this adv't. FOR SAIjE.— An 80-acre farm, suitable for fruit- growing- or general farming; within 30 miles of Kansas City; 1 'j; miles of a good market. For par- ticiilars, send postal to J. Lea. Simpson, 6-7d Tonganoxie, Kansas. 1888. 1888. Pure Italian Bees and Queens for sale in Full Colonies or Nuclei. Five L. frame nuclei a specialty. My queens and bees possess all the good qualities of the most desirable honey-bee. Send for prices. WNI. LITTLE, titfdb Marissa, III. ITALIAN BEES TN^QUEENSr 1 untested queen $1.00; three for tf~.00. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Send for price list. H. «niit Hill, S.€. FOR THE LATEST, BEST, AND CHEAPEST WINTER BEE-HIVES, Honey-sections, Section Honey-boxes, to fit any hi\ e, also Comb P'oundation, Fruit-evaporators, all sizes, from $6.00 up, address D. STUTZMAN, Ligonier, Ind. LOOK HEREl A complete hive for comb honey, for only $1.30. Planer-sawed, V-groove sections a specialty. Price list free. J. M. KINKIE & CO., i7tfd Rochester, <»akland Co., Mich. /I MACHINE FOR PUTTING TOGETH- ER ONE-PIECE SECTIONS. IT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF IN ONE DAY'S USE. No bet -keeper can afford to be without one. Send to your supply-dealer, or to Wakeman & Crocker, manufacturers. Price .*2 50. Lockport, N. Y. Cor- respondence with supply-dealers solicited. ALL MY ORDERS FOR 1887 lOOO were tilled without one wordlilflfl, of comi>laint; and the prog-"""" eny of my queens was pronounced by some to be the finest they ever saw. 1 am now booking orders, to be filled as soon as weather permits. One untested queen f 80 One tested " 1 00 One selected " 1 ,50 Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. Send for price list. C. M. HICKS, 5-'-9d Fairvlew, Wash Co., Md. JOB LOT OF POULTRY-NETTING. Small Pieces at same Bate as full Bolls — f: ct. per Square Foot. Two or more pieces, 5 per cent off; ten or more, 10 per cent discount. You will notice in this lot some with heavier wire than No. 19, and some with smaller mesh than two- inch. Both of these are worth more at regular prices than two-inch No. 19; but as it is a job lot we put it all in at the same price. jT By dividing the number of square feet in this col- > !umn by the width in the first column, you can ascer- ^ tain the length of each piece. These figures give the ■^ number of square feet in eacli piece. 18 10. 19 8.'i, 50. 41, 25. 25, 10. IS 15, 13. 13, IX mesh, No. 18 wire, 24. 20 120, 120. VJ 28 30' 19 200, 170, 140. 130. 120, 100, 100, 88, 82, 64, 5B, ;i2. 18 226. 224, 58, 58, 56. 10 41. ,32, No, 18 wire, 90, 40. 19. 17. 19 250, 237, 167, 1-25, 125 122. 45, No. 18 150. 19 195, 126, 33, 1J<; in.. No. 20 wire, 348, 312. 18 203, No. 18, 114 mesh, 189. 19 4.50, No. 18 wire. .324. 19,595, 490. 445. 335, 330, 325, 285, 280, 240, 2!5, 220, 180, 165, 160, I 140. 130 80. 18 410, 335, No, 17 wire, 195. Ij<;;19i438, 312, No. 18 wire, 228. 2 119 750, 720, 672. 636, 618, 558,510, 438, 420, 270, 252, 252, 222, 192. ' 168, 168, 162, 162, 156, 1S6, 156, 66, 48. We know of nothing nicer or better for a trellis for creeping vines than the above netting. The 12 to 24 inch is just the thing to train up green peas, fastening the netting to stakes by means of staples. If the stakes are set in substantially, one each 12 or 15 feet will answer. When the peas are stripped off the stakes, netting and all can be rolled up and laid away until another season. A. I. ROOT. Medina. O. ' Green Wire Cloth, FOR Window Screens and Shipping Bees, AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICES. The following lot of wire cloth is a job lot of rem- nants, and full rolls direct from the factory, that are FIEST aUALITY, and the pieces are of such varie- ty of size as to furnish any thing you want. Price 1?4 cts. per sq. foot, for full pieces. If we have to cut the size you want, 2 cts. per sq. ft. When you order a piece, and somebody else has got it ahead of you, we will substitute a piece the nearest in size to the one ordered, unless you speci- fy in your order that you do not want us to substi- tute. The figures on the left indicate the width. 8 I 10 rolls, 67 s(i. ft. each: 1 each of 66, 65, 64, 63, 63, 62, 54, 40, 27, 1 24, 22, and 4 sq. ft. 12 I 34 rolls of 100 sq. ft. each; 3 of 102 sq. ft ; 3 of 98. and 1 each I of 97, 92. 75. 52, 48, 44, 43, and 28 sq. ft. 14 I lrolll4sq. ft. 16 I 8 rolls of 133 sq. ft.; and 1 each of 132, 130, 130. 128, and 105 sq. ft. 6 rolls of 147 s(i. ft., and 1 each of 1.53. 1.50, 1 .8 145 H5, 69, and 24 sq.ft. 1 roll each of .15, .55 and 16 sq. ft. 22 rolls of 200 s(i. ft. each, and 1 each of 280, CO, 66 50. 44, ;;0, 36, 32. 30, 24, 20, and 8 sq. ft. 99 rolls of 210 sq. ft. each, and 1 each of 215. 210, and 204 sq. ft. 49 rolls of 233; 3of224; 1 of 257. 240, 234, 219, and 214 sq. ft. 1 roll of 266. and one of 275 sq. ft. .34 ! 18 rolls of 283 sq. ft. 1 each of 142, 1.3:', 130 9, and 9 sq. ft. 30 1 6 rolls of 300 sq. ft. 38 I 21 rolls of 316 sq. ft. , and 1 cacli of 6:« and 300 sc). ft. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. 274 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. TABLE OF.PRICES LIST OUR PRICE PRICE 10 in. Globe. . . .(*11.00). . . $.5. .50 12 " •' ....( 13.00).... 6,.50 14 " " ....( l.'J.OO).... 7..50 16 " " ....( 17.00).... 8. .TO 18 " " ....( 19.00).... 9,.50 We can ship from here, or Springfield, O. All, or a part of the freight will be allowed on shipments of five or more from Springfield, according to distance. JilSCOl WTS. On 2 machines ,5 % " 3 " lu " " 4 " 13'/^" " ;> " 1.5 " "8 " 20 •' " 10 or more, 25 " The Globe Lawn-JVIower. THE BEST AND CHEAPEST FOR ALL TO BUY, Nothing indicates neatness and thrift about the house so well as a nieely- kpjit lawn, or apiarj-, and no tlower garden is prettier than a nice green sward evenly mowed. Probably the reason more people do not have these nicely kept lawns and apiaries is because they were not able to get a first-class mower at a low enough price. We have been on the lookout for such a mower for some time, and we have succeeded in getting it at last. The Globe lawn-mower shown in adjoining cut combines all the best features, and is a first-class mower in every respect. Having only three knives it will cut longer grass than those having four. The axle of the drive-wheel does not project, so that you can run close to the hive. It has tAvo drive-wheels and ro!l- I. 3=tOOT, er, and the driving gears .ire simply per- fect. Nothing could be more simple and ef- fective. The prices are very much lower than on any other first-class mower, in fact they are about as low as the cheap grade of ma- chines, and yet this mower is not surpass- ed by any machine on the market, but is guar- anteed to be tirst-class. • Tliere lisi NO KXCUSE any longer tor not having a niiely kept lawn. The manu- facturers ot this lawn niowei' having failed we .secured the entire stock, and offer them (while they last), at these prices which are 14 that usuillv chirgcil Thev iiv 1st diss and nin easy We hive old \ i "OOinthift andtht\ gi\eunnei xl iti f tan jou ^^oul(l stcuie one oidei at onct A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. TJfitoii'.s Tiiijirored SIECTIOJV C7.A.SE:. IJkks and Queens. Send for free catalogue. Address FR.ilNK A. EATON, .5-lOdb Bliifl'ton, Ohio. pK^DQa^l^THRS Ij\ JSI. Y. ^JP^TE. If you want NOKTHEKN QUEENS reared from pure Italian stock, imported or golden queens, send me your order. The great popularity of my golden queens last summer has induced me to de- vote my apiary exclusively to bees and queens the coming season. Prices as follows: Untested queens in June . - - . $100 Tested " in .lune - - - - - 1 50 Two-frame nuclei in June and July, with un- tested queen 3 00 Reference if desired. Send stamps for reply, to A. I. Root, or National Bank. Sherburn. Send for free circular. MRS. OLIVER COLE, 6tfdb Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. DASAITT'S FOUNDATION FACT0S7, WHOLESALE asiBETAIL. See advertisement in atiother column. 3tfbd E W. PITZER. HILLSDALE, IOWA, Producer of and dealer in Italian Bees, comb and extracted Honey; also M. B. Turkeys, Toulouse Geese, Langshan, P. Rock, and White R. Comb Leghorn Chickens. Our breeding stock is first-class, and judiciously mated. Send for price list. 58db CUJIMJArnHJUmCOnlLL MAOTFACTUKEK OF AND DEALEK IN APIARIAN SUPPLIES, .\ND BREEDER OF 5-8db Send for Price IJst. ON.30 DAYS' TRIAL. THIS NEW ^ lELASTIG TRUSS 'Has a I'ad different from all others, is cup shape, with Self. SENSIBLC^T^ adjusting Ball in center, adapts TDiiee M itself to all pesitions of tho * owaa m >.«k_ body while the ba 1 1 in the cup ' presses back the InteS" _ Tines Just as a person does with the finger, with light pressure the Her- nia is held securely day and night, and a radical euro certain. It is easy, durable and chean. Sent by mail. Gir- COlarafree. EGQLESTON TRCSS CO., Chlesco, 111. You can not look over tho back No's of Glean- ings or any other Periodical with satisfaction, unless they are in some kind of a Binder. Who has not said— "Dear me, what a bother— I 7nust have last month's Journal and it is nowhere to be found ?" Put each No. in the Emerson Binder as soon as it comes, and you can sit down happy, any time you wish to find anything you may have previously seen, even though it were months ago. Binders for Gt,e.\nings (will hold them for one year), gilt lettered, for 60 cts.; bv mail, 12 cts. extra. Ten, S.5.00; 100, $45.00. Table of prices of Binders for any Periodical, mailed on application. Send in your orders. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. The Canadian 1'. O. authorities refuse to receive these through the mails, as they exceed the proper weight for mer- chandise. 1388 gleani:ngs in bee culture. 2711 Contents of this Number. Alder-Tiig 311 Bee-sting Rimedies 295 Boys' Hive-factory .ilO Buckwheat, Japanese 296 Burning-glass 30? Camp-meeting Fruit 314 China Letter 313 Comb vs. Extracted. (Q.B.), 309 Comb, Manufactured 291 Combs, Bulged iQ. B.).308 Drones, Small 307 Editorial 321 Eggs, Surplus of 307 Elm 312 Express Companies 294 False Statements 293 Force-pump for Feeding 297 Frames, Emptj- 298 Given Press. . .' 295 Grimm's Methods 284 Heads of (Jrain .307 Head-wear for Apiary 296 Heater's Kxhibit 291 Honey Statistics 320 Honev, Candied 295 Linn Logs Peeled 312 Our l)wn Apiary 320 Our Question Box 308 Peach-Bloom .• 311 Question 38 Reconsidered.. 298 Runaway 312 Sections onlFrames. (Q. B.) .310 Sections of Shavings 28X Sections. Slotted Sides 292 Songs for Bee-keepers 289 Supers, Foster's 292 Swamp-elm 314 Sweet Clover Protttable. . . .297 Sweet Potatoes in Honey.. 312 Tobacco Column.. 313 T Super Improved 308 Water elm 311 ITALIAN BEES FOR SALE. Seventy colonies in ten-Irame Langstroth hives, at $5.00 per colony. JOHN OR ANT, 8-lldb Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio. ITALIAN BEES, QUEENS, AND EGGS from high-class Silver Laced Wyandotte, and S. C. B. Leghorn fowls, at living rates. Price list free. 8tfdb GEO. A. WEIOHT, Qlenwood, Susquehanna Go., Pa. IF YOU HAVE LOST ALL YOUR BEES, you had better ' send a postal card for my prices for the coming season. 8tfdb Thomas Gedye, LaSalle, III. FOR SALiE.— One complete Saw-mill, with one ■ti-inch circular saw for sawing logs. Is new; never been used. Cost #231.00; will take $175.00 for it. on board the cars here. Thomas Gedye, 8d LaSalle, LaSalle Co. 111. 26 EGGS. $1 .50; Leghorns. 13, *1.00. Todd strain of Brown A. F. BSIQHT, Mazeppa, Minn. gPECIi^Ii ]^0¥ICEg. T TINS. Whilestrolllng through the tin-shop yesterday we were informed that our original T-tin machine has made 110,(X)0T tins. Thiswillgive our readers some idea of the popularity of the T super. At the pres- ent lime it seems to till the bill better than any other surplus arrangement in use. THE NKW .lAPA.NKSE BUCKWHEAT. Keraeraber, we have in stock about 80 bushels of choice seed of this plant that did so well the past season. We offei- it as follows: ^4 lb., Sets.; lib., 12 «ts.; 14 peck. 60 cts.; 1 peck. $1.00; V^ bushel, $1.!»0; one bushel, $3.,50; 5 bushels or over, $3.00 per bushel. Bags free. A LAWN-MOWER FOR $4.25. We call the attention of our readers to our adver- tisement of the Young America Lawn-mower, in another column. Having bought the entire stock at assignee's rate, we are enabled to make this most unparalled offer in the history of lawn-mowers. We shall be pleased to quote still lower prices in <)uantities to those who desire tosupply their neigh- bors and friends with a good mower at a low price. GARDEN-SEEDS, POTATOES, ETC. A Ithough there has been quite a brisk time among seedsmen, and many of our large houses have run out of certain seeds, we are prepared to furnish everything in our price list by the tirsf mail or ex- press, without any advance in price, with the excep- tion of the Early Ohio potatoes. We are out of these and can not find any. If any of our readers have Bometosell, will they please inform us at once, with price? ITALIAN BEES AT ONE-HALF OUR, REGULAR PRICE. We have at Quitman, Mo., abdfut 20 colonies of Italian bees in good condition; and as we desire to dispose of them quickly, we will offer them at half our catalogue price, which would be $10 for a full colony with queen. Two colonies, Sl9; three col- onies, $27; 4 colonies, $35; 5 colonies, $42. ,50; 10 or more, $7. .50 per colony. These are a rare bargain. Please send in your order early if you wish to se- cure them. FRIEND martin's CAREFULLY SELECTED AND IMPROVED TURNIP-SEED. In answer to an inquiry to friend M., in regard to such seed as he uses and recommends in this num- ber, he replies that the turnips are only just plant- ed from which he expects to raise the seed for this season's use. You will remember, he recommends using new seed just harvested. Those who want seed may leave orders with friend Martin or with us, as they choose. The price of seed from these selected turnips will be 15 cts. per ounce; 60 cts. per half-pound, or $1.00 per pound. The ounces will be prepaid; pounds and half-pounds at the rate of 18 cts. per pound extra, for bag and postage. I think it quite likely that the demand for this seed will be greater than he can supply. Therefore you had better have your orders placed on file to be tilled just as soon as the seed can be harvested. THE A B C OF POTATO CULTURE. The demand for this bookj for the past few weeks has been beyond precedent. In fact, our mailing- clerks keep a pile of them already wrapped up, and when I read the mail I sort tout the orders for the potato-book and put them all together. I presume it is the almost unprecedented price of potatoes that has something to do with it. Another thing, people are waking up to the importance of improv- ed potato culture in a way they never did before. Good! When our boys get.;enthusiastic in raising potatoes we need not worry abo.ut them much— no, not even if potato-growing gets to be a fever. It will be far better for our nation when our boys are seen rushing to the fields and„ engaging brain and muscle in growing potatoes rather than to crowd the cities, begging for permission to stand behind a counter for barely enough to pay for board and clothing. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. The orphans are in exstacy over " Fables and Al- legories." A very nice book for the money. Peoria, 111. Mrs. L. Harrison. The goods you sent me came promptly and safely I am more than pleased with them. I am begin ning to keep a few bees for home supply, and have enjoyed your ABC more than I can tell you. My bees had a nice fly on the 13th of this month. They are packed in chaff, as you direct. I am a farmer's busy wife, with a family of little ones whom lam trying to teach to love tlowers and pets. Hattie Meltav. Olathe, .lohnson Co., Kansas. AN A B C SCHOLAR 62 YEARS OLD. AND HOW HE HAS SUCCEEDED. 1 am an A B C scholar 62 years old this coming spring. I take your ABC book and Gleanings, and think I could not get along without them. 1 appreciate them very highly. I commenced with two small nuclei three years ago last summer. I wintered seven last winter, without any loss. 1 winter on summer^'; stands in your chaff hives. I think your chaff' hives can't be beat for wintering bees. Noah Thomas. Horatio, Ohio. e.xceedingly interested in gleanings. We have taken vour paper one year, and have become exceedingly interested, so that we think wo must look it all through before retiring, no matter how late we receive it. Our bees never did so well, and we feel that we have profited by your Home talks. Whether we have kept up with the bees or not is not for us to say; but we hope that you may be prospered in your good work to a good old age. Mrs. and Mr. Herbert Deming. Cornish Ctr., N. H. 280 GLEANINGS IIS BEE CULTURE. Apr. Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be inserted under this head at one-half our usual rates. All ad's intended for this department must not exceed 5 lines, and you must say you want your ad. in this de- partment, or we will not be responsible for any error. You can have the notice as many lines as you please; but all over live lines will cost you according to our regular rates. This department is intended only for bona-fide exchanges. Ex- changes for cash or for price lists, or notices offering articles tor sale can not be inserted under this head. For such our reg- ular rates of 20 cts. a line will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. 117 ANTED. —Correspondence on apples, potatoes, YV seed-potatoes, cabbage, onions, small fruit, and fruit and produce grenerally. Consignments solic- ited. Will quote market at any time. Earle Clickenger, 4tfdb General Commission Merchant, 119 East Town St., Columbus, O. WANTED.— To exchange for any thing of a stan- dard market value, full colonies of Italian bees on 8 L. or Simplicity frames, in shipping-boxes, at $4.00 per colony. 5tfdb \V. A. Sanders, Oak Bower, Hart Co., Ga. WANTED.— To exchange Quinby Chaff Hives, with 10 standing frames, one 4-frame honey- extractor, new, for beeswax, foundation, or ofifers. Mrs. Oliver ColiE, 6tfdb Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange Johnston's Sweet-rasp- berry plants, for new varieties of strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry, or plum and sour-cherry trees. 7-lOdb P. Sutton, Exeter, Luz. Co., Pa. WANTED.— To exchange bees in Heddon hives, for a light one-horse buggy. 79db S. C. KiRKPATRiCK, Hodgenville, Ky. WANTED.— To exchange Cuthbert red-i-aspberry roots, and Tyler black-cap, for 1-lb. sections, fdn., beeswax, pounds of bees with queen, or fe- male ferrets. 7-8d M. Isbell, Norwich, N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange best queen and drone trap made, for extractor or bee-supplies. J. A. Batcheldbr, Keene, N. H. W ANTED.— To exchange an Arion piano, used 5 yeai'S, No. 1 order for bees, and ofifers. J. C. Stewart, Hopkins, Mo. WANTED.— To exchange White Leghorn eggt for tested Italian queens, comb foundation, and pure Italian bees. J. L. Snipes, Seneca, S. C. WANTED.— To exchange a Given foundation- press for a Hall or Hammond type-writer, or offers; also a foot-power saw for exchange. 8d C. A. Graves, Birmingham, O. WANTED.— To exchange a Model hand-inking printing-press, with two fonts of type and fur- niture, size of chase 3J4x.5%, for Italian bees by the pound. C P. SuRi>s, 8d Gamma, Montgomery Co., Mo. TTTANTED.— To exchange a fine gold watch, magic VV lantern, B. L. pullets, or from one to two hun- dred acres of land— plenty of basswood, etc., on good road, for Italian bees and supplies. Corres- pondence solicited. Address G. C. HuGn s. Pipestem, Summers Co., W. Va. WANTED. — Standard apple, pear, and quince trees; also buffalo-robe. Will exchange choice eggs for hatching from prize L. Brahmas, Wyan- dottes, and Pekin ducks. 14 years' experience. 8d Chas. McClave, New London, O. WANTED.- To exchange Plymouth Rock eggs. Conger strain, very fine, for tested Italian queens. Address St. Joseph Apiary, 8d St. Joseph, Mo. WANTED.— To exchange bees for a Tuttle knit- ting-machine. L. Heine, 8d Bellmore, Queens Co., N. Y. ITT ANTED. —To exchange poultry, eggs for hatch- Vt ing, or bees by the pound, and queens, for brood-frames built of wired fdn. Thomas Gedye, La Salle, La Salle Co., 111. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale, For the benefit of friends who have black or hybrid queens which they want to dispose of, we will insert notices free of charge, as below. We do this becnuse there is hardly value enough to these queens to pay for buying them up and keep- ing them in stock; and yet it is oftentimes quite an accommo- dation to those who can not afford higher-priced ones. For sale, 6 black queens and 2 hybrids, at 26 and .")0 cts. respectively, or will exchange for good hardy strawberry or raspberry plants. T. K. Massie, Concord Church, Mercer Co., W.Va. For sale, 10 black queens, at 35c each. Ready to mail. Send early. Young G. Lee, Charlotte Harbor, Fla. For sale, one dozen or more of black and hybrid queens, in each month, till I sell about 75 queens. Black queens 85 cts.; hybrids 40 cts. each. J. W. Poole, Russell ville. Pope Co., Ark. For sale, 10 hybrid queens, now ready, for 50 cts. each. All young. C. C. Kirkman, Coxville, Pitt Co., N. C. For sale, five mismated Italian queens, at .50 cts. each. Will be ready to ship May 10th. Edwin D. Barton, E. Hampton, Middlesex Co., Ct. For sale, 7 black queens, 40 cts. each ; 2 for 75 cts., or 7 for $2.35. Safe arrival guaranteed. J. N. CoLWiCK, Norse, Bosque Co., Texas. NEW AND SECOND-HAND FOUNDATION-MILLS AT REDUCED RATES. We have on hand the following fdn. mills that we desire to dispose of; and to do so we quote these special prices: One 14-inch mill, made about 3 years ago, but has never been used. This mill makes fdn. with the round, or improved cell. It is as good a mill as we could make a year ago; but with our new machine for cutting the rolls we do much bet- ter work now, hence we offer this mill at the very low figure of $35.00. Regular price $40.00. One 10-inch mill, made about 3 years ago; has been used almost none; it is at Church Creek, Md. Regular price, $20.(M1. Will sell lor $15.00. One 6-inch drone-mill, new; never been used; just right for making thin drone fdn. for section boxes. Regular price $15.00. We will sell it for $13.00. One 6-inch 01m mill, made 6 or 7 years ago; has been used a little, but will do nicely lor one who wants to make his own fdn. We will sell it for $8.00. One 6-inch Pelham mill. A new machine, never been used. We took it in exchange for one of our make. Will sell it for $8.00. A. I. Root, Medina, O. H OW TO RAISE COMB HONEY. See Fos- ter's advertisement on another page. 4-15db MUTH'S HONEY-EXTRACTOR. NQIT^KE G1.AKS HONEY-.IAKS. TIN BdOKETS, BEK-HIVR^. HONEY-SEn.\ lo contain a testi d queen and plenty of bees and brood, all on wired L. frames, combs drawn Irom fdn. Hives new. every thing first class. To be sliippi'd in May. Safe arrival guaranteed. 1 shall do by all as I would be done bv. Address N. A. KNAPP, 7-10db Rocliesiiter, Lorain Co., O. The A B C of POTATO ^ Culture. HOW TO aEOW THEM IN THE LARGEST aUANTITT, AND OF THE FINEST aUALIT7, WITH THE LEAST EX- PENDITUEE OF TIME AND LABOR. t'tirr.f'iilly Vonsidfrintj nil the Tjtitest Tntprove- iiients ill fhi.i Bronch of Affricultiire ui> to till' Present Date. ILLUSTRATED BY TWENTY ENORAVTNOS. Written by T. B. TEEEY, of Hudson, 0. Table ne tlirDUgh the bee-journals. All Texas and Arkansas bee-keepers are expected to be present. All are cor- dially invited. No hotel-bills to pay. B. F. Carroll. Sec'y. The eighteenth semi-annual session of the Central Michigan Bee-keepers' Association will be held in the Pioneer Room at the Capitol, Saturday. April 21. 1888, commencing at 9 A. M. Af- ter the business meeting and the annual election of officers, the members and friends will be addressed by X. J. Cook, of the Michigan State Agricultural College. A cordial invitation is extended to all, especially those interested in bee culture, as this will be a very interesting meeting. W. A. Barnes, Sec'y. The semi-annual meeting of the Progressive Bee-keepers' Association will be held in the Sons of Temperance Hall at Bainbridge Center, O., on Thursday, JLiy 3, 1888, Parties wish- ing conveyance from Geauga-Lake Station, on the Erie R. R., three miles distant, please notify Mr L. H. Brown, Blssels, Geauga Co., C, so that arrangements can be made for the same. .\11 interested are invited. Miss Dema Bennett. Sec'y. The next meeting of the Susquehanna County Bee-keepers' Association will be held at New Milford, on May Sth, 1888. Subjects forconsiderationat that tima areas follows- 1. Bee- Keeping for Pleasure and Profit : 2. Spring Work with Bees; :i. Is it advi.sable to use Foundation; If so. to what Extentf 4. How can we make our Association of the most practical Use to its Members ! We especially invite all bee-keepers who can to come and help make the meeting as interesting as possible. H. M. Seeley, Sec. PBiCE Lists eeceived. Since our last we have received price lists from the follow- ing persons: A. L. Sivinson, Goldsboro, N, C., issues a large-sized 4-pagfe circular of the products of the Tar-Heel apiaries. B. Davidson, Uxbridge, Ontario, sends a 4-page list of hives, fanning mills, etc. F. Boomhower, Gallupville., N. Y;,sendsusaver.y nlcei5-i>age list of bees, queens, and fine fowls. R. H. Schmidt, Caroline, Wis., mails us an 8-page list of stlp- plies in general. .J. M. Hambaugh, Spring, 111., sends us a 12-page list of hiteS and supplies. It is nicely printed. F. M. Atwood, Rileyville, 111., publishes an 8-page list of api- arian supplies. C. M. Muth, Cincinnati, O., sends a 32-page list of everything pertaining to bees and honey. A. F. Bright, Mazeppa, Minn., issues a very pretty 16-page list of bees, queens, and fowls. 6. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O., sends us an elegant 16- page list of Syrio-albinos, sections, etc. W. E. Clark. Oriskany. N. Y., sends out a very neat 24-page price list of bee supplies. FROM ALL PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. fHE following in the way of honey sta- tistics came after the last Glean- ings was out. As will be seen, they come from distant parts of the Ignit- ed States, and hence the delay. Of course it is to be understood that the ques- tions are the same as were given on page 244, last issue. They are as follows: CALIFORNIA. W. W. Bliss, Duarte. S. W. 3-2.3. a. Nine-tenths; b very good Indeed; c. new honey from fruit bloom, alfllerea, willow, etc. J. P. Israel.Eneinitas. S. E. 3-27. a. No crop in 1887; full half of the bees in this State are starved to death; b. good prospects (or a fair crop; e. the season is cold and late; the sage in some spots is in bloom, but it will be three weeks before there is any How of honey. R. Wilkin, San Buenaventura. S. 3-23. a. 90 per cent; b. it was never better; c. enough for breeding- purposes, so that swarms are beginning to issue. G. W. Cover, Downieville. N. E. C 3-25. a. .\bout one-third ; b. good so far; c. honey is coming in. The now is light. WYOMING territory. O. G. Mead, Ferris. S. 3-27. a. As I have the only bees thus far known to be in Wyoming Territory, your first queston is easily answered. My bees have all wintered well. b. It is too early to tell in this section what the prospects are for a honey-crop the coming season. WASHINGTON TERRITORY. W. W. Maltby. East Angeles. N. W. 3-23. a. Nine-tenths; b. good. c. We have a mild climate. Honey is coming in moderately. VIRGINIA. J. W. Porter. Charlottesville. S. E. 3-31. Bees have pretty generally come out well. All winter on summer stands here. I hear of no serious losses anywhere in Virginia. Peaches and pears are about to bloom. FLORIDA. J. L. Clark. W. 3-26. a. The losses have been very moderate; b. excellent; c. yes, very rapidly. We shall extract by April 1. NEBRASKA. F. Kingsle.y, Hebron. S. 4-3. Pollen was brought in to-day. Bees are in good shape. MISSOURI. S. S. Lawing, Henderson. S. W. 4-6. a. About 50 per cent; b. good; c. no honey yet to speak of. DELAWARE. S. W. Merritt, Dover. E. 3-23. a. Comparatively speaking, all; b. very good; e. no. Vol. XTI. APR. 15, IS88. No. 8. zcopielf6Tt\.9^,ztoTphb\htoTU.oo\\Ji/St(tbLZSh/6'CL Z7l> lo lo. PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY A. 1. ROOT, MEDINA. OHIO 10 or more,75ets. each. Single num- \ ber, 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be > made at club rates. Above are all to be sent to one postoffice. r Clubs to different postofHces, not less I than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the J U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- j tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 cts. per year extra. To all eountriea L NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. GIVING A LAYING QUEEN TO PAR ENT COLONY IMMEDIATELY AFTER S"W ARMING. FKIENI) DOOfjlTTLE DOES NOT ADVISE IT. J^\ EFORE me lies a card whicb reads as follows : |2jB ■' Is the plan of giving each colony a laying ^^ queen, immediately after swarming, a good ■*^ one? If not, why not? Please answer through Gleanings." As I do not consider the plan a good one, I will try to give my reasons for so thinking, as requested. For years we have been told that no colony should go without a laying queen for a single day, if it were possible to give them one; and plans of introducing queens which required that the hive should be queenless a few days previous, have been severely criticised. We have also been told, for years, that the bee-keeper who wished to secure the best results from bis bees should have a laying queen ready to give to each old colony as soon as they swarmed, as the time lost to them, by rearing a queen, is equivalent to a swarm of bees. Being eager to know for myself all the plans which would give the best results, I have experimented largely; and the truth of the state- ment, that the time lost to the bees in rearing a queen in natural swarming was equivalent to a swarm of bees, is the first reason that the plan has not been a success with me. If it were bees I were after, the case would be different. With us white clover yields enough honey to keep the bees breed- ing nicely, and prepares them so that they mainly swarm from June 30th to July 1st. Our honey-har- vest is principally from basswood, which blooms from July 10th to 16th. Now, all who are familiar with natural swarming know that the boes are comparatively few in num- bers in the spring, and increase by the rapidly in- creasing brood produced by the queen, which, in due time, hatch into bees, until a swarm is the re- sult. By giving a laying queen to a colony imme- diately after it has cast a swarm, we bring about the same result (swarming) as before, or we place the bees in the same condition. The only differ- ence is, that, having plenty of brood, they build up quicker, and are prepared to swarm in a shorter time. As this second swarming, brought about by giving a laying queen, comes right in our basswood- honey harvest, it cuts off the surplus honey; for it is well known that bees having the swarming fe- ver do little or no work in the section boxes; and, if allowed to swarm, the object we have sought after (section honey) is beyond our reach. Having given rny experience on this point, let us see how the same colony would work had we not given the bees a laying queen. Eight days after the swarm has issued, the first young queen will have emerged from her cell, as a rule, when the apiarist should remove all the other queen-cells from the hive, so that second swarming is entirely prevented. In ten days more our young queen is ready to lay, which is about the time bass- wood begins to yield honey largely. During this period, between the time the swarm issued and the young queen commences to lay, the bees, not hav- ing any brood to nurse for the last half of the time, consume but little honey; hence, as fast as the young bees emerge from the cells, they are filled with honey; for bees not having a laying queen or unsealed brood seldom build comb in the sections. 1^84 GLEA^IKgS iK BEE CULTURE. Apr. Thus, when the young- queen is ready to lay she finds every available cell stored with honey. At this point the instinct of the bees teaches thein that they must have brood or they will soon cease to exist as a colony, and a general rush is made for the sections. The honej' from below is carried above, so as to give the queen room, and in a week we have, as a result, the sections nearly filled with honey. I have had such colonies fill and complete section honey to the amount of 60 lbs. in from 8 to 12 days, while those to which I had given the laying queen immediately after swarming did little but swarm during the same time. Bear in mind, we are talking about producing comb honey, not ex- tracted. Different locations may give different re- sults; still, I think that nearly all sections give a large flow of honey at a certain period during the season, rather than a steady, continuous honey- harvest the whole season. To such sections these remarks are especially applicable. My second rea- son is, that after basswood we have a honey-dearth, hence the bees from the introduced queen are of no value, but, on the contrary, become consumers. On an average, it takes '^i days from the time the egg is laid, to the perfect bee. Then if the colony is in a normal condition, this bee does not commence labor in the field till 16 days old; hence, the eggs for the honey-gathering bees must be deposited in the cell 37 days before the honey-harvest ends, or else they are of no value as honey-producers. As the basswood is all gone before the eggs of the intro- duced queen become honey-producing bees, and as the larger pai-t of them die of old age before buckwheat and fall flowers yield honey, it will be seen that a great gain is made by letting each old colony, having cast a swarm, rear their own queen; for thereby we save the expensive feeding of the larvfe, which are to become expensive consumers of the honey of the hive. Also the chances are, that, when the colony rears its own queen, they will be stocked with younger bees for wintering In Novem- ber than where a queen was introduced immediate- ly after swarming. The one point worth knowing above all others in bee-keeping is a thorough knowledge of the loca- tion we are it\, as to its honey resources, and then getting the largest amount of bees possible at that or those times to gather the honey, having just as few at all other times as is consistent with the ac- complishing of this object. In working so that we get the bees out of season, we have to pay the same price for them that we would to get them, so that each one becomes a i)ro- ducer instead of a consumer. If all who read this article will study their location, and then rear their bees in reference to that location, I think they will find their bees will do as well as their more success- ful neighbors'. We often hear it said, that one colony in the apiary did much better than the rest, and, had they all done »b well, a rousing crop of honey would have been the result. The reason that one colony did so well was because it happened to have a large proportion of its bees of the right age to gather honey just in the honey-harvest; and if we can get all in this condition we can secure a like result from the whole apiary. G. M. DOOLITTLE. Borodino, N. Y., Apr. 2, 1888. Friend D., I believe it was father Lang- stroth who first suggested that a laying queen, after the swarm was cast, miglit be equivalent to bees enough to make a swarm; and he gave it shortly after his discoveries of the movable-comb hive, as one of the ad- vantages to be secured by artificial instead of natural swarming. Now, although you are right, probably, I think father Lang- stroth is pretty nearly right also ; but, as you say, it depends on what one wants to do with his bees. Where a beginner or any- body else is anxious to increase his number of colonies as fast as possible, I think the plan is usually a good one. although it may not secure all that frieml L. claimed for it. Where a bee-keeper gives most of his time to his bees it seems to me he ought not to put all his eggs in one basket. I mean by this, that 1 do not believe it pays for him to restrict himself to comb honey solely, any more than it pays a farmer to raise just one crop. The wide-awake honey-producer ought to be watching the market, and holding himself in readiness to produce bees, queens, extracted or comb honey, whichever the demand or season may make conven- ient. For a season like the last, when there are many localities that secured absolutely no honey, a good many could sell bees, queens, nuclei, and whole colonies, and I think they could do this at a profit, even if they were obliged to buy feed. I do not be- lieve many localities have such a tendency to overswarming as you often have. In om- locality, second swarms are the exception, and occur only during occasional seasons ; and a great many colonies will almost every season work right along, storing honey without getting tlie swarming-fever at all. I'our conclusions are right. Every bee- keeper should study his location and make the best of every peculiarity ahout his loca- tion and surroundings. GEO. GRIMM'S METHOD OF PRODUC- ING COMB HONEY. HOW HE MANAGES WITH A MINIMUM OF L,.\BOR. T SEND you to-day by express a sample section- (mP rack. What do you think of it? It is adapted ^t to my purpose, and gives me better satisfac- "*■ tion than any thing else that I have tried or seen. It will not require explanation for a bee-keeper to understand it. If you think there are many pieces, just imagine that the honey-flow is at its best, and tiering up must be resorted to, and see how easily it is done; or imagine that it is about over, and that there are two or three or more unfinished sections in the lot, which must be left on, and see how easily it is arranged. The top boards fit into the space occupied by a ring of sec- tions; you can leave on one or two or more rings full, or reduce to half a ring or less. In tiering up you can add one or more rings as you may desire and circumstances warrant. No matter how few or how many sections you have on a hive, every thing is closed and snug at all times. To appreciate, one must see it used. Now let me tell you why I said, in an answer to a former question, that raising comb honey is more profitable than raising extracted, and I think I can do this only by telling you the manner in which I now " keep bees." I keep only about one hundred colonies, and at present have even less. My prac- 1888 GLt;ANm(JS lii BEE CULTURE. 285 tice monopolizes very nearly all of my time, and the time that I give to my bees is limited to a very few hours a week during the summer. GEO. GRIMM'S 'SURPLUS ARRANGEMENT. Let us start with spring. The bees are brought from the cellar. The first warm day I don't look them through. No, they are left untouched till steady warm weather has come. Then I look them over, unite queenless ones, and make sure that they have plenty of food. A little later I clip the queen's wings. Nothing more is done until white clover appears. Upon the first appearance of any honey, a section-rack with sections (prepared win- ter evenings) is put on every strong colony. An examination of a few minutes every few days keeps me informed as to the progress of all the colonies, and, when needed, sections are given. Now mark: No sections are taken off until both white clover and basswood are gone and nearly all the honey Is sealed. GEO. GRIMM'S SECTION-RING. Whenever the sections are filled, ready to seal, another ring or more, according to the strength of the colony and advance of the season, is placed on top of the others; and this is kept up until the sea- son has nearly closed. Sections are added before the lower ones are sealed, and always on top. The rea- sons for this are many: They are readily accepted by the bees; in the rush to fill the upper ones, the lower ones are more slowly pushed to completion; in case the flow of honey should suddenly cease, all lower sections will still be finished because the honey has evaporated and is thick, and the cells can be filled from the partly finished upper ones, thus leaving very few unfinished sections, even in case the crop is cut off in its prime; you can see at a moment's glance at the top whether more space is needed; and all the work is simplified. Let me an- ticipate the objection possibly to be urged, that the lower sections may be soinewhat soiled, by saying that this rarely happens when uppers are added he- fore sealing has begun. I have only in rare in- stances had trouble with it. We will proceed: Swarming has begun; well, my wife hives the swarms (while baby and the dog look on and get stung), and at the proper time I destroy all extra queen-cells. In the meantime honey is being lit- erally " piled up " till the season closes. Then when it has closed I wait ior a few weeks longer till nearly all is sealed, and the harvest can begin. And this is how I take off the honey: The cover is taken off; all rings and side boards removed from the sections; the bees mostly driven down into the body of the hive, with tobacco smoke, and all the honey laid bare almost as quick as I can. tell it; section after section is taken up, the bees shaken and brushed off, and the load then carried into the shop. Unfinished sections are concentrated into one or more rings as the case may be, and I am ready to go to the next hive. The body of the hive is left undisturbed, and usually contains more than sufficient good ripe healthy white-clover or basswood honey, to last the colony till spring. Nothing more is now done till fall, when the remaining sections are removed by taking off the whole rack from the hive and placing on a honey-board instead. If the colony has brood and the proper weight. It is not again touched un- til it Is carried into the cellar for the winter. I be- lieve that all the work that I do in the apiary in a year would not make ten full days, and I do all that is to be done except hiving the swarms, taking them in and out of the cellar, and weighing them in the fall. In 1886 I sold over $400 worth of honey from about 75 colonies; last year I sold none, the crop being an entire failure, but I had no work to do either. This is the reason why I am of the opinion that it pays better to raise comb honey than extracted. And, again, aside from the great labor required in raising extracted honey, the condition in which a colony is left in the fall furnishes the strongest ar- gument against raising extracted honey— usually short of honey, and loaded with bee-bread, a fit sub- ject for feeding and dysentery. It is my experi- ence, at least, that a colony run for comb honey is in better condition for winter, and will winter bet- ter than when it has been run for extracted honey; and this must not be left from view in estimating the "cost" of extracted honey. I have certainly reduced the labor and risk to a minimum, and, I think, sacrificed nothing In the yield; and I think 1 have demonstrated that a man can make money out of bees, without constant at- tention. Since writing the foregoing, Gleanings has come to hand. I appreciate the high compliment you paid the Grimms at the end of Mr. France's ar- ticle on page 165. The foregoing may serve as a partial explanation and answer to Mr. France. I will answer more fully at another time. The de- scription of his work is exceedingly interesting, and It seems as though we had worked together. While I am satisfied that I can teach him nothing new, he has satisfied me that he can manage 1000 colonies of bees with two assistants, and do it well. Katie Grimm that was, is Mrs. Hermann Gieseler, of Jamestown, Dakota, no longer a bee-keeper, but the queen of a happy home. George Grimm. Jefferson, Wis., Mar. 9, 1888. I will explain to our readers, that friend Grimm has six sections, about what we should call a two-pound section, wedged up in these little rings, with a little board at each outside end. The wedges are not shown plainly in the drawings. Well, the little board that covers the six sections also answers as a cover for the opening in the crate when the sections are removed. The broad division-pieces, that hold what we should call the T tins, leave openings for 294 GLEANINGS IN JiEE CtJLTURJi:. Apfe. the fingers, so that any section can be pick- ed outvvitli the utmost ease when the wedge is removed and the sections loosened. Friend Grimm's arrangement does certain- ly afford unusual facility for adding a ring of six sections at a time, and closing all the other openings when the whole crate is not filled. I presume, of course, an outside shell or cap sits over these trays or crates holding 18 two-pound sections. — As friend Grimm puts it, it does seem as if a great many of us are paying out more money in the way of labor to care for an apiary than is absolute- ly necessary. — Now, is it not possible that your sister Katie will some time have a longing for bees once more V We will send her this number, and may be she will give us a brief note, telling us something about that home, even if it does not mention hon- ey-bees. "WHAT SHALL "WE USE FOR THE ONE- POUND PACKAGE ? A PLEA FOR THE TUMBLERS ALREADi' IN USE. ff9 LEANINGS for March 15th is at hand, fresh It and up to the times as usual. I have been It^ looking over friend Muth's article on " E.x. ^^ tracted ;Honey in Market." It has been our experience that the tumbler and pail hold- ing li4 pounds are the more acceptable packages. I wish to say a word in regard to the tumbler. I see one has been found that holds just a pound. For one, I am sorry, as it means a pecuniary loss to all who use them. Do not understand me as favor- ing a deception or cheat, but we may just as well as not look a bad matter squai-ely in the face. We are then better able to manage it. The mass think the honey costs us little or noth- ing, and that therefore we can sell it for almost any thing and furnish the package to put It in be- sides. Now, we must meet this sentiment at the least cost to ourselves possible. The old tumbler holds 14 oz., and, with us, wholesales for 14 cts. Let us make a little calculation: 114 tumblers @ 14 cts. *15 96 One hundred lbs. will fill this number. DR. 114 tumblers .*3 43 Labels 30 3 73 3 72 Total *13 34 Now, the 1-lb. tumblers. 100 tumblers @, 14 cts. $U 00 Dl{. 100 tumblers $3 35 Labels 3.5 3 50 3 .50 Total $10 .50 Profit in favor of old pattern, $1.74. I've made no mention of freight, as it would be the same in either case, or nearly so; quite a nice little profit when we think how closely we have to figure. Watch me closely, and do not overlook the fact that we do not sell these tumblers as holding a pound, but a pack- age of honpy for so much. Askers for the 1-lb. tumblers will say, you customer will want to know, " Do they hold a pound? " Of course, if you are honest you will have to say 110. "Oh!" they'll say; " I can get a full pound for that." But right here is where you have them— what are they going to put their pound in? You offer them a neat package all ready to take with them, at the same price they would have to pay for the pound— they bother to get the dish, and it must be a dull mind that can not see two cents' worth in the tumbler, for domestic purposes. In this way your glass costs but a trifle over a cent. If you use ihc other style you would have to furnish the entire glass. It is our experi- ence, that they will give just about so much for the honey; and every thing we do to raise the price comes out of us. There are two things we must not lose sight of: 1. Honey is not a necessity, consequently we must tempt people to buy; 3. We must put the honey in the market in an attractive form and with the least expense possible. It is impossible to please every- body. There is a class that would not be satisfied if we gave them the goods. They would soon want us to give them something for taking them. And there is another class that know when they find a good thing. This is the class that make our best customers. I wonder if there are any others that think as I do. W. M. Cornelius. Lafayetteville, N. Y., March 38, 1888. Friend C, if I understand your figures correctly, I do not believe I should want that $1.7-4. You do, however, make an ex- cellent point in favor of using the jelly- tumbler in eveiy-day use ; but I think I should prefer to put it in this way : Have both honey in bulk and lioney in tumblers for sale. When a customer asks how much a pound, tell him 14 cts., if he furnishes a package. Then explain to him that he can have a tumbler filled, already put up, for 14 cents, but there is not quite a pound. This makes the transaction perfectly fair ; and I think nine people out of ten would take the tumbler. Another thing, if all the tumblers used by dilferent salesmen are alike, there is not much chance of cheating by having different prices. That is, we can have an established price, raised and lowered accord- ing to demand and supply, for a tumbler of honey. The fact that a tumbler is always convenient to liave in the house, rather places it ahead of a bottle or jar ; for a tumbler is more called for than a bottle. Is it not so ? The bottle has the advantage, however, of being more compact, and of be- ing a neater shape to put in your pocket or to pack in a valise ; and T believe it is a little more secure, as a general thing. Even if the tumbler be sealed up with wax by the plan already given, a blow or punch in the tin so as to dent or bruise it will probably loosen the sealing. BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. VOLUME II.— PRACTICAL. BY FRANK R. CHESHIRE, F. L. S., F. R. M. S. fHE work bearing the title as above is before us. It contains 650 pages, beautifully printed on a fine quality of paper. Almost the first thing that strikes one in glancing through the work is the beauty and finish of the cuts. The engravings, with hardly an exception, we should judge are original with the author. It is doubtles for this reason that the pictures are so accurate, even to the 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 295 minutest details. Scarcely a print of a "■ bor- rowed electrotype'' will be found in tlie whole work. It seems to be getting to be a fashion among authors and editors nowadays to borrow or purchase electrotypes of engrav- ings which have appeared and reappeared in other books and periodicals. This prac- tice is carried to such an extent that the en- gravings are often ill adapted to the read- ing-matter which they accompany. The character of the volume now before us is pre-eminently international. Its au- thor has drawn from the best ideas and re- searches from all parts of the world. The book is nearly as much American as it is English. It refers to American inventions frequently, and speaks of American writers and bee-keepers as familiarly as though they were residents of England. The first chapter is headed, " Bees Under Proper Control." The author considers some of the causes wliich make bees cross. While upon this subject he takes occasion to disagree with the statement made by father Langstroth, that a honey-bee, filled with honey, never volunteers an attack, but acts solely on the defensive. He says, '' 1 have been fiercely stung by bees darting from a hanging swarm, to which I have offered no kind of violence; and frequent dissections of bees which have volunteered an attack have shown that these are very generally full of honey, while empty ones are more submissive. . . . Their gorging is the result of their submission, and not the converse." In support of his position he quotes Mr. Ileddon. Mr. Cheshire discusses and illustrates only two smokers — the Clark and Bingham (both American). lie gives some very fine pic- tiu'es of cross-section views. The inside and outside workings of the smokers are ap- parent at once from the engravings, and the whole is made perfectly clear by the de- scriptions which accompany them. He concludes by saying," Both smokers are ex- ceedingly effective : but in consequence of the sooty accumulations in the Clark (which difficulty we think we have now removed), he gives his preference rather in favor of the Bingham. SUBSTITUTES FOR SMOKE. While on this subject, mention is made of the application of carbolic acid, administered to the bees either in the form of a spray or in f nines from the fumigator. The Rev. G. Rayner, of England, uses a solution made as follows : U oz. Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acid; H oz. glycerine ; one quart of warm water. The ingredients are to be well mixed, and the liquids should be well shaken be- fore being used. Mr. Rayner dips a large feather or large brush into the liquid, and sprinkles it upon the bees. We have tried this at the "• Home of the Honey-Bees," or, at least, the clear carbolic acid diluted, and have found it to be quite effective, though not, in our opinion, as good as a- smoker. We have used a spray-atomizer, and found this to be somewhat better. Instead of using the smoker, we have employed an atomizer with very good success in making examina- tions of diseased colonies. A spray or two will cause the bees immediately to go down between the frames. We have even made the bees boil out of the hives, so offensive is the acid to them. Further mention is made of the Webster fumigator, of which we made a report some time ago. It is suggested that crude creo- sote will make a common smoker much more effective, if a few drops of the latter be poured on the burning fuel, and that the worst Cyprians will succumb to its influ- ence. Chapter 2 considers hives for bees ; and Chapter 3 speaks of hives for bee-keepers. It is to be observed, as Mr. Hutchinson re- marks, that Mr. Cheshire makes a distinc- tion between the former and the latter. In Chapter 3 the origin of movable frames is taken up. Huber's leaf hive is illustrated by another fine engraving. It was simply a series of frames without projecting corners, hinged on their back, so as to open like the leaves of a book. Huber also fixed a small comb on the under side of each frame. After giving a quotation from the inventor of this hive in reference to this leaf hive, Mr. Cheshire says : " From this we gather that, practically, the frame hive has been in use for more than a hundred yea^i'S. But we must not omit to note that Huber made his hive of practical service, foreshadowing many present methods ; e. (/., swarming his bees artificially by simple "division of the colony. . . . The main defect in Huber's hive, the inevitable destruction of bee-life in closing it after examination, re- mained for a considerable period unremedied until Dr. Dzierzon, of Carlsmarkt, invented, in 1838, and made public in 1845, frames to hang within a box or hive-body, which was manipulated from its side, made to open like a door. In 1851, Langstroth, quite in- dependently of Dzierzon, introduced very similar frames, which he, unlike Dzierzon. manipulated from above, making his roof movable, and thus securing far greater fa- cility of handling, and giving possibilities of management of which the Dzierzon hive was incapable. Although second in order of time, the superiority of his method has commanded for Langstroth first place in connection with the matter." Further on is illustrated and described the Carr-Stewarton hive — the hive which has been compared, recently, as being sim- ilar, in some respects, to the Heddon. In- deed, Mr. Cheshire himself says, that the present Carr-Stewarton hive, with some slight modifications, would make "a very fair imitation of the Heddon hive." In the fol- lowing pages some of the best English hives are described. Before introducing the Hed- don hive a very good illustration of the Bingham hive, together with a description, is made. Of this we made mention some- thing over a year ago. Following this are some very accurate engravings, showing the Heddon hive itself, also transverse and liorizontal sectional views, accompanied with a minute description. Mr. Cheshire says, " The principle of allowing a half bee- space above and below, in each horizontal section of the hive, so that the needed S in. and no more is given in any possible com- bination, is a salient and new feature of the 204 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. lleddon." He, however, does not like the closed ends to the frames, ur^ng, as a reason, that in connection with the thumb- screw they will be subject to more or less shrinkage and swelling, especially in the moist climate of England. In proof of this he cites a case where the Heddon closed end frames, from shrinkage, have actually dropped down , so as to close up the bee- space between the two sections ; and that in a climate less subject to change. He sug- gests, as an improvement, Hooker's frame- corners, made of metal. In conclusion, he remarks as follows in regard to the Heddon hive: " It would be both unphilosophical and unfair thus to dismiss the Heddon with- out noting that it has called our attention to some points of great moment ; and that it has, also, interwoven with old plans, novel methods which will hereafter make their mark." The author remarks further, and wliich seems to be characteristic of the book : '• It is narrowness, not patriotism, that would deny to one of another country his full meed of praise." Mr. Cheshire thinks it an advantage to have the closed-end frames in the Heddon spaced a full H inch instead of If. He says the former spacing (adopted by D. A. Jones) resulted somewhat apparently to Mr. Jones's surprise, in the building of worker-cells to the exclusion of drone-cells. No doubt this would have the effect ; and we should judge this would be quite an advantage in secur- ing comb honey by the Hutchinson plan. Some of our readers will remember, that one difficulty encountered in working for comb honey on empty frames with only starters is the building of drone-brood. Won't Mr. Jones's spacing somewhat correct this V There are many other things that we should like to notice, but our space is too limited to do it in the present issue. We will therefore reserve the rest until our next. SECTIONS MADE OUT OF SHAVINGS. FRIEND HARMER'S INVENTION. R. EDITOR:— Your publication and illustra- tion of W. Harmer's shaving section ap- pears to me like the thing- which is to sup- ply a long-felt want among bee-men. I am but a novice in the business, but have a proposition to offer; to wit, T will be one of one thousand or one of one hundred, or even of ten, who wish to adopt the invention, to deposit one dollar with the editor of Gleanings, for the use of the inventor, which shall be considered as payment for the royalty. Friend Harmer has, through the enterprise of Gleanings, given us the shaving idea, and the method of constructing the sections. A test In his hands has demonstrated it to be a suc- cess, both in their adaptation to the purpose de- signed, and the preference given by the pviblic to purchase small lot's of honey, easily and cleanly handled. Is not the inventor as clearly entitled to a royalty from those who adopt his invention as if it were covered by letters-patent from the United States? Herein is my dollar deposit. I wish he had advised a better kind of wood out of which to make shavings. John Cadwallader. North Vernon, Ind., April .5, 1888, \ Many thanks, old friend. We gladly ac- cept the dollar, and place it to friend Har- mer's credit. Perhaps I should say that I have already given him ten dollars for hia ideas and his article ; and if any of the rest of you feel like rewarding him for his exper- iments and labor, you can send the money directlv to him, and we will, if you wish, print the names of those contributing. By looking at some of the little sections now standing on my table, I see they are made of pine shavings. They are so solid and substantial that, by wrapping them up in a little paper, you can easily carry them safe- ly in your coat-pocket. I think it is surely a step in the right direction, to hand over something to these friends who have made valuable contributions to our industry. Friend Harmer is not very well off in this world's goods ; and whatever is given him will not only give him timely help, but will make him feel kindly toward his fellow-men. Here is something from friend Harmer himself in regard to these small sections, and some other matters : I wish to thank you very much for the trouble and time you have taken. I know you will be will- ing to make two or three corrections in your next number. One is, that the foundation is not glued in, and the gluing at the corners of the sections is done with the point of a darning-needle instead of a camel-hair brush. In regard to wintering my bees, which you spoke of, I would say that I winter my bees in a five- frame Langstroth box with loose top and bottom, which are light, easily carried, and take up very little room in the cellar, besides keeping the bees more compact. Ordinarily I find five frames filled with honey to be sufficient for a strong colony. I find that, if a colony in one of these boxes with five frames weighs 40 lbs. in October, it has plenty of stores until the next May; and I find these boxes very handy for building up colonies in. I put two on one stand, facing different ways. I use the eight-frame Heddon-Langstroth hives, with fixed bottom, which I find are large enough for this part of Michigan, by tiering up. As they are not in use in winter, it gives ample chance through the win- ter for being cleaned up and painted, which task I have just completed for this season. I do not want a tight bottom for wintering. This is one reason why I adopted this box, so by having one extra bottom I lift all my bees on to clean bottom-boards, about three times at intervals through the winter. This gives a good opportunity for knowing how the bees are getting along, and is very easily done. Walter Harmer. Manistee, Mich., Apr. 5, 1888. Thanks for your corrections, friend II.; but you do not even now tell us how you fasten in the foundation. Is it with melted wax ? I am still more interested in your small light boxes for carrying bees into the cellar ; and your idea of changing the bot- tom-boards occasionally while they are in the cellar, I like very much. Some may urge that it may be too much disturbance ; but your success this past winter is an ar- gument in their favor. This gets rid of the dead bees at different times during winters, and is not very much trouble either.— I agree with you, that five L. frames are suf- ficient for almost any colony. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 289 SONGS FOB BEE-KEEPERS. W. F. CLARKE RESPONDS TO MRS. AXTELL'S CALL. T THINK Mrs. Axtell's suggestion, that bee- ^ keepers ought to have some songs and music W relating to their occupation, a good one; and in "*■ response to her invitation, made to me by name, which I am too polite to decline, I have been courting the muses with the following results. First, a song suitable for home use, a social enter- tainment, or bee-keepers' convention. Second, a song that may "make the welkin ring "when the singers are busily at work in the apiary, for I be- lieve in singing at one's work, also in singing out of doors as well as indcors. In fact, music never sounds so well anywhere else as it does in the open air. Third, a song, or, perhaps, it may be more ap- propriately termed, a hymn, for use at conventions, where I think it is eminently proper that at least part of the singing be of the natui-e of worship. The first song is adapted to a sweet, simple air which used to be very common and popular in my young days, but, like many good old-fashioned At everj' worker's call, And nature's boundless held Gives ample scope for all. Chorus. Come, Come, Come! Come out of doors with me. The day is, bright and fair; The little busy bee Makes music in the air. 2 CoDie, Come, Come! Come to the busy hive; Hark to its cheerful hum ; With work and stir alive, The insects go and come. Along th' alighting-board Hurry their nimble feet. That quickly may be stored The precious liquid sweet. Chorus. "Come, Come, Cornel Come to the busy hive; Air: "COME TO THE SUNSET TREE." :>=:1: H3=d=i=^zb=:l— 3 ^ -# 3=t^ =J=4= t# hF=t:: Come, come, come, Come out of doors with me. The day Is bright and fair. The lit - tie busy bee f-^-^— * — * — *— F^ — ^ — ^-^F^ — j * * F' — '-'^^—h — ^-|*-F'=^1 Makesmu-sle in the air; Theflow'rs — * — *— F* — * — * — *— F^-g — d — — Makesmu-sle in the air; Theflow'rs their nee- tar yield. At ev ■ - ry worker'scall; [:d=:i And na - ture's boundless field, Gives am - pie scope for all. Come, come, come, Come out of doors ^^^^m^^i^3^^m=^i^^^^^^ with me. The day is bright and fair. The lit - tie busy bee. Makes mu-sic in the air. tunes, has gone out of vogue— so much so that 1 can not find a copy of the notes at any music or book store in this city. I have no doubt that in such a well-appointed printing-office as the one at the " Home of ^the Honey-Bees," there is a font of music type, so I have recalled the air from the archives of memory, and send herewith the score, not executed very professionally, I am afraid, for I am not a scientific musician, but I think any com- positor who understands setting music type can make a readable job of it, so that Mrs. Axtell can go right to her parlor organ, when she gets the number of Gleanings containing it, and try the song with- out delay. the BEE-klEEPEB'S SONG. 1. Come, Come, Come! Come out of doors with me. The day is bright and fair. The little busy bee Makes music in the air; The flowers their nectar yield, Hark to its cheerful hum; With work and stir alive. The insects go and come. 3. Come, Come, Come I Hear what the toilers say: " Let us improve each hour. And lose no time iniplay, But put forth every power. Soon will the'season pass; Our harvest time is brief; Winter ere long, alas! Will nip each flower and leaf. Come, Come, Come ! Let us improve each hour, Of every summer day. Exert our utmost power And lose no time in play." 4. Come, Come, Come! And see the merry swarm Rising in the air; 298 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. Behold the cluster form Upon the tree-branch there. Set the new hive in place. Gather the pendent mass, Presto! with rapid pace, Into their home they pass! Chorus. Come, Come, Come! And see the merry swarm Rising- in the air; Behold the cluster form Upon the tree-branch there. 5. Come, Come, Come! Winter is here at last! Over the dreary scene A fleecy robe is cast. White with its glistening sheen. The bees are fast asleep, CliiSped in each other's arms; And their long vigil keep, Secure from all alarms. Choius. Come, Come, Come! Behold the bees asleep. Clasped in each other's arms. And calm their vigil keep, ' Secure from all alarms! The second song is not set to any particular tune, though I think there is one with the title, "Cheer, Boys, Cheer! " But I do not know the words of it, and doubt if my ditty would fit. Perhaps Mrs. Axtell, Dr. Miller, or some other member of the fraternity or sisterhood of bee-keepers can find or make a tune for it, if it is thought worthy of being wedded to music. A SONG FOR THE HONEY-HARVEST. 1. Cheer, boys, cheer! the bright honey rolls in; Idleness now were a shame and a sin; The bees are doing their " level best," And working without a moment's rest. 3. The fields are pui-pled with clover bloom; Give every hive lots of storage room; The linden-blossoms will soon be here- Honey is blooming— so, cheer, boys, cheer! 3. Early and late do the workers fly. So help them along, and " mind your eye; " Never heed a painful sting or two. But do whatever there is to do. 4. Hive the big swarms and set them to work. For never a bee will strike or shirk; The brief honey-harvest now is here. So, "work with a will," and cheer, boys, cheer! The third song or hymn, intended for use at con- ventions, will go to " Old Hundred " or any long- meter tune that may be thought most appi-opriate, and closes with the familiar doxology, which was joined in right heartily at the close of the Cleve- land bee-keepers' convention some years ago. A SONO OR HYMN FOR BEE-KEEPERS* CONVENTIONS. 1. Once more we in convention meet And cheerfully each other greet, Thankful to that almighty Power Which has preserved us to this hour. We worship at the lofty shrine Where Wisdom dwells, and Love divine. Whose wondrous traces plain we see When working with the busy bee. 3. Like bees, may we our part fulfill. Obedient to the perfect Will; Wisely spend life's little day. And then, contented, pass away. 4. We would some hoard of sweetness store, Of value when our life is o'er, That those whom we may leave behind May cause to bless our memories find. 5. Love and good fellowship be here, Our weary, wistful hearts to cheer. With wisdom, which shall help us on, When we back to our homes are gone. 6. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Wm. F. Clarke. St. Thomas, Ont., March 13, 1888. FOUL BROOD. SALT FOR ENTRANCES i'OR KEEPING DOWN VEGE- TATION. AM sorry to say, I am badly discouraged. The first of the winter I had 26 colonies; 31 were in good condition. I have lost 15 up to date, all by foul brood, and I may lose 3 more. I have sprayed them with a solution of carbolic acid. I believe it prevents its spread, but does not cure. I fear I shall lose all. I have become so discourag- ed that sometimes I think of packing all the hives, bees, and honey together, and put plenty of wood around them and burn them up and start anew; but, on the other hand, I hate to do it. Could I put salt on the ground around the hives and prevent grass and weeds from growing around the hives? About how much salt would it take and not kill the soil? J. J. Keith. Louisville, Ga., Mar. 36, 1888. Carbolic acid alone will not cure foul brood, according to our experience, and we have tested it pretty thoroughly. As you say, it does prevent its spread, and should be used in connection with the starvation plan. We don't think any thing will do but to scald the hives, l)urn up the combs, and allow the bees to remain without food for 48 hours or such a matter. We have felt tempted sometimes to burn all the in- fected colonies. The starvation plan, how- ever, will answer, and save considerable ex- pense besides.— Salt will keep the weeds down in front of the entrances, and around the edges of the hives. About half a hand- ful in front of the entrance will be suffi- cient, and the rest can be sprinkled around the hive if you desire to keep the weeds from it entirely. Soon after the first rain you will find the grass turning brown. In a few days more, scarcely any vestige of vegetation will be left wliere the salt was sprinkled. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 291 A NEBRASKA HONEY-EXHIBIT. WHAT A WOMAN CAN DO IN THIS LINE. K. KOOT:— This cut represents an exhibit of honey and apiarian supplies made by Mrs. J. 'N. Heater, at the Nebraslia State Fair, held at Lincoln in the fall of 1887. The exhibit of honey occupied a side table four feet wide and twenty feet long. On the cen- ter of the table, and against the wall, was placed a half-round cone-shaped stand, six feet in diameter and seven shelves hig-h, the height of each shelf be- ing the same as the height of a shipping-case. Around the lower shelf, and extending thirty inches to each side, was a facing of the Jones 6-lb. honey-labels, forming a base. On either side of the stand, and meeting over it, were shipping cases flll- the honey, were hung partly to full drawn brood combs in which had been used starters to full sheets of foundation, taken from colonies in differ- ent conditions, showing where drone or worker comb will be built when not furnished with full sheets of foundation. To the right, on the floor is placed a single-wall and a chaff hive, with fixtures complete, to show the manner in which the brood-chamber and sur- plus arrangements are manipulated. The chaff hive was awarded a meritorious premium, not hav- ing been entered for a premium. To the left, but not shown in the cut, was the dis- play of bees, queens, drones, and the different im- plements].used in the apiary, consisting of comb foundation, smokers, honey-knives, sections, drone- traps, foundation-fasteners, bee- veils, etc. Of this MKS. .1. N. HKATKlt'S H()N10V-K.\ ed with sections of comb honej-, one end of the case resting on the shelf and the other on the case be- low. On top of all this was a glass case containing one brood-frame of sealed honey, showing where and how the extracted honey is obtained. On the outer ends of each shipping-case, which also form- ed steps, was placed a section of honey in those neat paper packages ready for the customer. Tin pails of extracted honey, neatly labeled, and rang- ing in size from one pint to two quarts, were taste- fully arranged on the ends of the base at each side. Extracted honey in glass pails and jars was placed on the shelves of the stand. A jar of honey vine- gar, clear as water, may be seen at the left of the stand; on the right, an easel holding a picture of Eureka Apiary in winter quarters, and a column of golden wax supporting flags of foundation on ei- ther side. A number of periodicals and books on bee culture, with samples of labels, lay on the ta- ble in front.SiOn the wall, on each side and above Hllill, \r LINCOLN. NKKHASKA. portion of the exhibit, the glass ease holding one frame of brood in all stages, and covered with bees, a queen-cage containing a (jueen and her attend- ants as prepared for shipping, and an Alley drone- trap filled with drones as caught from the hive, at- tracted the most attention from the crowd which continually thronged that corner of Horticultural Hall. Those living illustrations awakened more interest than a whole book explaining them would have done. In front of the table, and on the floor, was placed the Novice honey-extractor, which re- ceived the widest range of comments of any thing in the exhibit, being called every thing from a churn to a washing-machine. The Lincoln Daily State Journal gave the following notice of this dis- play at the time: "This exhibit by Mrs. J. N. Heater, of Columbus, Neb., consists of comb and extracted honey, wax, implements, and apiarian supplies. It is tastefully arranged, striking in appearance, and is admitted by all judges to be the best ever made in the State. 292 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. Various articles of the display were awarded tlrst premiums; and the jfcneral verdict of all is, that as a bee-keeper Mrs. Heater has no equal in Nebraska. She has studied the science for years, and has em- barked in the enterprise in a purely business man- ner. Such an exhibit as this is the best means of Retting before the people the fact that, for bee- keeping, the natural resources of Nebraska are among the foremost of those of any of the States of the Union."— LivcoUi Daily State Jownal. We congratulate our Nebraska friends on having so enterprising and go-ahead woman as Mrs. Heater ; and we hope her example may prove contagious. The photograph she sends us gave so many ideas in regard to arranging and getting up an exhibit for fairs, Tliat we tlioiigiit it best to have it en- graved. No wonder that people flocked around her exliibit and asked questions. If she stood at her post and answered them all, I am inclined to think that she decided, be- fore the fair was over, that it was harder work than managing a large apiary. We should be very glad indeed to get further communications from the lady in regard to the honey-yield in Nebraska, and of the way in whicli she manages. We will ex- plain to onr readers, that Mrs. Heater is al- so a snpply-dealer, and she will no doubt be glad to send her price list to all who are curious in regard to her ways of working, and of her success in bee culture. SECTIONS WITH SLOTTED SIDES. ARE SECTIONS WITH OPEN SIDES AS WELL AS TOPS AND BOTTOMS GOING TO BE ADOPTED? fHE advantage of openings to allow communi- cations between sections laterally, arises from the fact that the more free the com- munications the more nearly we approach the condition of having the bees all in one mass. It is pretty well established, that a very small body of bees isolated, can accomplish but lit- tle. One hundred colonies, or, rather, nuclei, hav- ing one hundred workers each, would not accom- plish as much in the course of a season as a single colony made by uniting the hundred. In the days when holes were bored in the tops of hives, and surplus boxes placed over, a 20-pound box was filled in not so much. greater time than a 5-pound box. A large cluster is needed to keep up the heat. Take a T super a foot wide, and let us see what are the conditions. With sections having no opening at the sides, six of them placed side by side make a box. at least a cavity, 4X4X13 inches. Now put in separators, and we have the space cut up into six smaller ones, each 4X4X2. Now, if there was a recognizable difference between the work done in 20-lb. and in 6-lb. boxes, will there not be a serious loss in shutting up bees in 1-lb. boxes? But it is not always safe to reason in this way. On actual trial, I think the bees have shown no such difference. If we look a little closer we shall see that the conditions in the two cases are not alike. The 20-lb. box was a thing by itself, as was the 6-lb.; and it is not improbable that the working difference in the two cases arose from the fact that propor- tionately fewer bees were in the outer and colder part of the cluster in the 20-lb. than in the 6-lb. box. Tn other words, dividing them up into small clus- ters made the bees colder. But in the 1-lb. boxes or sections we have quite a ditterent state of affairs. Suppose we turn our attention for a minute to one of the central sections in a super having separators and no slots in the sides of the sections. Let us take away the wood from the sides of the section, making slots there. Have we thereby made that section any warmer? Hardly. What have we gain- ed by the slots? We have given free communica- tion from side to side. But what advantage is there in side communication? There is free pas- sage up and down for all the bees that can work in the section, and what will be gained by giving the bees a chance to travel further bj^ a circuitous route? Of course there is a chance that I may be wrong, that I have left out some important factor in the problem; but just as it looks to me now, the slots add nothing to the heat of the cluster, and give no freer access to the sections. FOSTER'S SUPERS. A correspondent asks me to give my opinion of Oliver Foster's system as compared with raising comb honey in T supers. It is not easy, always, to make a fair comparison between two things, if I am very familiar with the workings of one and have only read about the other. I will try, how- ever, to answer as fairly as I can from my stand- point. My correspondent mentions two advan- tages over the T super that appear to him in Fos- ter's arrangement. " First, Foster's case allows the use of side open- ings to sections, which I think must be a decided improvement." So does the T super allow it just as well. I tried sections with side slots two or three years ago, and in practice did not find the advan- tages claimed for them theroretically, so I gave them up, not because the T super was not suited to their use, but because I did not consider them de- sirable—at least not in my hands. The second supposed advantage is the absence of bee-space between the honey-board and sections. I suppose the T super could be made to sit directly on the honey-board without a bee-space between; and although some like this, I think the majority of bee-keepers do not. T know that I kill more bees than I like with nothing but the edges of the supers touching, and the difficulty would be increased by dispensing with bee-spaces. I have no doubt that, taken as a whole, friend Foster's appliances in his hands are a success. I like the T super because it is cheap, simple, and easy to handle. The matter of cheapness would not matter so much if I were sure I would not change again, for a well - made super ought to last a number of years. But judging by the past I have no assurance that something quite different and very much better may not come up within a few years, for which the T super shall be thrown aside. C. C. Miller. Marengo, 111. Friend Miller, I believe I pretty nearly agree with you. There is no super before our people that combines all the advantages we could ask for. Now, I hope our inventive friends will not send us by express a great lot more for us to pass an opinion on. In fact, so many have been sent in already that I dread to see a new one. One reason why I dread to see them is because the greater part of them are too much machinery. We must have something simple, tight, and strong. Another thing is, almost every thing that is sent in we have seen before, arid sometimes 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 293 the same thing is sent in a great many times. One objection to the T super for open-side sections is, that it brings the sides of the sections a little way apart, and the bees will be sure to stick propolis clear round, which causes them a great amount of labor, and, worse still, the bee-keeper has a tremendous task before him to scrape this propolis all off again. Friend Foster's arrangement reme- dies this, 1 believe ; but his case is a good deal of machinery, and I am afraid it would not be tolerated by the average bee-man. May be I am mistaken. I hope I am, any way. The T super seems at present to be the simplest and best adapted to the general bee-keeping public. We are now very anxious to get reports in regard to the prac- tical workings of open-side sections and tlie other kind. We want leports from those who have tried them side by side, expressly to see if the open-side section does give more honey in tlie same length of time. FALSE STATEMENTS IN REGARD TO THE HON- EY BUSINESS OF OUR COUNTRY. As a protection to our bee-keeping population, we propose in this department to publish the names of newspapers that per- sist in publishing false statements in regard to the purity o( honey which we as bee-keepers put on the market. ^^ETE had fondly hoped that this depart- iXmiii nient could be dropped, as so many of the papers which had given place to these false reports had kindly and fairly corrected the wrong imipres- sions, at least so far as a wrong statement can be corrected. It seems, however, tliat the disease is breaking out again, and veiy likely nothingbut eternal vigihmce will keep it down. See what our friend below sug- gests : Mr. Root:— Plea.se permit me to make the follow- ing- suggestion: Print on a small card the history of the Wiley lie in regard to artificial comb honey. On the same card make an offer of a sum of money (which ItJniik yon did in Gr.EANiNGs), to anyone who will direct you to a place where such honey is artificially made. Give bank reference. Sell these cards to us (those who hate misrepresentation); and when we hear a person make the statement that comb honey is made by machinery, we can hand him your card and that will " settle " him. Within a week I have heard the statement about arti- ficial comb honey three times, each time by a (to me) stranger. One party making such a statement was a Johnstown commission man, who told another person within my hearing that he had sold " tons" of such honey. I should be pleased to hand him the card suggested. Geo. M. Wektz. Johnstown, Pa., Jan. 2.5, 1888. I believe you have hit it exactly, friend W. I somewhat dislike to offer sinns of money ; but in this case it seems as if noth- ing short of a statement, backed by some responsible man, would answer the purpose. I do not believe, however, that I would notice the Wiley falsehood enough to give it publicity. Suppose we print a card some- thing like the following : TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. In view of the false and damaging statements to the honey-business, in regard to making comb honey by machinery, etc., I have thought best to silence all such falsehoods as they come up, by the following offer: I will pay $1000 in cash to any per- son who will tell me where comb honey is manu- factured by machinery; or 1 will pay the same sum to any one who will find manufactured comb honey on the market, for sale. I am as safe in making this offer, dear friends, as I should be if it were straw- berries or hens' eggs. It never has been done, and it never will be done. If you wish to know whether I am responsible for the above amount or not, go to any bank and ask them to quote my standing in Dun's or IJradstreet's Commercial Agency, or write to the First National Bank of Medina. A. [. Root, Editor of Oleaniriijs in Bee Culture, Medina, O. Instead of charging for these cards, we will furnish just as many of them to any bee- keeper or anybody else as he can make use of ; and may be a prompt refutation of these scandalous falsehoods, keeping them in pub- lic, as it were, may not only have the effect of putting down" this lie, but perhaps we may induce our traveling friends who are so fond of making people stare, to conclude that telling lies is dangerous business in this present progressive age of the world. Here is something from another friend : 4. J. Roof.— My bees are much discouraged since reading an article on bogus honey, in the Orocers' Vindicator. Ivast season was a poor one, and was very discouraging to them; but the article below caps the climax, and crowns all. I put 94 colonies in winter quarters, and up to this time I have not lost a colony; but from this on my home will be in Blasted Hopes. J. F. Michael. German, O., Feb. 39, 1888. Below is the clipping referred to, from the Grocers^ Vindicator, published semi-monthly at 25 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111.: adulterated honey. The experts ai'e in the " hone.v-humbug business," of which fact, perhaps, some of our readers are not aware; but for a long time there has been coml) honey on the market which looks very fine and in- viting, but it contains very little of the pure honey. It does seem strange that an article like honey should be allowed to be meddled with and so com- pletely adulterated as to contain but a portion of the i-cal honey; but such is the case, and to that extent that we would say to our readers that it is hardly safe to e.xpect the pure honey from almost any source. The following is interesting; read it: "I never saw honey look like that," remarked a reporter, who had ordered toast and honey for his breakfast. I " never saw a honey-comb look so white or so uniform." "Well, sir," replied the waiter, " I'll lot you into the secret. That is manu- factured honey. The comb is manufactured now of a white wax. Molds are made to the shape and size required, and the heated wax is poured in and becomes an imitation honey-comb. A piece of this comb is placed in the jar, and the syrup poured in. They can't make a good imitation, though; nearly every one who calls for honey detects the imitation. The wax is whiter, and then it is unpleasant if it should get into the mouth. It is much cheaper thac real comb honey, and sometimes the supply of honey runs short, and the manufactured honey has to be used." Now, friends of the Vindicator, inasmuch as you have done quite a little damage to innocent men by heedlessly giving publicity to falsehood, will you not do your best to promptly retract itV In regard to your concluding item, I would call your attention to the fact that, during the recent short crop, in consequence of nigh prices manu- 294 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. Apr. factuiers of the bogus article which you presume exists did not take advantage of the state of affairs and run their machinery night and day. The editor of the American Bee Journal, of your own city, called atten- tion to this fact : When the pure article furnished by nature could not be brought forward, would it not seem rational that such a time would be j ast tlie time for a harvest for the manufacturers ? Here is the same item sent in by another friend, clipped from the Mail and Express, of JMew York : Mr. Root .-—On page 907, Gleanings for 1887, you are reported as having said that " comb honey can not be made by men, but only by bees." It seems from the clipping inclosed that there is a mistake somewhere. Where is it? H. A. Huntington. Poquonock, Ct., Feb. 31, 1888. Friend H., the mistake is in the falsehood your printed slip tells. The slander on our industry has been refuted, and the refuta- tion published over and over again ; but it seems that it is destined to continually crop out. In the same line we find in the Health Jour- nal and Temperance Advocate, of Oakland, Cal., the following, extracted from Good Housekeeping : Some curious facts were revealed by the packers of canned goods in private conversation. " You would not think the parings and cores of apples of any use, would you? "' said one of the packers to a friend. He then continued: "Well, a fruit-pack- ing establishment makes use of every thing, like the pork-packing factories, which save every thing ex- cept the pig's grunt. When we are packing and drying apples we have tons and tons of parings and cores. These we sell to the makers of jelly. All kinds of jellies are made of the material. Every bit of it is apple with some essence in it. But that is not the sole use of apple-parings. Occasionally we keep them so long that they can not be converted into jelly. Then we sell them to the makers of strained honey. All the ' strained honey ' that you see in the market is made of it." Now, it is possible that some sort of jelly may be made from stale apple-parings ; but it is not possible that all or any of the strain- ed honey on the market is made in this way ; and it is a shame that papers like Good Housekeeping and the Temperance Advocate should allow such statements to go out in their pages. Is it possible, friends, that you know nothing of the recent developments in the way of bee-keeping, especially in California ? The liquid honey to be found in our markets comprises /mncZy-eds 0/ tons; and it is just as pure and wholesome as the barrels of Hour that fill our stores and ware- houses. If you are friends of the truth (and we suppose you are, being publishers of such journals) we hope you will make some apol- ogy for such a statement as the above — that " all the strained honey we see in the market is made of stale apple cores and parings." Wliat are your readers to suppose the world is coming to ? and what will journalism come to ii^ you continue to place before your readers such absurd falsehoods ? If it was through carelessness and inadver- tence that the above was allowed to go into print, will you not have the kindness to so state it, that you may undo, so far as pos- sible, the wrong you have done? MANUFACTURED (?) COMB, ETC. SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS FROM M. H. TWEED. HO is responsible for the very general be- lief in the cities, that comb honey as well as extracted is adulterated? I answer: 1. The want of general information of a re- liable character about the manufacture and use of foundation comb; 3. One bee-keeper uses foundation; his neighbor does not; and when the latter goes to sell his crop he says this other man uses manufactured comb, but he does not. For example, I noticed recently a large label on the outside of a case of comb honey, as follows: " Pure honey. 1 guarantee this honey to be absolutely pure, and gathered by the bees directly from the flowers of the field. C. M. Gibbons, Winchester, Va." Now, does not that plainly say, "All the comb honey you see is not necessarily pure? 1 give you pure honey, but all bee-keepers do not." Last year a bee-man in this vicinity went to some of my customers and told them that my honey was manu- factured comb, and his was not; that most of the bee-men had got to cheating the people now by having the comb made. H. The general desire of traveling salesmen to appear smart. A case in point will illustrate what I mean: A short time ago a drummer, traveling for a Balti- more fish-house, was standing in a store as I was delivering honey in glasses, comb and extracted to- gether. He picked up a glass and asked if it was pure, with the air of a man who thought that he knew it was not, but simply wished to see if 1 would tell a lie about it. I answered him that it was pure, and asked if there was such a thing as manufactur- ed comb honey. He looked at me as though he thought I was a fool to ask such a question, as he replied, "Certainly they do." I said, " My friend, have you seen it made?" " Yes, sir," he replied. I then said to him, " I am glad I have met you, for I have heard that story about manufactured comb for several years past, but you are the first man I have come across who has seen it done. Now, where did you see it made?" "Out in Ohio," was his answer. "Ohio! that's a big place. Where did you see it made there?" He replied with some hesitation, "On the West- ern Reserve." I said, " That is a big place too; where did you see it made on the Western Reserve?" With a great deal less confidence he replied, "In Orrville." "Orrville?" I said, "that small country town? I have been there; who makes it there?" Being fairly cornered, he replied, " Well, there was a man told me he saw it made there." Now, you see had I not cornered him he would have explained to the grocer all about how the comb was manufaclured. You will easily see that his knowledge came simply through some man in Orrville having been seen making foundation comb; and by the time two or three smart fellows repeat it, the cells are completed, filled, and capped. A WORD IN B'AVOR OP THE MUCH-ABUSED EXPRESS COMPANIES. Are you sure you are right when you say they are solely responsible for the large percentage of broken honey in the market for several years past? 1 know they handle more than honey care 1888 GLEANli^GS IN BI:E CULttJRE. 295 lessly in many cases; but let us see if the man who ships the honey may not in some cases be to blame in the matter. Have you ever thought how much more securely the bee fastens the center of the comb, when you leave the building: of it all to him- self, than the average bee-keeper sticks in his sheet or starter? Now, a bee-man who packs in the cen- ter of each case thi-ee or four combs not filled out and fastened only at the top, and that a piece of foundation merely stuck in, and then expects the express company to carry it without breakage, is a very unreasonable man. Another evil is, frames poorly put together. These two causes are doing much toward making the one-pound comb unpopu- lar. CANDIED HONEY. In last GiiEANiNGS I notice a wide diversity of opinion about the candying of honey. Last year at this time I could go to a commission house and find plenty of honey not candied. I can not do that to- day, unless I may find a little blue thistle from Vir- ginia. The i-eason of that is, that the clover in this section being a failure last season there is scarcely anything in the market but linden, and you can not find a pound of that not candied to some extent at this season of the year. Then, again, I have a lot of white sage from California which was ship- ped to Boston, and from there here, which has been exposed to the cold on the way and while here, and it shows no sign of candying. Some years ago I got from a party in the Shenandoah Valley some blue- thistle honey which was not candied the next May; also some gathered from late fall flowers taken out of the same hives a month later than the other, which was candied solid in the comb before Janu- ary 1st. Then in extracted honey I have seen it two years old and not candied, and I have seen lin- den honey candied solid within three months from the time it was extracted. I think there is no ques- tion about one kind of honey, either in comb or ex- tracted candying much more readily than others. It may be, that an even temperature of 70 or 80° would prevent it; but how many of our bee-men keep their honey in that way? M. H. Tweed. Allegheny, Pa., March 8, 1888. Friend T., I agree with you about marking comb honey " Warranted Pure.'' I have seen it, too, and it always pains me. I do not believe 1 would put even the word " hon- ey''on it at all. If there is anybody who does not know what comb honey is when he sees it, it is certainly somebody who can neither read nor write. Simply say, " From the apiary of John Brown, Medina, Medina Co., O.," and let the contents of the case tell the rest of the story.— You are right in re- gard to traveling salesmen. This class of individuals do a great deal toward spreading information of all kinds; but, unfortunately, they are fearfully given to startling stories, to make people stare and wonder, without any regard as to whether the stories are true or not. You can easily make them back down, especially when they find you are at home on the subject. — I am glad to hear you take up a little on the side of the express companies. This matter of making secure packages is a very important one. Perhaps reversing will pay on this account alone, if no other, for it makes an absolutely sure thing of it, if the reversing is done at the right time. You remember what I said on page 843 about a crop of beautiful honey at- tached only to the top-bars of the sections. — I have been for years aware of the fact that some honey candies, and some does not ; and I think that the same kind of honey may be- have differently at different seasons, to some extent. THE GIVEN PRESS. DR. MASON SPEAKS SOME GOOD WORDS KOR IT. T HAVE been using a Given press for several mP years, and my experience with it leads me to ^t think more and more of it each year. I would not begin to exchange it for the best roller mill. I don't remember when I began to use wired frames, and I have used none but wired ones since I first began to use them, and I should be sorry to be obliged to do without them. When I began their use I put on the foundation by hand; and although it could be done very rapidly, oue thing was ex- ceedingly annoying; for I love to see straight combs. In pressing the wires into the foundation it was stretched a little by the pressure at each wire, and made the foundation wavy. I took a good deal of time straightening it, as the bees worked it out, but I have no such trouble with that made on the press. I think it is not possible to make as nice lookirm foundation on the press as can be made on a mill; but the septum can be made just as thin as on rol- lers. With rollers, only a certain amount of wax can pass through, making the side walls always of the same depth, but their depth on the press de- pends on the thickness of the sheet of wax; and as it is sometimes difficult to get the sheet of the same thickness throughout, the side walls are very apt to vary slightly; but as looks are not what we are after in foundation for the brood-chamber, that does not matter. I do not make foundation for sale; but some of my neighbors prefer the Given, and come to mo for it— some with and some without wired frames— not because it is more convenient, for there is a supply- dealer here who makes thousands of pounds of foundation each season. I can make the foundation right In the wired frames almost as rapidly as it can be made on the rollers, and then it is ready for the hives; so, taking into account the fastening in the roller foundation, the press is more rapid, and since I began to use the " washing fluid" on the die, of which 1 wrote in a previous number of Gleanings, it is " just but fun " to make foundation on the press. BEE-STING REMEDIES. In addition to what I said in Gleanings, p. 618, 1 should like to say that we have found oil of cloves a very good remedy. Mrs. Mason was stung a short time ago; and, not having any oil of cinnamon at hand, I applied oil of cloves, and it prevented savoII- ing entirely, and no soreness followed, as it ustmlly does on her; and yesterday our baby got stung on the fleshy part of the arm, and an immediate ap- plication of the oil prevented any swelling; but the arm was sore for some time after. To be of value, it seems that the application must be made almost immediately after the sting. It is not for ourselves —that is, bee-keepers— that we care for such reme- dies, but we don't like to see the members of our families, and our friends and visitors to the apiary, with cheeks and nose enlarged, or eyes swollen :29(] GLEANINGS IK UEB dlTLTUtlfe: Apr. shut, so that we can scarcely recognize them when suffering with pain. It is all right for friend Doo- little to " groan once or twice and dance a little," and for Mrs. Harrison to use "a wet-sheet pack; " but every one doeStl't enjoy such proceedings. THE NEW .7APANESE BUCKWHEAT. I got a fourth of a pound of you last spring, and sowed it on rather poor, sandy soil, and the yield is about six pounds. Of course, I can not tell how much honey it yielded, but it was a beautiful sight to see the bees "just flock" bil the blossoms. Sometimes two bees would attempt to explore the same blossom at the same time. I have seen more bees on the Clarkia and on the Chapman honey- plant, but never with the enthusiasm they showed on the buckwheat. I've just stood and laughed to see them go for it. No, I didn't lie down and laugh, for it is too much work to get up with my 230 pounds of " corporosity." I doubt not but the yield of buckwheat, honey, and laughter, would have been much greater had not the drought been so severe. BEES IN WINTER QUARTERS. As an experiment I put a few colonies of bees in winter quarters on the 19th of October, a few days after the first killing frost. Several years ago I reasoned that, if nitrogenous food produced diar- rhea in bees in winter, the lack of bee-bread in the hive would nrevent it, and practice has sustained the theory. Now, I thought that, if exercise wears out the bees and makes them consume more stores, putting them in winter quarters would prevent the wearing-out process, and save honey. What will be the result? We shall see. Another thing taken in- to consideration, is the alternating cold nights and days, and warm nights and warm days; and as the right temperature and proper food is the key to successful wintering, it seems to me it must be a saving to put " our pets " away for a good rest as soon as their season's work is done. The outdoor temperature has varied from 24 to 68° since the bees were put in the cellar, but the thermometer in the cellar has not been below 48° nor above .50. Auburndale, O., Nov. 3, 1887. A. B. Mason. I am very glad to know, doctor, that you still use and like the Given press. Hereto- fore it has transpired that those who suc- ceeded in making foundation on wires with the Given press used a smaller frame than the L. I want to have you tell us if you are talking about a full-sized L. frame when you give the Given press such praise.— On two accounts I am sorry you gave that remedy for bee-stings. The first is, that every man, woman, and child will want us to publish tJieir bee-sting remedy just because we let you publish yours; and 1 hope you will for- give me for saying that the second reason is, that I do not believe the cloves affected the sting a particle, one way or the other. Xow, do not be in a hurry to "talk back, but please remember, as I have told you so often before, that bee-stings generally get well anyhow, and the majority of them about as soon as they do when you apply your remedy. I supi)ose the reason you recommend applying it immediately is because it might get well before you got your bottle uncorked, if you did not hurry iip. Then, you know, there wouldnot l)e any chance to say the remedy did it.— I hope the Japanese Imckwheat will make you laugh still harder this year.— Xow, perliaps our readers will wonder what in the world you mean by giving a report about your l}ees in winter quarters, that was writ- ten away back November 8. The reason why your article was delayed so long— well, we aren't ready to tell just now why it was held ; but if the doctor will tell us how those few colonies put in the 19th of (Jctober are by this time, we shall know whether to take stock in his plan of putting them in so early or not. HEAD-WEAR IN THE APIARY, FOR WOMEN. SUGGESTIONS ON THE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF HATS AND BONNETS. K. ROOT:— The ladies' straw bonnet I meant to recommend for a bee-hat is not shaped at all like any Shaker bonnet that I have ever seen, and I used to wear them when I was young. It is far superior, in my esti- mation, because it flares a little from the back of the head, keeping the top of the head cool. Those of us who are troubled by overheating will find it invaluable, as well as those of us who wear our hair coiled upon the back of the head, to give room for the hair, which makes it feel comfortable on the head; besides it does not break and wear our hair off like a hat. I did not intend recommending its use for the wear of men, although I did mention Mr. Axtell liking to wear one so well, as he has the headache so much, and it keeps the head cooler than a hat. It does not bind around the head like a hat— a feel- ing that is very annoying to me when I am sweat- ing. I always want to keep pushing my hat up, so it will not fall down over my forehead, and that is one reason 1 do not like a hat. The bonnet keeps the forehead and top of the head cool, and does not flop around from side to aide, or down over the eyes either. The wire cloth naturally keeps pushing the hat up, even if we do pull it down around the head, unless the wire cloth is short; and if short it gives a feeling of smothering when it rises even with the mouth; and we women-folks (judging other women by myself and hired girls) much prefer wire cloth for a face-protector, as we get far less stings than when we wear brussels net. or any cloth face-protector. For gentlemen who have whiskers it is all right. Mr. A. likes brussels net, but we women get too many stings upon our noses, cheeks, and chins. I am afraid I should not like bee-keeping if I were obliged to wear brussels net, even on the back of my bee-hat, as the net clings to the neck so closely the bees sting through tar more often than through calico. The calico is sewed upon the back and sides of a bee-hat or bonnet. It also keeps one from getting so badly tanned. Another reason for liking the bonnet is, it does not rumple our hair so much as a hat, and this makes us feel very uncomfortable with our hair torn down over the eyes. Those who wear bangs would not be thus annoyed; but some of us middle- aged ladies can not think of making ourselves look so hideous as to cut off our front hair. When I am obliged to work with bees all day I find it a great comfort to roll the front of my hair under tightly, commencing where the hair is parted in front. It keeps the hair up much better than by ism GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 297 tying- it back by putting a ribbon around the head, or wearing- a round comb. The foregoing remarks are for those women and girls who have to stay outdoors with bees for days, weeks, and months, day after day, and who are seek- ing for comfort and health rather than to look well; yet the hat described, to my eye, makes one look better, because more comfortable than a floppy hat with one's hair in every direction. Another com- fort is a small handkerchief, or a cloth not much larger than the hand, tacked to the bottom of the bee-hat. To lift up the hat enough to get one's hand under, often lets one or more bees under, es- pecially when bees are so thick in the apiary it would look as if one could hardly help breathing them, as it often looks in our apiary. Mrs. L. C. Axtei^l. Roseville, Ills., Feb. 21, 1888. My good friend Mrs. A., you have struck upon an extremely interesting and practical question. I presume that you and your help- ers have got hold of the very best tiling for the purpose, especially for women. You do not mention, however, our cheap cool hat which we sell expressly for holding veils away from the nose and face. We never think of letting our brussels-net veils come against the neck or the face, for we know by experience that it does not answer at all. Now, can you not give us a photograph of the bonnet you mention, rigged exactly as you would have it for working among the bees? No doubt it would prove a great help to many of the sisters, and may be some of the brethren, who, like your good husband, don't care very much how they look, so they can work with comfort. Teil us where you get the bonnets, and what they cost. NO BEE-FEEDER NEEDED. A NOVELTY IN THE BEE-FEEDING OF THB TAR-HEEL BEES WITH A FORCE-PUMP. fRTENDS:— Having occasion to do considerable feeding again this spring, and desiring to do it speedily too, for several reasons, I puzzled my brain for some time to invent some means of at once putting the sugar syrup within reach of the bees, without the tedious and necessary anxiety of watching, together with the necessary labor of repeated filling of feeders. As a result I decided to ti-j- my Lewis combination hand force- pump, to fill the empty combs with the sugar syrup. I had often filled them by pouring the syrup on the combs from a distance above them, but that is exceedingly slow and uncertain work. Well, how did my pump work? Why, sirs, just the thing we have all needed these many years past. It is the right thing- in the right place; it puts the syrup right into the empty combs, and they may be set back among the bees at once. I have fed to-day over 200 lbs. of sugar, converted into syrup, in less than four hours' time. How to do it, do you ask? Why, make your syrup of the right consistency; take a large tub, or vessel of some kind, just high enough to set your combs in around; put in several at a time; pour into the vessel enough syrup to fill them; set your pump into the syrup, slip the slide at the end of the nozzle, so it will split the stream; hold the nozzle at an angle of about 45° to the combs, and just work away, rather gently, not too hard ; if you do, you force the syrup into the cells and out again. You can very soon learn just how much force to use, by a little practice. You can fill your empty combs so quick it will do you good to feel their weight; put them right in among the bees; no robbing, no mess of continued feeding; no feeders to pay for, and no bees starving because it is so cold they can't get the feed out of the feeders. I have never used anything in the apiary that has given me so much satisfaction, in so short space of time, except a good smoker when I tackled some Cyprian or Syrian stock of bees. Try it, friends. It is the very thing you need. If you have any feeding to do. Abbott L. Swinson. Goldsboro, N. C, March 15, 1888. Friend S., I should not wonder if you have actually gone and made a big invention. Just think of it, friends ! We have had fountain pumps and all sorts of pumps to spray the bees with and allay swarming, and for washing windows, wagons, and almost every thing else that I know of, except using one to force syrup into combs. Of course, it will work. Before i half read your de- scription I saw the point. The only trouble is, somebody will go to fussing with this sort of arrangement when robbers are around, or he will spray the syrup all over himself, and maybe all around the kitchen. The man who manages after that sort of fashion had better not undertake it at all. If you can feed 200 lbs. of sugar in four hours, and not have any feeders to purchase and to take out of the hive and put away after you are done, you have made a pretty good thing. When 1 read the first sentence of your letter I did not know but you were goiiig to recommend spraying the syrup on the grass and let the bees lick it up, making them believe it was genuine honey from the blossoms ; or you might spray the big apple- tree with syrup and make the bees think it was full of blossoms dripping with honey. In that case they would forget to quarrel. A GOOD REPORT FROM SWEET CLOVER. it not only keeps the bees busy, but it fills THE surplus combs OF HONEY. R. ROOT:— Your seed catalogue is received; and on looking over the list of seeds of honey-plants I was somewhat surprised as to the statement concerning sweet clover. I have raised it four years with good re- sults. The first year I had about three-fourths of an acre, and ten stands of bees. In the latter part of June the sweet clover came into bloom, and soon the bees found it. In a week more it was a regular hum in the patch from nine o'clock till dark. It was the only patch for miles around, and there was scarcely any thing else yielding honey, at that time, so the neighbors' bees had time to help take care of the honey in sweet clover, and so they did. My uncle lives 2'/4 miles in a bee-line from here, and had about 25 stands; and such a stir there was among them for this little patch! Why, we just had a strong bee-line from here to Uncle Abra- ham's. He came over one daj', and said, " How at-e the bees doing?" 298 GLEANINGS IX BfiE CULTURE. AM. Said I, "Good." "Why," said he, "this is the time ol year that bees g-ather no honey here." "Oh! well, her-e; taste this;" at the same time handing him a saucer of newly extracted honey. Well, when he had satisfied that "sweet tooth," which, by the way, took a good while, said he, " Now let's see the bees." After showing him the well-filled combs and sec- tions, " There," said he, " out of that weed patch," pointing toward the sweet clover, " is where your bees get the honey, for no such honey has been gathered around here before." He has lived here fifteen years, and kept bees the greater part of the time. For four years I have had from ?4 to 4 acres of sweet clover, and each year bees have done well on it. Last year bees within l'/2 miles of my 4 acres did well, while those outside of that area around have done poorly, many starving in midsummer, on account of the very dry weather we had. AVe had no white clover, and very little red ; but in the height of sweet clo- ver, bees were lively. I had 50 stands. I ran a few for extracting, and got what I called pure sweet- clover honey, from 33 to 39 lbs. per stand. I con- sider it of much value as a honey-plant for our Western country, as it comes here in bloom just when alsike and white clover close, thus lengthening the season from three weeks to five. The past win- ter my bees did well. I have lost none up to date. Garden City, Mo., Mar. 34, 1888. G. J. Yoder. Many thanks, friend Y. But such reports as yours are few and far between. As you state it, it really looks as if it would pay to raise sweet clover ; that is, if no other use is made of it than for the sake of the honey it yields. -^m — I ^ NOT STRICTLY EMPTY FRAMES. FRIEND W. Z. H. REPLIES TO .1. P. ISRAEL, SEE P. 363. fHE graphic and humorous article of Bro. Israel, in last Gleanings, brought a hearty laugh from both myself and Mrs. Hutchin- son. I must say, though, that I was sur- prised at the course taken by its author, and still more that he gives me the credit of advising such methods. In my little book, " The Production of Comb Honey," in the chapter headed "Hiving Swarms upon Empty Frames," page 38, the open- ing sentence reads thus: "By empty frames is not meant those that are strictly empty, but those hav- ing starters of foundation three or four cells wide." Could any thing be plainer? Yet, if I understand him aright, Bro. Israel hived his swarms upon frames that were literacy empty. If I hived swarms in such a manner, I should expect results similar to those reported. I send this explanation to Gleanings, instead of giving it in the Review, as I wish that all who saw the article of Mr. I. may also see the explanation, and thus none will be misled. Flint, Mich., Apr. :J, 1888. W. Z. Hutchinson. Well, I declare, friend W. Z. H., I am ashamed of myself to think that I too omitted to mention that you always ad- vised strips of foundation starters under the top-bars. I felt sure there was some- thing wrong somewhere, but I did not at the time get at it exactly. I suppose, how- ever, that friend Israel and every other old bee-keeper use some sort of a comb-guide. May be he will tell us what he does have for a comb-guide under his top-bars. QUESTION NO. 38 OF THE QUESTION- BOX RECONSIDERED. bees consume less stores in localities where they can fly almost every day. u O bees consume more honey in localities where they can flj' almost every day, H^ than where they are housed up three or '*"^ four months by the cold? " To this most of the correspondents answered j-es. 1 have kept bees in a cold climate and here in Texas, so I can tell something about the matter. One of the mistakes is the idea that, in a Southern climate, the bees commence breeding earlier. Here they never ccjmmence breeding in s]>ring before some pollen is gathered. In winter, as well as in our dry summer, the bees can not gather any honey or pollen, and then all breeding is stopped. The bees are at that time generally entirely quiet (some few leaving the hive occasionally to look out for something to be gathered), no matter if the mercury is at 110° or down to 30" F. Sometimes they fly out for a cleansing flight. So it is another mistake to be- lieve that our bees are out all the time. The dry summer time commences here about the end of July and lasts till the beginning of Sep- tember. In this time the consumption of honey is very slight. I can't tell exactly how much, because I have had no hive on the scales as yet. Our winter commences in November, and lasts till February, nearly three months. In this time a little more honey is consumed than in the summer quietude, because some honey is needed for fuel, if the mercury goes dovvn to 3.5°, or even 30°, for two or three days; but most of the time we have 70° and more. As soon as pollen is coming in, breeding is going on rapidly, and now a great amount of honey is consumed; but about 30 dajs later, all the honey needed for brood is generally gathered. In the Northern climate we can observe that bees in a proper temperature, and fully quiet, will con- sume very little honey; but they commence breed- ing in confinement, and sometimes earlier than in the South. In Germany I found, in 1868, Jan. 35th, in a strong colony over 500 square inches of brood, part of it already sealed. This early breeding con- sumes the most honey, and it is very difficult to avoid it in a cold climate, but very easy in the South. My experience is, that bees use much less honey in the Southern winter than in the North, if we take for winter the time from the first frost in the fall till some honey is gathered in the spring. L. Stachelhausen. Selma, Texas, March T, 1888. Friend S., I believe you are right in the matter ; and we are very much obliged to you for the points you bring out. I am well aware there are often seasons, even here with us, in August and September, when brood-rearing ceases almost entirely, when the amount of stores consumed is quite lim- ited ; and I know, too, that a powerful col- ony will, in the spring time, when pollen is coming in heavily, and every frame is full of brood, consume enormous quantities of honey, amounting to several pounds in a single day. GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE. 'M) WHAT TO DO, AND HOW TO BE HAPPY WHILE DOINO IT. Continued from Feb. 1. CHAPTER XLVIII. Let everything be done decently and in order.— T. Cor. 14:40. Perhaps I have used this text a good many times ; but even if I liave, as 1 approach the close of my book I feel the ne'ed of it more than almost any thing else. In fact, it requires more hard study and brainwork to keep things decent and in order than in almost any one tiling about our work. Of late, our boys have a fashion of sweeping out and brushing out the greenhouse every night, just before they finish their work ; or, at least they do it unless something extra- ordinary turns up. I do not know whether they have learned that it always makes me look pleasant and happy to see the paths nicely swept up, and all rubbish brushed carefully out of the way, or not ; but it certainly does make all the difference in the world to me. In fact, there is something fascinating to me about neatly swept earth or walks where many feet travel. I can remember, years ago, when spring time came and the ground began to dry up, that we used to rake up the chips and sweep the chip-yard. The paths around the house were also swept with a broom. I do not know just why it is, but I love to see traces of a broom. It looks as if somebody lived there ; and it also tells me that this '' some- body " is one who loves order and decency — one who has high aspirations in his or her heart ; and if I should say it seems to tell me of a heart that loves God, I do not know that it would be very far out of the way after all; for everybody assents to the proverb, that " cleanliness is next to god- liness." We must have paths, not only around the house, but through the garden, to the barn and other out-buildings ; and I do love to see these paths kept neat and tidy ; and for this purpose of tidying up I would have convenient tools — a nice garden- rake, a couple of old stiff Ijrooms, a sharp hoe, and a sickle ; yes, and a market-basket to carry the rubbish to tlie stove, instead of dumping it out into the streets. Sweep up, slick up, make the ground smooth and neat, outside of the gate as well as inside. Make every tiling about your premises, the side of the road adjoining your land, look neat and tidy and attractive. I have sometimes thought that people who have little homes, and a wee bit of land, ought to be happy, be- cause it is not so much of a task for them to keep every thing neat. I wonder if real good people are not always neat. At several places in my book I have spoken about poultry. Some way it seems to me as if poultry are more hopelessly de- praved in regard to this matter of neatness than any thing else in animated nature. Who would think it possible that so much discord, disorder, and unsightliness could be produced in one short hour, as may be done by a single old lien and chickens V I have spent some money in having nice neat poul- try-houses, with glass sash over them ; but it has always seemed as though their first desire were to destroy and tear up what they can not mar and deface and make un- sightly and disgusting by their everlasting scratching ; and they manage to disfigure things further by their awfully depraved and heedless fashion of scattering droppings. Sometimes I pick up an old Brahma hen and give her a shake, with an admonition something like the following: "Why, you miserable good-for-nothing biddy, haven't you any sense about the fitness of things nt all? and have you no small grain iw your little head, of a love for neatness and order V Just see what work you have made with your new poultry-house, and these nice new feeding and watering arrangements which I have provided for you." Biddie does not seem to be hurt at all by my sharp reproof ; in fact, she sings a small song in an indifferent, good-natured sort of way, as if to say, " Why, everything is all right, so far as I can see. 1 don't see any thing to be unhappy about, or to make a fuss about." A pig is certainly more dis- criminating in the way of neatness and pro- priety than a cliicken. Well, this matter' of keeping things neat in the poultry-house has been much on my mind. One of the best things to make hens lay is boiled beans ; and as we sell a great many beans on the market wagon, we have more or less culled beans all tlie wliile, for we never think of selling beans until they are hand-picked and ready for the table. Well, these culled beans are boiled, and carried out hot to the poultry. We used to feed them in a tin pan ; but some of the biddies would set their nasty feet right into the feed, in a very little time. Poultry 300 (^Leanings in b^e ctiLTtiiii:. At'ti. books and journals give pictures of feeders that permit the hens to put in their heads, but not to stand in the feed with their feet. Most of these feeders, however, will soon be used for a roosting-place, until they get to be so unsightly I long to burn the whole thing up, that I may forget it ever existed. Some people throw the leavings of the table on the ground, and let the chickens help themselves. I do not suppose that the poultry care very much, but I care. In Chapter XIV. I showed you a picture of our poultry-house and the feeders inside the house. These do very well for different kinds of grain ; but a few days ago I wanted to feed some cracked bones and oyster- shells, and I could not think of tin-owing them on the ground, amid the hlth. One feeder was full of oats and corn, and the other contained wheat. In looking for something that would just suit me to feed the shells and bone meal in, I struck upon a feeder that pleased me so much that I want to tell you about it. If we don't look out, our poultry-house will be cluttered up. Utensils for water and feed should be out of the way as much as possible ; and it is still more important that they be so constructed and placed that fowls may not stand upon top of them, and disfigure them with drop- pings. They should be made so they can be easily brushed off; in fact, the whole in- terior of the poultry-house and all its uten- sils should be so arranged that the aforesaid broom, or a little brush-broom, may be used all over the interior. I wanted for my purpose something made of metal, so it could be washed or wiped off with a cloth. At first I thought of a tin pan with a hole cut in the bottom, for the fowls to put their heads in, to be hung up against the wall. Finally my eye caught on a new retinned wash-basin, large size. These cost 15 cents apiece. I took one of them up to the tin- shop, and directed the tinner to put a cover over the top. This cover was made out of a circular piece of tin, aild locked over the rim. But before putting it on he cut away one side so as to leave an opening for filling the feeder, just below the ring attached to the wash-basin to hang it up by. Then with a large punch he cut a hole in the lower side of the bottom, large enough for even the Brahma rooster to get his head in. You will notice, however, that if this feeder be filled with wheat or corn, and hung up against the wall, a great part of the grain would run right out on the ground. To pre- vent this, a piece of tin just about like a common tunnel cut in halves is soldered just over the opening for the fowls' heads. It is put on broad end down. This allow^s the grain or feed tokeep just under the opening ; but none of it can run out. The feeder works to perfection. Here is a cut of it. OUR WASH-BASIN roULTKV-FEEDER. The same arrangement works beautifully for boiled beans, scraps left from the table, or any thing else you wish to give them, and not have it get out in the dirt, causing them to get it filthy in order to get out every scrap of food. Now, the same utensil will make the prettiest and cheapest water-fountain you ever saw^ by telling the tinner to let the back cover the basin entirely, and then have it soldered on air and water tight. In the latter case, the lialf-tunnel must stand about a quarter of an inch below the lowest part of the opening where they put in their heads. To fill it with water, Jay it down and pour the w^ater in through the hole, or immerse it in a tub or trough of water, and hang it on a nail and then they can drink as long as a drop of water is left ; but no chicken is smart enough to scratch dirt and rubbish into it. Below our artist has tried to show you how the fowls take to such an arrangement. THE WASII-r.ASlN FEP^DER IN ACTUAL USE. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 301 Our tinner says these feeders can be sold for 35 cents. If some of our large stamped- ware establishmenis would make them, and have them dipped in melted tin, so as to fill the crevices and prevent rust, it would be a beautiful arrangement to put on the market. In gardening and small-fruit raising, it is just as important that the work be done de- cently and in order. • Just one illustration. It is so much the custom to set currant-bush- es up by the fence somewhere that the word " currants" has become suggestive of some disorderly corner by the pigpen, probably filled with rubbish, heaps of ashes, brush, old boots and slioes., etc. Now, the currant is a beautiful fruit, and there has neverbeen a time since we have been running our market- wagon when we could not dispose of currants at good prices— all that we could get hold of. I do not know that I ever saw a currant-plantation laid out and kept de- cently and in order ; but I have one of my own where the cherry currants are set out like an apple-orchard. There are five rows, and about twenty-five bushes in a row. They are far enough apart so that one can readily walk all around each bush, no matter if they get to be as large as the currant-l)ushes used to be in grandfather's garden. They were put out only a year ago, so tliey have not made much growth yet. The rows are seven feet apart, and between each two rows we have a row of Jessie strawberries. This 6th day of April, almost every bush has new shoots an inch or more in length, and the sight of my little ciu-rant-orchard made me feel so happy this morning when I was out among them that I have been happy all day. Now, after you get your currants, rasp- berries, strawberries, etc., set out, and bear- ing nice crops, unless you do your work decently and in order you will not be happy then. In setting the average boys and girls to picking strawberries and raspberries, I have had about as much annoyance and perplexity as in any other one thing. Every season more or less boxes of berries have been left out in the sun or rain until they were spoiled. Our young friends w^ould get so much excited about making money fast when the berries were thick and large, that they would lose their berries, tip them over, or step on them, and some of them would come to me, saying they did not have pay for all they picked. Sometimes the pickers would quarrel. Any of these troubles indi- cate a want of the spirit of our text. One great trouble is to know what to do with the boxes of berries when they are picked. For selling them around town from the market- wagon, the arrangement shown below is the best of any thing I have seen. A BASKET OF BOXES FOR STRAWBERKIES. The above basket holds two tiers of quart boxes, and there are eight boxes in a tier. When the pickers go into the field, each one is to get as many baskets of empty boxes as he will probably need. As fast as they pick them, they are placed back in the baskets. When they are done, all incomplete baskets are filled out with the empty boxes remain- ing, so that, when the work is done, each basket is as full and complete as it was when they started out into the field. When they are delivered at the fruit-house, each one re- ceives credit for what he has picked. If any boxes have been lost or left in the patch, there will be a vacancy in the basket ; and this vacancy is supposed to be occasioned by losing a box of berries. The picker must then hunt it up or pay for it. A great many other systems have been given, I know ; but this pleases us best of all. It insures the work being done decently and in order. What is more unsightly in a garden than to see vegetables eaten up and disfigured by insect-enemies? I have sometimes thought I would give considerable to see a cabbage without a blemish or spot on a single leaf. Leaves eaten into shreds and strings, or even punctured with holes, always make me feel despondent and dismal ; and every hole that is made by a worm or insect in a cabbage-leaf is more or less a damage to the cabbage. The inventive genius of mankind is just now making greater strides in suc- cessfully fighting insect-foes than ever be- fore. Convenient bellows for dusting the poison not only on cabbage, but trees, are now in common use ; and if these imple- ments are used just as soon as an insect makes his appearance, and the practice is followed up, we can have beautiful fruits and vegetables. Toward the close of our last chapter I made meution of the Wooda- son bellows, for blowing sand on the paint used to fasten the glass in sash. The same implement is used for destroying insects by means of slug-shot, pyrethrum, or other dry powders. m-2 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. INSECT-l'OWDER BELLOWS. We used with much satisfaction a still larger bellows last seasou. One could go through a cabbage-patch, standing upright with this instrument, and it would send such a; cloud of dust al)out him that scarcely a worm was left. Below is a cut of the machine showiuaf the wav it is used. WOODASOX S LAlica: - SIZED INSECT - rOAV- DEU 15ELLOWS. As I have before remarked, we have not found any application of powder as success- ful with potatoes as a solution of Paris green in water. I believe Prof. Cook re- commends London purple as being cheaper and better, using only one pound of poMder to 100 gallons of water. This not only kills potato-beetles, l)ut the codlin moth on ap- ple-trees, so that we can grow apples not only free from worms in the core, but fair, round, and smooth — no knots or gnarly places about them. The apparatus for spraying the above liquid on potatoes, ap- ple-trees, or any other plant troubled by in- sect-foes, is manufactured by A. IL Nixon, Dayton, O. A barrel of the liquid is drawn out on a sort of sled or cart, to the held, and a powerful force pump is attached thereto, which throws,; a perfect cloud of spray wherever we want it. A potato - field or apple-orchard can be gone over very quickly in this way. Some may urge that the crops would never pay'for so mucli expense and bother. My friend, what does it cost you to lose a crop after you have purchased your manure, prepared your ground, and culti- vated and cared for it until it is nearly ready to harvest? Now, perhaps you look at this matter of fighting insect-foes as a very great trouble and bother — as if it were, in fact, paying a big price to have your work decent and in order. If so, it is because you have not en- tered into the spirit of the work. You are not in love with your chosen occupation. You may smile^when I tell you that I have, for tw^o or three seasons back, felt almost pleased to see weeds and insect foes startiup. I watch anxiously for the first potato-bug to make his appearance, for I want the fun of coming out ahead in the battle. I like to give them to understand that / am boss, and that they can not by any possible chance steal my crops from me, w^hich I have worked hard for. When you take them in this way, the labor is compar- atively light. Kill the first bug or worm that makes his appearance, either by hand or by insect-poisons intelligently applied, and you may easily be the victor. I like the excitement of the contest. I do not like to fight my fellow-men ; but 1 do like to find and fight weeds and bugs ; and I rejoice in letting them know that I not only re- member but can successfully carry out the purpose for which God placed me here when he said that man should have domin- ion over these things, and subdue them. If you can not subdue every weed and every creeping thing that spoils your crops, you are not up with the times in fulfilling the purpose for which God created you. CHAPTER XLIX. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread.— Pkov. 12: 11. Is it not a little strange how differently and neighbors you will find this matter of our tastes run? Not only does the taste of gardening still further subdivided. One one man run to gardening and agriculture, likes Ijerries, another vegetables, another but if you look about among your friends grains. Then the matter of vegetables is 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 303 still further subdivided. One man makes cabbages a specialty ; another, turnips ; a third, melons ; and each one tinds much joy and happiness in liis special line. By con- fining his attention principally to melons and nothing else, he finds a thousand new and interesting things about the habits of this vegetable, that nobody ever knew l)e- fore. As an illustration of this, I am going to give you a paper below, from a young friend who used to be one of the boys in our factory, but wlio has, by a few years of out- door work, become expert in raising melons. Let us listen to him: HOW TO RAISE MELONS — IIY AK/A C. PEARSON, LITCHFIELD, O The melon is a peculiar plant, and might properly be called a tropic;il fruii ; but it can be raised as far north as the f(>rt> -fifth parallel of latitude, to a considerable degree of success. The melon delights in a warm, light, sandy soil; but it can be raised upon any soil, with proper care and cultivation. In cultivating the melon, three things are necessary to its proper growth and cultiva- tion ; viz., good seed, good soil, and good cultivation. We propose to discuss them in the order given. Good seed is the most essential point in the growth of any plant — more especially the melon. Nevei" plant poor seed, under any condition. You can buy seed of any of the reliable seedsmen, and always buy the best. We find by experience that it does not pay to save seed. We buy our seed eve- ry spring of a reliable firm. You can deter- mine whether your seed is good by examin- ing the germ end of it. Y"ou can buy good seed at from 7.5 cts. to $1.25 per lb. After the seed, comes the preparation of the soil. As stated, the melon delights in a sandy soil ; but with good cultivation it (;an be grown upon almost any soil with proper fertilizing. Select a piece of ground facing the south or east, if possible, and plow un- der a good coat of manure in the full or ear- ly winter, so as to freeze out all worms and grubs, as the cut-worm loves a stalk of mel- on, in my judgment, better than a stalk of corn. The freezing of the ground makes the soil light and mellow. As soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, a good dressing of well-rotted barnyard manure should be worked into the soil by frequent harrowings. You can not get the ground too rich or too mellow. The ground must be well drained, as the melon likes frequent showers, but will drown out very easily. After the soil is in proper condition to be planted, mark out your ground S feet each way, and make your hills deep and fine by working w^ith a spade or shovel ; and a handful of some well-known fertilizer may be worked into the hill with benefit. We have had the best success with level culture, as the raised hills are apt to dry out, and the fine becomes stunted in its growth. You will read in your seed-books, that it is best to plant melons after all danger of frost is over. We recommend planting as soon as you can get your ground in condition. Sow from 12 to 15 seeds in a hill, and cover half an inch willi fine mellow dirt, and press the soil down with a board or your font. You can thin out the plants as fast as you wish ; and by taking the risk you are very likely to get a stand of 3 or I plants, which is enough. Get your melons started as soon as possi- ble, as an early plant is very apt to make a big growth, and the fruit will come in the warm weather, when most desired. Tlie melon requires from 75 to 100 days to mature ; and by planting l)y May 15th, ripe melons may be picked by Aug. ioth, or be- fore. A great many fail in raising melons by too close planting. It should be planted from (i feet each way to 8 feet, according to the variety. The Iron Clad, Cuban Queen, and other varieties of prolific growth, should be planted 8x8, while the Black Spanish, Peerless, and other small varieties, may be planted 0 x 6. Never allow more than four vines to a hill. After the vines are from tw^o to four inches high, commence to cultivate and keep the ground loose and mellow by fre- (juent stirring of the soil. Keep the ground loose between the vines, and give a thorough working of the soil. Keep the ground free from weeds. After the vines begin to run, be careful not to get too deep, as the roots run close to the top of the groinid. The melon is a surface feeder ; that is, the roots are close to the top of ground. You can work more good into a hill by cultivation than you can put in by any other means. From a week to ten days may be gained by sprouting the seeds, and transplanting them ; but experience and care are needed to secure good results. We transplanted about oOO plants last season, with very good results. Most seed-books recommend a shovel of well-rotted manure to each hill. Y^ou will be apt to get the manure too deep, as the plants will not get the benefit until the fruit is half grown. If you desire large melons and no small ones, pinch off the end of the vine after the melon becomes as large as an orange, and you will be surprised at the change, as the fruit gets all the benefit, and will double its size in a week or ten days. As to the best varieties for the family garden, w^e recommend the Black Spanish and Peerless for early, and Iron Clad and Kolb's Gem for late. The Iron Clad is a good keeper, and may be kept for your Christmas or New-Y^ear's dinner. As to the cultivation of the melon as a money crop, we believe that, under good cultiva- tion, it will pay big results. Let us show a few figures. You can plant on an acre, 8x8 feet, 680 hills ; allowing 4 vines to a hill and one melon to a vine, we have 2720 melons, which, at the low price of 10 cts. each, we have the neat little sum of S272. The muskmelon can be cultivated the same as the watermelon, only it can be planted closer, 0 \ «i feet each way. Plant from 12 to 20 seeds to a hill. When the plants are 3 incites high, thin out to four of the best plants. Y^ou can hurry its growth 304 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. by frequent applications of liquid manure. Make the hills the size of a peck measure, and work into it a handful of some com- mercial fertilizer. Hen manure makes an excellent fertilizer for melons, but it must be worked into the soil. Keep the ground loose, and free from all weeds ; trim the vines for large fruit, as witli watermelons. For the family garden we would recom- mend the Perfection, which is a medium- sized melon, growing in shape almost round; tlesh, a bright golden yellow, and very sweet and delicious ; and when eaten with cream and sugar it equals the peach. The melon-vine is beset by a great many pests, the striped bug being the worst, oft- en destroying the plant in a few hours. We find that an equal mixture of unleached ashes and air-slacked lime, sifted on the vines early in the morning, when the dew is on, is a good remedy. The fruit should be picked in the morn- ing when it is cool, and kept in a cool place until wanted for use. Yoxi can not have nice melons without some labor. Poor seed, poor soil, and no care, produce poor fruit. A great many complain about raising mel- ons. The trouble is, they expect to plant a few hills and gather large returns, with no care. You will be disappointed every time. We would recommend the Colorado preserv- ing citi'on for preserves, but the rind of the Iron Clad is almost if not quite as good as the citron. To 10 lbs. of the fruit use 5 ll)s. of granulated sugar and five lemons. Boil the fruit until soft, then add sugar and lem- on, and to the above add 3 lbs. of raisins, and you have a preserve that is excellent. In conclusion, we would say to all, plant a few hills of melons and see if you can not surprise yourself and neighbors ; for what is better in a warm, sultry day, as you come from the field all dust and thirsty, than a fine luscious watermelon? It cools the blood, allays the thirst, and makes one feel thankful and good-natured. I would add to the above, that v/e can make a sure thing of warding off insect- enemies by the use of the squash-boxes described and illustrated in Chapter XXIV ; see, also, the close of Chapter XXXVII. I would also use the plant-boxes for getting at least a few of the hills extra early. I now wish to give you another one from a friend away off in Pennsylvania, with whom I have had considerable deal in the last few years : Brother i?oo(;— When you drew friend White's picture in Chapter XLI., and spoke about ills always having a hobby, I said, " That's me exactly.'' I thought that you and I were alone in extreme hobbyism. I went through tiie strawberry-fever a dozen years ago. I used to pick thirty bushels a day ; but I must tell you about my last hob- by' It is turnips. I have a secret to make public. Any one can raise turnips if he knows the secret. It is easy — very easy. Turnip-seed is sown in July and August, when the earth is nearly always dry one or two inches deep, and the seed can't come up. The secret then is, sow the seed from two to three inches cleep, so it is in the moist earth, and you will succeed every time. I have succeeded for years. The seed will come up if in very deep. To plow it in with the shovel-plow is the cheapest way. For ten years 1 have raised turnips, and always im- proved the seed all I could. I mark the seed- turnips when the crop is growing, then I se- lect again when I pull, saving me the cream of the best. If you care to have an article on turnips and how to raise and harvest them so women and children can do the la- bor, I will furnish you oiie, and you can trim it to suit yourself. You see, brother Root, I am nearly twoscore, and my father, Tobias Martin, was a horticulturist before me. J. M. Martin, M. D. Mercerville, Pa., Nov. 2, 1887. Of course, I asked friend Martin to tell me all about turnip-raising. Like friend M., my father before me was passionately fond of turnips and turnip-raising. Whenever we boys went off for a holiday, father would get his cultivator and hunt up the best piece of ground on the farm, and have his holiday by fixing the land just according to his no- tion to raise turnips. He never sold very many, however, but he used to have plenty for fanaily use, some for the stock, and some to give to the neighbors. No wonder I was ready to fall in with friend Martin's hobby. A slip from a local paper accompanying the above informs us that friend Martin had already received a crop of potatoes from his four acres, which he mentions as giving him a profit of 17 per cent, before he prepared the ground for turnips. THE SECRET OF GETTING NICE TURNIPS, WHETHER THE SEASON BE WET OR DRY— BY DR. J. M. MARTIN, MERCBRSBURG, PA. I will gladly give you all I know concern- ing the culture of the Russian turnip ; but since you say that turnips have been one of your hobbies I feel that I may come short of giving you as much information as I expect- ed. But, first, I will speak of the varieties. I have the Purple-Top strap ; second, the White strap-leaved, and the Pomeranian ; but the former is by all odds my choice, and the latter is better adapted for stock, owing to its immense size when full grown. The White Strap leaved is very pretty and good, but it does not seem to be a distinct variety with me, as it often produces purple or mon- grel specimens. This may come, however, by the very dangerous practice of having several varieties seeding on the same place. Second, as to the time of sowing the seed, the two first weeks in August is early enough, so says my experience : if sown earlier, the turnips are apt to get rough and scabby. Third, the kind of soil. Sandy loom is preferable, but I have succeeded quite as well in black loam. I think more depends on the location than on the quality of the 1888 GLEANINGS IN ^kk CULf UitE. 305 land. Most people choose a hollow to sow turnip-seed. 1 prefer a hill, gravily and light, no matter about the stones and peb- bles. The hollow will often get weedy, when the hill or hillside is comparatively free from weeds ; and the quality, too, is better at high altitudes as well as the color ; but if the seed is sown as hereafter describ- ed, 1 think the locality and quality of the land makes less difference than the after care and cultivation. My choice of a turnip-patch is the ground where onions, peas, or potatoes have been grown. Have the tirst removed by the 1st of August, and the ground perfectly free and clean of weeds ; then sow the seed at the rate of i lb. to the acre, broadcast, and without mixing with land or other material. Sow only about 3 to 4 ft. wide, then take a cultivator and cultivate the newly seeded ground so the seed gets three or at least two inches down in the moist ground. It is the great drought, usually so prevalent everywhere about August, that destroys the tender germs of the turnip-seed ; and it is to this that I attribute the most of the fail- ures. You see, I am a nurseryman by trade, and I find this same thing is true of apple- seeds. If they are planted shallow they do not succeed so well as if sown very deep. When the ground is well cultivated it should be rolled or dragged to make it level, as a dashing rain will ruin the crop if small. When the plants are up, and the leaves are as large as a silver dollar, you will see some of them are dark green and strong, while those seeds that are not deep enough in the ground will be what I call the weak- lings. It is these weaklings that I remove by pulling them up or hoeing them out till the crop stands 12 to 18 inches, or even 2 ft., from plant to plant. This thinning is not done all at one time : but by going over the ground from 3 to 6 times you will be sur- prised to see what a small job it is to thin an acre in this way. As the seed is sown thin, the chances are that there will not be so many to pull after all, only in spots, per- haps, where they stand too thick, and where two are too close together. Now as to cultivation. The turnip likes cultivation — the more the better; and I generally hand-hoe the crop two or three times. But this season my soil was rich and in good order, and the weeds did not appear to bother us at all. My crop of four acres will yield me nearly 12U0 bushels, and I am selling them here at 40 cents a bushel, retail. I sent one car load to New York. I do not know what they will net me ; but Voigt & Co., of Pittsburgh, wrote me that they were worth fifty cents a bushel there. The freight is 9i cts. a bushel from here to Pitts- burgh. Let me say just here, that my crop is short at least 200 bushels, owing to' an acre that was sown with seed that I bought. 11> came up pretty well, but there are other things that make seed moie than worthless. This seed I bought of a good Christian gentleman who would not sell bad seed if he knew it ; but he had bought the seed, and sowed some of it himself. Now a word in regard to the saving of seed. I have been improving my seed for ten years, and many of my friends depend on me for their turnip-seed. I do it in this way : When the first turnips are al)out two inches in diameter I put a little stick near those that show a decided superiority over their neighbors. What I mean by a superi- ority is those that are first to get large and show they mean to excel, and those that have a small top and a high color, avoiding by all means what I call a '" great rank foli- age,'' with a small bulb and of poor color. After these marked and selected specimens are ready, and, in fact, while they are grow- ing, I discard all that are rough on the top, and of a white or pale appearance. I dis- card all, too, that are too deep through from top to root, preferring a flat specimen ; and I believe the seed should be grown the same year it is sown. How I wished Bro. Root could be with me while harvesting my crop this year, when a dozen hands were in the field topping the great big fellows, such as I will send you a barrel of. Remember the secret : First, good seed ; second, very deep sowing; third, thinning 18 inches apart ; fourth, good cultivation. I use Terry's potato-boxes to harvest the crop, and do it with women and children. Dk. J. M. Maktin. Mercersburg, Pa., Oct. 31, 1887. Friend M.,rwould modify your directions by having the turnips drilled in with one of the Planet hand-drills ; but in fitting the ground I would, just before sowing the seed, go over it with a common phosphate-sowing wheat-drill. I would fill the fertilizer-box with a mixture of phosphate and bone dust, or, better still, guano and bone dust. Then go over the ground as for sowing wheat. Be sure, however, that your drill is entirely emptied of seeds of all kinds, especially grass-seed ; for if you are not careful you may have a crop of grass and wheat such as you never saw before, among your turnips. Now, after you have done with your wheat- drill, sow your turnip-seed thinly in every other drill mark ; or, if you prefer, every third drill-mark. Then go on with the di- rections you have given, using only the hand-hoe between the rows. .If, however, you sow the turnips 18 or 20 inches apart, a trained horse will take a cultivator through them. Don't be afraid of spoiling some. I am sure that I lost a great deal of money last fall by leaving too many plants in the patch. We got a dollar a bushel for ours, however, and, by the way, the sample bar- rel you sent us sold readily for a dollar a bushel on the streets of Medina. You speak about saving only the high-colored speci- mens for seed. Now, this is a big point. Have them washed up nice and clean, and the color a one will sell them. 806 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. ArR. But in selling tuniijjs, radishes, carrots, and all Other root crops that are handsome in appearance, you must keep them wet or (lamp to have the colors attractive. To do this, give them a good wetting before you start out in the morning, and then keep all these things covered with wet burlap. If your burlap gets dry during very hot weath- er, wet it during the forenoon. It not only keeps the roots looking attractive, but it counteracts any tendency toward wilting and getting soft ; and every good housekeep- er will tell you she does not want vegetables that have been in the sun until they have become wilted. Attention to little matters like this makes all the difference between profit and loss. Selecting seed from those that have a large nice-shaped top is another great point. F'riend Martin sends us, with the al)ove arti- cle, the tops, or crowns, of two turnips sliced off. One had a great thick heavy growth of tops, while the other had only a very small and inconspicuous top. In saving on- ion seed, our best seedsmen are very careful to discard all having thick necks ; and the same process should be followed in saving seed of turnips, radishes, and perhaps all other root cro]is. By selection, make the plant throw its growth and vigor into the bulb, and not into the top. Here is another great opening, and, I woidd add, a great field for those who grow seeds. Now, here is another from a friend whose hobby is in raising lettuce for market every day in the year : $10.80 FROM A PIECE OF GROUND 12 FEET SQUARE. Friend Root:— I have always thought, since I commenced growing lettuce for market, that it could be sold every day in the year, providing it could always be crisp and ten- der. But lettuce grown in the open field in hot dry weather is apt to be tough and of strong flavor. Last season I overcame this difficulty in the following manner: About the first of July I sowed some seed in shal- low boxes. In three weeks I pricked out the plants into other boxes, li inches apart, and kept well watered for two weeks. By this time they M^ere nice plants, well rooted. I had a cold frame, 12 feet square and 2 feet high. This frame I had used in the spring to harden oft: early tomato-plants. Into this frame I put four or five inches of well-rotted cow manure, with a good sprinkling of ashes. I took a spade and turned it under, but not very deep. I then made it fine with an iron rake, gave it a good v;atering, for it was very dry, and let it stand a few hours. Then it was ready for the plants. Taking a board to put my feet on, I set the plants six inches apart botli ways, commencing six inches from the inside of the frame. This lettuce received no further care, with the exception of being watered a few times vm- til it got well started. What weeds came up were soon smothered. In twelve weeks from the time of sowing seed it was lit for market. I am positive it would have been two weeks earlier but for the severe drought. From this frame I cut 185 lbs., and sold it at the grocery stores in Elyria at 8 cts. per lb. This is how I raised $10.80 worth of the fa- mous Grand Rapids lettuce on a piece of ground twelve feet square. For my early spring crop I am using cold frames six feet wide and of any desired length, protected with common cotton cloth tacked on to light frames. These frames I make out of inch luml)er. X board 12 feet long and 12 inches wide makes four frames three feet by six. Take the board and cut it in two in the middle and rip each piece into six strips. Three of these pieces make a frame, two for the sides, and one cut in two for the ends; halve the cornei's together; stretch two strong wires in place of the sash- bars, and you have a frame that will be strong and light. Use galvanized wire so as not to rust the cloth. My plants were start- ed in the greenhouse, pricked into little boxes, and grown to the proper size, and then set into the cold-frame, box and all, to harden off Those who have no greenhouse, and do not want to take the pains of making early hot-beds, can start the plants in the fall, and winter them over in cold frames. For my second early crop I set plants with my early cabbages. This crop requires no extra ground, as the cabbage is set just the same as though theie weie no lettuce on the ground. The lettuce comes off before the cabbage interferes. (I am not half through on the lettuce question, but will stop for this time.) O. J. Terrell. North Ridge ville, O. Why, friend T., you are right exactly in line with where my work has been for two or three years past. You have gone away ahead of me, however. I am glad to hear you speak of the cloth frames for shade. I have spent quite a little time and some money in experimenting with these frames ; and I have made some very nice light ones to handle; but, alas! the wind sails them about to such an extent that 1 shall be glad to adopt such as you describe. Only night before last the wind blew a lot of them against our greenhouse, resulting in the loss of a dollar or two for broken glass. I had not thought of the idea of wires for the cross- bars, before ; but 1 think I would have the cloth sewed around the wires at intervals ; for we find the flopping of the cloth by the wind works the cold air in so as to do quite a little damage. We are exceedingly glad to get so good a report from the Grand Rapids lettvice. 1888 GLEANINGS IN B£lE CULTURE. 30t FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. WHAT DO THE BEES DO WITH THE SURPLUS OE EGGS LAID IN EARLY SPRING ? gDITOR Gleanings: -The Soth'of Janual-y, in examining- my bees to see if they had plen- ty of honey, I found a little brood in all; but there was something- about two of them that puzzled me. In one there was a small patch of comb, on either side of which was brood of j all agres. In many of the cells I counted three, four, and in one cell even six eg-gs. In a few days those same cells contained each a nice young larva. Now, what became of the surplus eggs? Do the bees remove them? If so, before or after hatching? j Was it because there was but little empty comb in the brood-nest, and the queen was just ruruiing over with eggs, that caused her to deposit so many in a cell? I small drones, and are they of any ser- vice ? The other puzzle was this: I found in another i hive a small patch of brood, in all stages, many cells containing two or three eggs; but a good por- j tion of that which was sealed was drawn up above | the other like drone larva^, notwithstanding this comb was originally a sheet of worker foundation. I thought, "Fertile worker," according to my A B C book; but in due time the other larv.v were sealed over, worker like; and the following week, while standing in front of this same hive I heard some- thing like the sound of a drone on the wing; and by watching the entrance closely (it required close watching, though) 1 detected among- the bees a pe- culiar-looking fellow which I picked up and care- fully examined. It looked like a" sure enough" drone, all except its size. The queen has been lay- ing all right since, though not so prolific as could be desired. Now, what could have induced the pro- duction of drones thus early in the season, while the colony was very weak? Would those small drones have been of service for fertilization? I had some drones last year that were raised on worker foundation, but the cells were enlarged in some way by the bees to the proper size for the ac- commodation of those "gentlemen of leisure." Sparta, Miss., Mar. 5, 1888. L. Hall. The extra eggs found in the cell iu your case, were probably because the queen had not bees enough to prepare as many cells as slie was capa])le of using each day. This state of affairs often occurs where colonies are weak, especially in the spring time. I presume the nurse-bees remove the extra larvae, for I have always found only one when they Ijegan to get large e^nough to oc- cupy the cell properly. The small drones were accidental, and it is a common thing to find a drone or two that came out of worker-cells in almost any good colony of bees. Just before (jueens fail, however, it is quite common for them to lay a good many drone eggs in worker-cells. As to whether these small drones are capable of fertilizing a queen, is a question that has been argued quite a little. I believe we have, however, several pretty conclusive testimonies to the effect that they do, at least sometimes, fertilize (lueens. A burning-glass fob collecting the rays of the sun for the solar wax-extractor. Would it not be a good idea to use a burning- glass in connection with the solar wax-e.xtractor, the glass to be larger than the average glasses? Of course, we must not set it so as to burn the whole concern, only just enough to make it a little warm- er, to enable us here to make the sun do the trying- out of the wax for us any time through summer, when it shines. We would, of course, have to turn the machine a little every two or three hours or so, to face the sun nearly, till some fellow invents a "fixin"to make it work automatically, like your windmill. About two years ago I took a large bot- tomless white-glass jar, put a wire cloth under it, and filled it with old comb, etc., and hung it on the south side of a house, with a sheet of tin between for a reflector, as was described by one of your correspondents on page 127 for Feb. 15, 1886. It has been hanging there now for two years. Sometimes it reaches 90 to 100° Fahr. in the shade; but that won't melt wax. This makes me a little careful about a solar wax-extractor. What is the trouble with mine? <-. Reichert. Thiensville, Wis., Mar. 6, 1888. Friend R., I am afraid your burning-glass for a solar wax- extractor, large enough for the purpose, would be rather expensive. I have tried some of the cheaper ones, such as are sold for 1.5 and '25 cents. They will melt the wax on a spot as large as a cent, but you can readily see that, at this rate, it would take a good" while to melt any consid- erable quantity of wax. As long as we can make the solar wax-extractor raise the tem- perature to 21H degrees Fahrenheit (wax melts at 14-5) with common tin as a reflector, and simply one sheet of glass, I hardly see the need of a burning-glass.— The trouble with your bottle hung up on the side of the house is, that it was not protected from the outside temperature sufficiently. The cool air would have access to the under side of the bottle, and I shoidd readily suppose it could not heat up to more than 90 to 100 de- grees Fahr. You remember Mr. II. L. Jeffries, the correspondent to whom you re- fer, had his jars inclosed in a triangular apartment, one side open to receive the rays of the sun. In addition to what Ernest has written above, I will say that the glass jar is not of the right shape to utilize to good advantage the suns rays. You want a flat glass that faces the sun ; and the nearer the sun shines perpendicular to the surface of the glass, the more heat will be retained. A NET PROFIT OF fUM FROM 2 COLONIES. Last year I increased from 2 to 12 colonies, and took 84 lbs. of box honey, worth here 20 cts. per lb. ; Slfi.HO; 4 colonies I sold at f6.35, or 25 (lO, and :S full- crammed colonies at *1(), or $30.00; and :! others en- gaged, $30.00; all paid for, WOl.SO. 1 fed, to winter them, 250 lbs. sugar at ti '4 cts., $16.87. Net profit, $84.93. This leaves me the 3 hives still. All this I told you, and just how I did it. Eight or ten weeks ago I called your attention to it in a pleasant way, but have received no response. I can not account for it, why you did not print it, unless you thought 3U8 GLEANING^ iN BEE CULTURE Apr. that too many might adopt my plan and tlood the country with bees and spoil the trade. I propose, if I live, to increase one colony to 30 next ye&r, and make $100 on the hive, if not more; and I will do it, see if I don't. Henry Large. Whigville, Ohio, March 9. 1888. Friend L., we certuinly never received the report you mention. We are particularly anxious to know just how you did it. If you will repeat it we will repay you for your trouble. You should have "known us better, if you have been taking Gleanjngs very long," to think for an instant that we witlaheld any scrap of information for fear it might, as you say, " Hood the country with bees." '' A land tlowing with milk and honey " is the end and aim of Glean- ings ; and I suppose that the Bible word '■'■ tlowing " would naturally mean that hon- ey should be quite plentiful and cheap. A SUGGESTION ON THE T SUPER. I much prefer to have the T .super the same length as the hive on which it rests. This makes it IH^ig inches inside; and as the sections and T tins occupy only about 17 is, we have about an inch of space that must be filled up. Now, to fill this space and also to facilitate the putting- in and removing of sections when filled, I use a movable board 4V4 inches wide and as long as the super is wide inside, with a strip of tin tacked to its bottom edge. Said board rests on metal supports, the same as do the T tins, and supports the ends of the last row of sections. After the sections are all in place I slip narrow strips of wood about ^s inch thick between the tops of each two rows of sections, which holds them square and true while being clamped together, which is done by slipping a couple of wedges be- tween the movable end-board and end of super. With this arrangement the last section will go in as easily as the first; and to remove sections when filled we have only to loosen the wedges and remove the end-board; and, if properly constructed, the sections can be removed quicker and easier than from any case extant. J. E. Hand. Owasa, Iowa, Feb. 34, 1888. Your plan will work very well, friend IL; but it seems to us that it rather complicates things when so little, comparatively, is gained. It is true, the last end row of sec- tions can be gotten in a little easier ; but we hardly think you can remove the sections any quicker or any easier than can be done with an ordinary T super on the plan recom- mended by Ur. Miller. You will remember that the doctor has a follower, the dimen- sions of which are such that it will slide through the shell of the super. After hav- ing run a knife around the inside edge of the super to sever wliat propolis connec- tions there may be, the whole contents of tlie super can be removed at one operation by the pressure of the follower from below. We have tried it, and know what can be done. The object of pi'essing the sections together is to close up the interstices, giving tlie bees less of an opportunity to insert propolis ; but to produce end pressure in the T super does not liel]t the matter at all. You can not get the two sides of the sec- tions closer togetlier tlian the upright of the T tin will admit. If you are going to have a wedge and board, it is much better to pro- duce pressure on the sides of the sections. This can be done with any T super, without changing its original dimensions, and you can get the last row in just as easily as you can any other row of sections ; therefore, friend IT., we can hardly see what advan- tage you will gain by making the deviation, by increasing the length of the T super for the purpose of inserting the board and wedges. With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. All queries sent in tor this department .should be briefly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked, "For Our Question-Box." Question No. 46.— i. To prevent the bulging of combs in the section, do you think it pays to fasten the foundation with two attachments'/ 2. If so, would you fasten to the top and bottom, or to the top and one side'/ No. O. O. Poppt.eton. No. Geo. Grimm. 1. Yes. 2. Top and bottom. Dr. A. B. Mason. We fasten to the top only; foundation % of an inch up from the bottom. E. France. We would fasten the top and both sides if prac- ticable, but the top alone will do. Dadant & Son. I fasten to the top only, but allow a little space on each side, and about ^s inch at the bottom. Paul L. Viai.lon. Fasten only at the top. The bees will fasten at the sides, the first work they do upon them. H. R. Boardman. No. I think it should be fastened only at top, nearly touching at each side, and one-half inch short at bottom. L. C. Root. I should like some expeditious way of fastening to the top and both sides. It should never be fas- tened to the bottom. P. H. Elwood. Fastening at two sides would not prevent bulg- ing, which results from other causes. Never fasten foundation at the sides. W. Z. Hutchinson. Foundation should be fastened to top-bars only, in frames as well as sections. To swing clear is the best preventive against bulging. Chas. F. Muth. 1. I think it would if you are obliged to employ help in the apiary to handle cases, etc. 3. I do not think that there would be much choice. Mrs. L. H.'VRHison. 1. I think it might, if there were any way by which it could be satisfactorily done with sufficient rapidity? 2. Top and bottom, I think. C. C. Miller. My friend Betsinger fastens the foundation at both sides, and thinks there is no way like it. So far I have fastened only at the top. B. does not fasten at the top at all. G. M. Doolittle. I prefer to fasten only at the top, though I have succeeded well by fastening both at top and bottom. Mr. .John Rey, of our State, has excellent success fastening both above and below. A. J. Cook. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 309 1. No; I never do it, and have no trouble. 'Z. I fasten one at the top, leaving- about one-eighth space at the sides and one-fourth to three-eighths space at the boitom. James Heddon. 1. Bees will sometimes work on one side of a piece of foundation and t'url it badly, fastening the end to the separator if there is one, and bulging it into the next space if there is not. If I am right, this sort of business is seldom done except by a very weak colony, or when honey comes in very slowly. From the conditions of the case, not many sections will be damaged in this particular way; and 1 would not advise much extra work to prevent it. If a remedy is really needed, the one given by Oliver Foster— Gi-ea>'ings, 1.S8S, page 4-i, seems to be the correct one. 2. Fastening top and one side leaves one corner free to be curled around. Try a few fastened at top and bottom, and make sure that you can make that style work satisfactorily; then, if you think it pays, put them all in that way next year. E. E. Hasty. I am a little surprised, friends, to see so many insist that fastening at tlie top is suf- ficient. I suppose that, in answering this question, reversing sections has been ruled out. If they are to be reversed, I would most assuredly want to fasten both top and bottom, or two sides. See Doolittle's arti- cle, page 249, last issue. Question No. ^"7 .—I have a good mni-krt,hnt}i for comh and extracted honey. The latter brings about tivo-thirds the price of the former. Which wnnhl you advise me to do— produce comb or extractid )tniiiy,or hotM Is it an advantage to make a specialt-y of cither one? How is it with you? Do you produce one or the other, or botli? 1. Both. 2. No. 3. Both, but mostly extracted. Dr. a. B. Mason. Produce extracted. We think it pays better. Dadant & Son. Both, if your market demands it. I produce principally comb honey— some seasons, entirely so. Mrs. L. Harrison. It is of advantage to produce that which you can sell best. If you can sell both readily, produce both. Chas. F. Muth. In your case it would be about "which and t'other." It is an advantage in our locality, usually, to make a specialty of one kind. W. Z. Hutchinson. At those prices 1 would produce extracted honey exclusively. On the whole there is not usually much advantage in making a specialty of either. We produce both. P. H. Elwood. If the extracted sold as readily as the comb at -:) the price, I would produce that. The trouble here is, that it is hard work to get rid of extracted honey at even a low price. G. M. Doolittle. I should prefer to raise extracted honey, but would raise as much comb honey as my home mar- ket would use. We work all our out-apiaries for extracted honey. We get twice as much extracted honey per colony as for comb. E. France. You could judge best. If you know how, it will pay best to work for comb honey. In general I think it pays best to work for both, and I think the average bee-keeper will earn more working for ex- tracted honey. I formerly succeeded best in pro- ducing extracted, but now I prefer comb. A. J. Cook. During the past seventeen years I have managed my bees in each of the ways named. If I had a good market for both I would produce both. For many reasons I prefer extracting. If either is to be pracliced exclusively. L. C. Root. I don't think 1 know enough yet to answer this question. It is rather a question to be auswered by each man for himself. I raise no extracted honey except some for my own table and some of my friends; but it is possible that, if I knew enough, I might raise both extracted and comb profitably. C. C. Mll-LEU. You will very likely do best with extracted honey; but no one but yourself can demonstrate it to a certainty. I produce mostly comb honey. The general rule is, extracted, where there is confidence in it, good market, and good price, and comb else- where. It is a good plan to build up a home trade in extracted while producing comb to sell to strangers. E. E. Hasty. It is an advantage to make a specialty of one or the other, particularly in any one apiary, if you have more than one. I presume, however, you would do better to produce both, if you depend on a local market for the disposal of your honey. If you conclude to abandon one, the figures you give make it about an even thing as to which one you retain. James Heddon. Well, you are lucky ! If the climate is like that of Wisconsin, by all means try first raising extracted honey. You will never be quite satisfied till you have. After you have sutficiently tested it and noted the results in every direction, then make a specialty of comb honey. You will stick to this, and be contented. I could write quite an article on this subject, but you would not be satisfied half as well as though you had followed the above advice. I can raise comb honey cheaper than extracted, and with more satisfaction. Geo. Grimm. If you get only one-third more for comb honey and a good market for extracted, I would go entire- ly for extracted honey, as, considering the extra expenses of material, trouble of crating, risk in shipping, etc., extracted honey will pay as well it not better, with less trouble. —This depends on one's market, as, if I have better sale for extracted, I would certainly make a specialty of it, etc. I have no market for comb honey, unless I ship very far; hence I work only for extracted, although I always make a few hundred pounds of comb honey for my own use and for friends. Paul L. Viali.on. The above answers seem to indicate that the notions or feelings of the apiarist have considerable to do in this matter. George Grimm suggests that we try bt)th ways be- fore giving an opinion. With the modern improvements and facilities in the way of producing comb honey, it seems to me I should prefer it, even if the other did pay a little better. A woman might handle ex- tracted honey, and not make a dauby mess of it ; but I am afraid the average man never will, unless he has his wife, or em- ploys women who are expert housekeepers, to attend to it. 310 GLEANmaS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. Question No. 48.— Does it make an apprecinhle difffvcncr in tlie quant Uy of honey stoird. or in the ease of manipiiliition of .viqiccs, to pUtcr the ."iccflojf.s- at rioht (/)((//(>■ /() till- liriiod-fmniis intitead of parallel, ag ).s customary.' I think not. We think not. T can not say. E. E. Hasty. Dadant & Son. Mrs. L. Harrison. I can not see any difference. E. France. I have had no experience with them at right an- gles. Dr. a. B. Mason. I can see no ditference, after trying both ways for years. G. M. Doolittle. We have used them both ways, and have noticed no difference. P. H. Elwood. It rnakes no difference as to amount of honey stored. The answer to No. 49 will explain why the sections ought to be parallel with the frames. W. Z. Hutchinson. Not any. I place them both ways, and can see no difference; but I wish a break-joint slatted honey- board between brood-chamber and section-case. A. J. Cook. If there is a space between the top of the frames and the case holding the sections, I think there will be little difference in the ainonnt of honey stored. L. C. Root. Yes, sir; especially regarding the ease of manip- ulation of supers. I would never use an arrange- ment in which the sections run crosswise of the brood-frames. James Heddon. I never could see that it made any difference in the quantity of honey stored. It might make a ditt'ei'ence in the ease of manipulation. It depends on the kind of supers used. Paul L. Viallon. I never tried it, but I don't believe it would make any difference in quantity. As my hives stand a little lower in froiit than rear, sections at right an- gles would hardly be so true. C. C. Miller. The hive should slope forward so as not to per- mit rain water to remain in It. How, then, can you place your sections crosswise and not have the combs hang crooked in the sections when taken off? I have tried it. It is a good deal like milking a cow from behind to handle them in that shape. Geo. Grimm. It makes no difference, in my estimation, provid- ing your hives stand level. Mine have a dip of about an inch toward the front, which is of advan- tage in several respects. Placing sections cross- wise on my brood-chambers would make the lower parts of the combs lean out of the middle. Chas. F. Muth. 1 have for years been satisfied that it makes do difference to the bees. When I devised the chaff hive I experimented quite a little in reference to this matter, and made observations. We decided to have the cliaff hive leveled up both ways. For all this, I have always had a liking for a hive with the entrance a little lower than the back end. as fiiend Grimm describes. In that case y((iiial ;oi|\iaintances whom lie has labored with on the matter ol Idliacco using, providing he give us his pledge that, if the one wlio receives tlic smoker ever uses to- bacco again, he (tile siilp-^iiilieri will jiay for the smoker. The one who receives thi" smoker in this <-ase need not lie a sub- scriber to Gleanings, tliough we greatly pret'ei- that he be one, because we think he would be strengthened by reading the testimonials from time to time in regard to this matter. The full name and address of every one who makes the promise must be furnished for publication. A LITTLE TOBACCO STORY WITH A GOOD MORAL TO IT, AND ONE THAT "YOUNG AMERICA" SHOULD READ. T WANT to give you something on the tobacco j^ subject that I wish you in turn to give to the ^l world— not that I could give you any pointers ■*■ on this subject, for few understand it better than you; but knowing something of the money and influence you are using every year to " down " this evil, I thought you would gladly pub- lish what I have to say. 1 learned to smoke when I was about 16 years old, only an occasional cigar. The habit grew on me year after year, until I got so 1 spent a lot of money for cigars, and I helped to draw others into the habit by treating to cigars. At a moderate estimate I will place the figures at $30.00 per year that I spent for cigars. I finally got to using a pipe. My health was poor. I was often laid up from work for weeks at a time. I was con- fident that smoking was an injury to my health, but I thour/ht that I could not give it up. Well, in the spring of 188ti my lather said to me, " If you will stop smoking 1 will give you a swarm of bees." I accepted the offer, and received the bees with the firm determination to stick, and to keep a record of the proceeds of the swarm. As a record, I am a healthier and wealthier man. The result for the two seasons is asfolhnvs: Comb honey in sections, 353 lbs., and an increase to 9 swarms. The honey was sold for 15c per lli., $.53 96 Placing the swarms at $8.00 per swarm, 72 00 Tobacco for two years, 60 00 *184 95 You can place better health and influence at any price you have a mind to. I propose to keep a record of the swarms and proceeds from the one, and with a stencil plate I letter each hive with the word "smoke," so that I can tell at a glance which they are; and finally, with good management and success, I expect to start an out-apiary with them alone. Now, Mr. Root, the one, if any. who is entitled to a smoker is Mr. .lohnson King, Eau Galle, Dunn Co., Wis. He is over 70 years old, but still tends to his bees. Please send my neighbor, Mr. R. B. Oaks, Ellsworth, Pierce Co., Wis., a smoker. After the use of tobacco for many years he stopped the use of it this winter, through the influence of his good wife and your efforts. If he commences the use of tobacco again, I will pa.y you for the smoker. W. C. King. Beldenville, Pierce Co , Wis., March (i. Friend K . you have made a good point indeed ; and if ttie arguments you give are •6li GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Apr. not convincing in regard to the tobacco- business, one must be dull indeed. We will send smokers to both of the addresses you ^ive. IN BEHALF OF A NEIGHBOR. Mr. J. B. Ellison, of this place, requested me to say to you that he lias quit using tobacco, and wishes a smoker. If he ever uses it again he will pay you for the smoker. If he does not pay you, I will. Eli Borden. Franklin, Robertson Co., Texas. ONE OF THE GIKLS WHO READS GLEANINGS PROM- ISES TO GIVE UP TOBACCO. One of my neighbor's girls quit the use of tobacco. I told her you would send her a smoker if she would, and I am satisfied she will not use it again. Her address is Fanny Ruttenbur, Grant City, Worth Co., Mo. Mary CONARD. Grant City. Mo., March 17, 1888. God bless you, friend Mary, for stirring up your own sex to the requirements of the times in regard to this matter of tobacco. Tell your neighbor's girl that Uncle Amos would like to take her by the hand and bid her God-speed in breaking away from the vile habit. Is it indeed true, that girls as well as boys use tobacco in your State V My good friend Mary, we are going to pray for you too, that you may not be weary in well- doing in this needed work. HAS BROKEN HIS PLEDGE, BUT PAYS FOR THE SMOKER. Please find inclosed postal note for $1.25. The reason I owe you .f 1.25 is. I can not stop using to- bacco. J. Fritz. New Portage, O. May God bless you for your prompt re- membrance of your promise, friend E., even if you have confessed yourself a slave to tobacco. May be some of you will think it out of place in this Tobacco Column to say Avhatlwantto say just now; but perhaps vou will accept the fruit of it, even if you do not all indorse my views. The idea is this: I want to ask tlie friends of Glean- iNos who feel as I do about this case, to unite with me in pra\ing that friend F. may have grace to give up tobacco again, and hold out. Now, friend F., we expect to hear from vou again in reference to this matter. ANOTHER SMOKER WANTED IN BEHALF OF A NEIGHBOR. A friend of mine, seeing your promise to give a smoker to any one who will quit the use of tobacco, has quit. His name is Geo. McAlravy. He asked me to write for him, and have you send the smoker tome; and if he ever uses it again I give you my promise to pay you for it myself. D, H. Campbell. Carrollton, Carroll Co., O., Feb. IT, 1888. That is the kind of pledge, my good friend C. This business of getting your neighbors to quit, seems to promise to open up a great lield in this work. Who can tell where it may end, if each one who loves godliness and i)urity commences to do personal work among his neighbors V Do not be backward in asking for smokers. Moody once said that God would always furnish all the mon- ey and strength that any of his children need to help them in working for Christ's kingdom, and I believe it. God will furnish the wherewith to pay for the smokers. OUT OF BONDAGE AFTER 35 YE.\RS OF SLAVERY. I am ashamed to say so, but after a long struggle (after using it for 25 years) I have given up tobacco in every form, I hope, for ever. Now, brother Root, go on in the good work, and still let your light shine. There are thousands looking to you for counsel on their pilgrim journey. You will find me all right yet. Wm. D. Titchenell. Pleasant Hill, Preston Co., W. Va., March 8, 1888. Friend T., I suppose you mean you are ashamed of 2-5 years' slavery ; surely not that you have broken the bonds, and stand before us a free man. May God help you. (iOOD FRUIT FROM A CAMP-MEETING. For about nine years I used tobacco, the most of that time chewing and smoking, and had become so addicted to its use that manufactured tobacco as bought at the stores would not satisfy the appetite. I used the natural leaf, or " home-made," as it was the strongest I could get. In August, 1886, 1 attend- ed a Holiness camp-meeting in Jamestown, Mich.; and during that meeting I resolved that, God taking away the appetite, or giving me grace to overcome it, I would quit its use. I threw pipe and tobac- co away, and, praise the Lord for keeping grace, I never have used it since, and never expect to. I would say further, that the appetite was taken away, so that I have never craved its use since I threw the weed away. Clinton Gibson. Monterey, Mich., Feb. 27, 188K. Friend G., this matter of having the ap- petite taken away has stumljled some of the brethren. Is it really true, that God takes away the appetite from some and will not from others V I can not think so. May I suggest the reason why you are delivered from even temptation in this direction ? You attended the camp-meeting, and very likely there heard powerful sermons against sin in every form. You began hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Even the old sins which you clung to, under the influence of the divine Spirit became hide- ous in your sight. Under the inspiration of the work there going on, you rose up with such energy and full determination to shake off Satan's shackles that you became virtu- ally a new man. You turned squarely away from the enemy, and put out your hands to Christ .lesus. There was no looking back, nor dwelling even in thought on the old habit. The consequence was, you were lift- ed so completely above this loathsome sin of the tiesh that you liave had :is yet not one desire to go back there. Tiie promised land is so much better and so mucli ple;isanter in a thousand different ways, that you would be foolish indeed to think of going back to the old life. Now, any one. I think, may have just this exi)erience. Whosoever will may come. But, dear brother. 1 warn you to beware of Satan yet. Even though you have felt no craving for tobacco for, say, over a year and a half, I rather think Satan will give you a tussle yet — perluips some time when you least expect it. While God permits us io stay here on this earth, we are yet human. ''Let him that thinketh he standeth. take heed lesL he tall." 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 307 Qu^ pejvLEg. Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the flrst-fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty.— Pkov, 3:9, 10. THE C:ONCLUDING CHAPTER OF " WHAT TO DO, AND HOW TO HE HAPPY WHII.E DOING IT." It is nearly two and a half years since this book was commenced ; and now I am writing the hxst chapter. In this chapter it would naturally transpire that I should em- phasize the most important part of the book. Well, dear friends, what is of more importance than all things else in deciding "what to do?" and what one thing will be more likely to make us enjoy the work God has given usV or, in other words, what will be most likely to help us to "be happy while doing" this work that I have been trying to map out for you? Why, I think we shall tind that the text at the head of this chap- ter hits the point exactly. "Honor the Lord with thy substance." Very likely some of you will say, " I am too poor. I should be glad to give something to the churches and various benevolent enter- prises ; and whenever I am able, I will do so." My friend, I think you are entirely wrong. In the first place, no matter what your circumstances are, if you have strength that enables you to get to church, go to church. Go and take your wife and children. If you are not able to go. send them ; but never send the wife and children to church and prayer-meetings and Sunday- school unless yoii are disabled by health from going yourself. Of course, I don't know how many of my readers are in the habit of absenting themselves from public worship ; but I am sure I am right when I say you can not afford to stay at home. You can not afford it pecuniarily, and you can not afford to risk your hapjnness by "remain- ing away. Possibly you are comparatively happy in your daily employment, without attending church. But I think a regular attendance would make you ever so much more happy. In fact, one who stays at home from church does not half enjoy any thing. Of course, I am giving this as my opinion ; and if you purchase my book and read it, you will expect to get my opinion. You have some confidence in my ability to direct and teach, else you would" not have read thus far. Now, then, my friend, go to church. If you have not been in the habit of going, start right off. If you haven't clothing as good as you think you ought to have, go with the best you have. I agree with the world, in thinking that we ought to put on our best habiliments when we en- ter the courts of God. I have studied over this matter a good deal, and I can not im- agine any reasonable excuse for neglecting church attendance. Now, attending church is excellent of itself; but the next best thing is to con- tribute to the support ot said church. The oft-repeated argument, that you are " too poor," I shall not accept at all. If you can not do any better, diop a penny into the contribution-box when it comes around. Nobody need see how much you put in, and I don't suppose it matters very much if they did see. God sees, and it is before him and to him that you are doing it. Remember what Jesus said of the widow woman and her two mites. Give something. Give reg- ularly. Don't go by fits and starts— a nickel one day, twenty-five cents another, or may be a dollar when you feel like it. Decide liow much you can afford to give every Sun- day, and give it. You may contribute by the year if you choose. But even if you do, put something into the contribution-box reg- ularly : do as others do, and set an example. I think it is a very good idea to give liberal- ly. I think you will make it pay bolh finan- cially and in l)eing happy, as I have told you. I feel like saying I don't really think any thing about it ; I know you will feel better to make a start in " honoring the Lord with thy substance," as our text has it. Why, my friend, it is the first stepping-stone to- ward genuine prosperity— the prosperity of yourself, the prosperity of your family, the prosperity of your neighborhood, your town, county. State, and nation ; aye, and the prosperity of the whole human family, the whole world, and this whole wide universe. The being who can gaze upon this universe, M'ithout any recognition of the God of all, is not worthy of being one of mankind. Have the children go, and have them give some- thing. They will probably give to the Sun- day-school. By the M^ay, I think you ought to go to Sunday-school too. If you think you can't stand it to go to both, go to church first. Don't miss the sermon that God has pro- vided for you. It may be a very poor one, but that does not matter ; you can not af- ford to miss it. The sermon will be better if you go than if you stay at home. Now, don't try to evade this nor dispute it. Ask your pastor if it is not so. Every good man who honors the Lord with his presence as- sists the pastor, and inspires him in deliver- ing God's message. No minister can preach great sermons to a very small audience ; that is, he can not do it very long, and God will not let him do it very long. We will suppose you are doing a fair busi- ness, according to the instructions of these previous pages. You are getting along comfortably. What part of your earnings shall be given to (iod's work ? The bible indicates one-tenth ; but I don't think it is veiy important we should take any very great paitis in being percise in the matter. If you try to be precise, some will say, " Is it to be a tenth of your net gains, or a tenth of yoiii- wages?" But I don't believe it is very well to try to be exact either way. If you say net trains, a great many will say tliey don't gain any thing — in fact, they are going down hill. A man who is going down iiill is the one, I think, who does not give any thing to (iod's work. Now, don't ac- cuse me of urging a. man to give money to the church and to the minister that he has no light to give. I told you, in my last talk, that we must apply reason and common sense to religion as well as to any thing else. I have heard people tell about those who give money to the Lord that ought to have been used in paying their debts. I do 316 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. Apr. not believe in tliis kind of work. But. now, don't rush to the conclusion that the man who is in debt shall not give any thing. If such were the case, almost all of us could excuse ourselves from giving. Aside from paying your debts, you nave money to pur- chase food and clothing— may be books and a few luxuries. Give the Lord a part of this sum. If you can not scrape up a little money in any other way. eat less and plain- er food. A young friend of mine was once lamenting because he could not put any thing into the contribution-box, because he had no work during tliat winter. We had union meetings around at the different churches ; and during one of these meet- ings, when the contribution-box was pass- ed, it suddenly dropped into his mind that, if he should stop using tobacco, he could take the money it cost and put it into the box. He tried to get rid of the idea, but he never got over it— yes, he did get over it after all. Do you want to know how '? He asked God to help him break off, and made it a special plea in his prayer that he might have help to invest the money in God's work instead of tobacco. He slipped off the shackles of tobacco, and came out bright and happy ; and you, my friend, can slip off something, 1 am sure. You can make some sacrifice for Christ's sake. Oh, what a bright and happy experience comes with parting with things of this kind for his sake. And now a word about the latter part of the title of my book. Suppose we make the heading of it this: " How^ to be Happy.' Christians have a great deal to say about being happy. Some of them talk extrava- gantly about the great happiness and the floods of joy that God pours into their hearts. I have at different times had some- thing to say in reference to this. Some have these exalted seasons and others do not. The ones who do are very often the same chaps who, at other times, have gloomy spells. I do not like to say much about these seasons when God has seen fit to lift me above the cares of this earth ; but per- haps I may mention them in this concluding chapter. These seasons of keenest and most intense enjoyment come to me after having made some sort of sacrifice— after I have been working for his sake. A few months ago I felt as though duty called me off to Michigan. I did not want to go, but I went, a good deal from a sense of duty ; and for quite a time 1 didn't have verv "much enjoyment either. My mind was constantly, on things at home. I was gone several days, and worked hard ; but no particular feeling of approval came into my heart. I began to think that perhaps God had decided that I was getting to be too old in the Christian life, to need commending as we commend a child, and that my faith was getting strong enough so it was not nec- essary to encourage me as we encourage a child when he does well. " Well," said I to myself, ''if this is what God thinks, all right. Thy will, not mine, be done." When I got home they wanted me at a farmers' institute, in a neighboring town. Every thing needed me sadly at home, and there was no way to get to this neighboring town but across the country, through fear- ful roads. Why, it took us four hours to go nine miles. The mud was freezing at every step. I should have felt a little sorry for the horses ; but a good stout team that did not have much to do, pulled two of us with comparative ease. Well, now, if you shoiild ask me to mention some of the happiest ex- periences, spiritually, that I ever knew, I should tell you that one of them was while at that farmers' institute. It was before the meeting began. No one was speaking, and there was nothing that had occurred, that I know of, to make me pai'ticulaiiy happy. I just sat there waiting for the meeting to open ; but while seated on that bench a flood of joy and peace poured down into my soul until I felt as if I could hardly bear more. It is true, there was a large crowd assembled in the hall : but I was very slightly acquainted with this crowd. But there was a feeling round about me that I was in the midst of friends. Don't think me visionary when I say that the words in- visible frieyicts seem to tell it better than any thing else I can describe; and something seemed saying to me, " Well done, thou good and "faithful servant. You have de- nied yourself for me, and have been work- ing hard, as well as you knew how, for the good of my people. Fear not. Trials and difficulties and conflicts await you ; but be not disheartened nor discouraged. I am with you, and will never forsake you." It may be years before I shall have a similar experience ; but the recollection of that time will sustain and strengthen me, I hope, for years to come . In thinking of this experience afterward, I decided there was probably some reason for it, which I had overlooked and forgot- ten. Well, if you will look on page 9-54, Gleaninoj^ in Bee Culture for Decem- ber 15, 18S7, you will get a hint of it. While I sat there at the institute I did not know any thing about the outcome of my talk that day on the cars ; in fact, I had forgotten all about it ; but I have heard of it since, and here is a letter from the young friend himself. At the time I talked with him on the cars, he objected to any sort of publici- ty ; but you will notice in the conclusion of the following letter, that all of that feeling has gone. He is quite willing now to stand \ip before the world, like Paul of old (or any other new-born soul), and testify for the Master. Dear Brother Boot:— I know you have thought of me a great many times since we parted at White Cloud on our way home from the State Convention, and wondered what the result of our talk on the train proved to be. Well, from that hour I began trying to be more of a Christian than I ever had been before. After getting home and talking with my wife and one of the members of the church, we made application for membership. But on the Sabbath that we were to be admitted to the church, the minister was sick and could not come, and has been here only twice since; but last Sun- day we were admitted, to the delight of the whole congregation, and I hope to the salvation of our own souls. The ceremony to me was very impress- 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 817 ive, and I know I shall never forget the first sacra- mental supper; and if I ever offered an earnest mental prayer for strength and guidance, it was on that occasion; and, God being my help, I will be true to the trust and faith. During all these weeks when we have had no pas- tor we have kept the Sabbath-school up, and in- creased its numbers. Every Sabbath has found me there, and several time^s I have been chosen to lead the Bible-class; and I have been surprised to find how easy it was for me to talk; in fact, I did not know I could talk so well On these and other oc- casions I have used the same argument that you did with me, and I know you will be glad to learn that, as soon as our neighbor's wife recovers from a bed of sickness, two of our most influential men and their wives will become members of the church. These men have always helped the chur. h by their attendance and money; but they Hgree that, to do all this and still not be fully identified with the church, is setting a rather had exarai^le in- stead of a good one to those outside the church. I shall expect many more within the year; and I feel, dear friend, that you are the leaven of whatever the result may be. I shall carry the matter into my business relations, and hope to do some good through my extensive correspondence. 1 shall be glad to advise you from time to time of the results if you would care to hear. We are very happy in our new relations, and with our little Huber. You are now welcome to use any part or all of this in any way you choose. T have now no ob.iections to my name being used with it. if it will do any good. I am your brother in Christ,— George E. Hilton. Fremont, Mich., Feb. 38, 1888. The point I wish to make in giving tiie above letter is this : Happiness does not come to those who seek it or chase after it. He who makes his first and foremost effort in life to find happiness will fail miserably. The Savior makes the matter very plain in that wonderful closing-up of the 2oth chap- ter of Matthew. Yon remember that those who had been working for their fellow-men had entirely forgotten about it. When the Master commended them they replied, " Lord, w/ien saw v\e thee a hungered, and gave thee meat? or thirsty, and gave tliee drink?'' etc. These iieople had not been working for happiness, for tliey had been doing their duty unselfishly. They had no expectation of pay, or of reward ; but even though they had fonjotten all about it. the King hadn't ; and lie vvus so much pleased with the work they had been doing that he says, ''Verily, I say unto yen, inasmuch as ye have done it tinto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Perhaps it will do no harm to say here, that friend Hilton is none other than the President of the Michigan State Jiee- Keepers' Convention ; and the effect of his going into that little chinch in tiie back- woods of Michigan, with l)is honest, child- like energy and devotion is not at all sur- prising. No wonder he took Jilong with him two of the best men in the town ; and in accordance witli the teachings of friend Terry, Prof. Cook, and others, they took their wives along witli them. Did it ever occur to you, dear friends, how much six active, influential men, and women can do to help along the cause of righteousness in any community? Now, then, you are to get your allotted portion of happiness by doing your duty, whether you feel like it or not ; and the most important duty that I can think of now at the close of this book is the one of at- tending churcli service, no matter whether you feel like it or not. No matter if you do hot feel well. If you have headache or sore throat, you will have the headache or sore throat if you stay at home : and after hav- ing tested it hundreds of times, I am satis- fied that these aches and pains are worse at home than when you are at church, in the path of duty ; but even if they are not, you ought to go. (to from a sense of duty, and not because you feel like it. If you get into the habit of going to meeting when you don't want to go. it seems like a sort of break in the ice in the way of taking up other duties you know you ought to take up, but wliich you do not wish to take up. It will be a great deal easier for you to give up tobacco if you go to church every Sunday than it would be otherwise. It will be easier for you to be honest ; it will be easier for you to say, in a thousand ways, " Get thee be- hind me, Satan." Toward the close of the Old Testament there is another promise. This promise refers particularly to our giv- ing toward the support of the church and minister and Sunday-school. It reads : Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.— Mal. 3: 10. What do you think of that, friends? Per- liaps you do not believe it. The prophet Malachi, in order to make it plain, sitpposed a case. He answered some of their appar- ently unfounded objections. They wanted to know wherein they had been remiss in their allegiance and in their duties. He told them, " Ye have said. It is vain to serve God : and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mom-nfully before the Lord of hosts?'' I suppose you have heard people in your vicinity and neighborhood ask what good it would do to put on a solemn face, and mope along mournfully with Christian people. They knew they were bad and weak, and so they make these excuses. Is that the case with you, my friend? or are you ready to say, " Mr. Root, I know I ought to go to church. I thank you for hit- ting me as you have in this closing chapter, and I am going to start out at once"? If you do that, my friend, I shall not have any fear. I shall be hai)py to know that you have succeeded in gardening, with small fruits, and in raising plants, etc.; but I shall be a thousand times happier to hear that while you have been helped by this book I am just closing, in the way of finding some- thing to do, you have also learned, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true secret of being " happy while doing it.'^ THE END. 310 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Am. klokida; the orange-bloom heavy. fHE bees are doing well this spring, and we .shall hav^e a fine lot of honey. The orange- bloom has been unusually heavy, but we had so much rain during the time of bloom that it has in a measure cut off the yield. The scrub-palmetto will be in bloom in a feAV days now, and the bees will gather honej' from that. We shall also sow our grove with Japanese buck- wheat, which does well so far as tried. We had a few seeds from a neighbor, and sowed a small patch near the hives, and the bees were at work on it before it was fairly in bloom. Mrs. A. L. Ford. Orlando, Pla., March 7, 1888. FROM 4 TO 11, AND 300 LBS. OF HONEY. We started with four colonies last spring; in- creased to eleven, and received 300 lbs. of honey; pretty good for a starter. We are making our own hives this spring. We got a combined machine, so we can do the work very well. I. Reedek. Everett, Neb., Mar. 3.5, 1888. NEW SWARMS. Bees are doing pretty well for the late spring we have had. They commenced work Jan. 38, but have had so much rain and cold weather that they have not built up very fast. 1 had my first swarm last week. We get no propolis until the middle of May. J. W. ECKMAN. Richmond, Tex,, Mar. 31), 1888. ALL ALIVE BUT TWO. My 31 stands of bees in chaff and Simplicity hives put in winter quarters last fall have all come through all right. Four stands in Dr. Tinker's hive were fi.xed in the same way, and two of them died. The other two I am feeding. Samuel C. Ware. Towanda, 111., March 9, 1888. WINTERED WELL. 1 am very much pleased with the statistical re- ports in Gleaninos. You may depend on me for reports. Bees have wintered well so far. Clover will not be killed, as there is three feet of snow on the gi'ound. Frank Durhand. Esdaile, Pierce Co., Wis., March 9, 1888. THE first pollen. The bees gathered the first pollen on the 31st and 33d inst. Bees have wintered well so far, and are in good healthy condition— that is, the Italians are. I think that most of the black bees that have not been fed will die. They did not gather nearly the amount of honey that the Italians did. I have two black colonies, and I have to feed them or they could not live until fruit-blossom. W. H. Kline. Bolivar, Tuscarawas Co.. O., March 36, 1888. FROM 1 TO 6, and 60 LBS. OF HONEY. Last spring I commenced with one colony of Italians; increased them to four. They made 60 lbs. of surplus honey in sections, after filling their brood-chambers full. It was mostly of buckwheat and golden rod. It was so very dry here that there was not much clover honey made. I winter them on their summer stands, packed with chaff. They have had a fiy but once since the 15th of Dec, and that was the 34th of Feb. Honey brings from 15 to 18 cents per pound. Jennie P. McLane, Pa., Mar. 1, 1888. POLLEN FROM SKUNK CABBAGE. Bees are in good shape at present; from 3 to 4 frames with brood April 3; bringing in pollen from skunk cabbage now. We lost only 3 out of 51, out- doors on stand. Henry Kinney. Amber, N. Y., April 6, 1888. " BEES ALL IN GOOD CONDITION." My bees are all in good condition. My loss this winter on summer stands is only one colony; but, of course, our climate is so mild we don't have to winter in cellar or chaff. G. H. Reed. Anneville, Tex., Mar. 13, 1888. GOOD PROSPECTS FOR A LARGE HONEY CROP. My 66 colonies and about the same number of my neighbor Schlimper's have wintered well, and have from 5 to 6 frames of brood. Prospects for a large honey crop are flattering. J. Gerard. . Brackettsville, Tex., Mar. 12, 1888. BRINGING IN POLLEN. My bees have wintered very well so far; are car- rying in natural pollen. They commenced gather- ing pollen the first of this month. They are all in A. I. Root's chaff hives, and wintered on summer stands. They commenced raising brood in Februa- ry. John Langley. Widnoon, Pa., March 4, 1888. WINTERING NICELY. Our bees are wintering nicely, and had a good Hy March 1. A small swarm came and settled in my bee-yard yesterday, and I put them in an observa- tory hive and fed them, and have them in the kitchen. I took .500 lbs. of comb honey from .50 stands last season, and sold it for $100. I winter on summer stands. J. R. Morrison. Bates, Ills., March 3, 1888. IN good condition. I started last spring with six colonies, and bought four of O. H. Townsend, Alamo, Mich., which were in tiptop order when received. These gave me 10 colonies to start on. I increased to 27, and procur- ed 3100 lbs. extracted honey, and enough for them to winter on. At this date they are all in good con- dition, having wintered in chaff hives, out of doors. Matthias Schneider, Jr. Mclvor, Mich., Mar. 31, 1888. NEW honey in TEXAS. I had 6 swarms of bees on the 31st, which settled together. I divided into four swarms. These are doing well. Then 6 swarms came out on the 3d. I divided them into 4 hives, giving them comb. On the 34th in the evening, all came out and went off, but I don't know why. 1 extracted 80 lbs. of honey to- day—some new honey and some last year's honey, from 3 hives. All are doing very well at present. I have 63 hives now. J. T. Bond. Cline, Tex., Mar. 36, 1888. none lost. I have frequently seen bees fly, but never as they flew to day. It is really the first good fly they have had since last November. About it a. m. they just swarmed out until the air and the fronts of the hives were black with them. Out of 85 last fall, not a single loss, and bees are in excellent condition — not a bad record for the " unbearable " chaff hive, is it, Bro. Root? I say, tally one more. Mercury at 9 A. M., 60. Geo. E. Hilton. Fremont, Mich., Mar. 19, 1888, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 311 NOT A SINGLE POUND. fl^ HE year 1887, with us, was a hard otie on bees ^ and on bee-men. I began the season with 43 / colonies (in Simplicity hives), all in splendid condition. I did not get a single pound of honey nor a swarm during the entire year, but lost, by starving and doubling l)ack to :i5 colo- nies at the beginning of winter. We fed out about $30.00 worth of sugar during the year. We now have 'M weak stocks on hand. We are not the least discouraged, but intend to " pick our dint and try it again." All our misfortunes in the business last year were attributable to the extremely dry sea- son. Four-fifths of the bees in this county were lost during 188T. Dk. B. W. Ford. Middletown, Mo., Mar. 6, 1888. BEES WINTEKING POORLY. Bees are wintering very poorly in this locality. Many have lost all, while others have lost from 60 to 75 per cent. Late feeding seems to be the cause, as those few who fed early are having their bees winter well. B. F. Hoover. Penrose, III., Mar. 36, 1888. THE LATE BLIZZARD IN THE EAST. The blizzard of the 13th, 13th, and 14th inst. has very unfavorably affected the prospects of bee- keepers of all the Middle Atlantic States. The cold itself would not have been so disastrous; but accompanied by a very high wind, the interior of the hives has been so chilled that not a single bit of brood has survived; and young bees, which are so important at this season, can not be expected be- fore the middle of April. This means the loss of many colonies by spring dwindling; i. e., the dying of old bees. The best of chaff hives have not been sufficient, for in them, too, all brood is lost. Had this storm not occurred, young bees would now be hatching dally. S. W. Morrison, M. D. Oxford, Pa., Mar. 30, 1888. THE WAY OF A BEE-KEEPER IS HARD. 1 have finished looking through the bees. I found those alive in good condition except 3. But 18 are dead out of 45, the highest loss I ever had. Last fall I had 45 colonies in as good shape for winter as I could wish, except feed; but the result makes me blue. Truly the way of a bee-keeper is hard. Here are the minutes of my book: No fall honey; plenty of heart's-ease. Bought 650 lbs. granulated sugar, Oct. 6th; brood was so heavy I could not feed before. Oct. 14. Too cool to feed well; syrup was 3 lbs. water to 10 of sugar; 1 teaspoonful of tartaric acid. Boiled. Oct. '22. Finished feeding. Nov. 6. Bees could fly for a week past. Dec. 18. Warm till now. Jan. 30. 90° ; bees got a good fly 3 days. Feb. 33. Bees out several days. The coldest weather was 36° below. Some very sudden change.s— 60° in 3 hours. I use chaff-packed hives. Snow was a detriment to those on the ground. I should like to ask why the loss was so severe. J. C. Stewart. Hopkins. Nodaway Co., Mo., March 17, 1888. Friend S., we do not quite see how heavy brood-rearing could prevent you from feed- ing earlier. Do you mean that the combs were so filled with brood there was no room for the feed to be stored V m-mncm Gmum- CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE GIVE SMOKERS TO PERSONS WHO STOP USING TOBACCO. First, the caiidklate must be one of those who have siveii uj) tobacco in consequence of what he has seen and read in this department. Second, he promises to pay for the smoker should he ever resunu- the use of luliacco in any fcirm, after receiving tlie snicikcr. Tliird. he must be a suhsc-riber to Gleanings. Any suliscriber may, liowever, liavc smolders sent to neighbors or ])ersonal acquaintances whom he lias labored with on the matter of tobacco-using, providing he give us his pledge that, if the one who receives the smoker ever uses to- bacco again, he (the subscriber) will pay forthe smoker. The one who receives the snnikcr in this case need not be a sub- scriber to (.tLEAnin(;s, though wc greatly prefer that he be one, because we think he wmild be strengihencd by reading tile testimonials from time to time in regard to this' matter. Tlie full name and address of every one who makes the promise must be furnished for publication. GIVING SMOKERS TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT SUB- SCRIBERS. K. A. I. ROOT:— I did not receive the smok- er, nor did 1 much expect it. I can see through it plainly, how you can afford to give smokers free to those who quit the use of tobacco. You charge about twice too much for the journal, and the other .50 cts. will pay for the smoker, which the other poor subscrib- ers will have to help pay for. F. A. Krame. Sand Creek, Wis., April 6, 1888. Friend K., just as soon as we decided we could afford to give smokers only to those who stopped using tobacco in consequence of what has appeared in Gleanings in re- gard to the matter, I saw the point you make ; viz., that a good many might claim there was no disinterested desire to have people give up tobacco at all, but that it was only speculation in the way of offering a smoker as a premium to every one who would subscribe for Gleanings". You are mistaken in saying, however, we charge about twice too much for Gleanings. With the money we invest in it, it could not be furnished at 50 cts.; that is, we could not furnish it. Now, suppose we give a smoker to every one who gives up tobacco, whether he is a subscriber or not. If he is not a subscriber to Gleanings, how will his friends know about the pledge he has made to abstain from tobacco? In fact, how will he know it himself, if his promise is printed in a journal he does not subscribe forV The result would be, that anybody who gave up tobacco ten years ago might demand a smoker, and who could hold them to their promise, if the promise was printed in black and white in some pul)lication they or their friends did not take? There is a way, however, that you can get the smoker with- out being obliged to subscribe for Glean- ings. Get some bee-man near you who is a subscriber, who is acquainted with you, to say he will guarantee the pay for the smok- er in case you ever use tobacco again, and we will send it right along, and you need not subscribe for Gleanings, nor read it either, unless you choose. You surely would not ask us to send out smokers by the wholesale to everybody, and everywhere, thousands of miles away, without some sort of guarantee or recommendation from some 320 GLEANINGS IN BEE CtTLTUHE. Apft. good man, would you, friend K.V You see, it behooves us to adhere to phiin business principles, even if we are trying to serve the Lord. Now, come, old friend ; will you not own up that we are right about it? and that there is nothing unfair in our wisliing the one who receives a smoker, to be a subscrib- er to GLEANIXOi.*^? Cleanings in Bee Culture. Published Semi- Monthly . ^O^-'^O* EDITOB AND PUBLISHER, »o»-«o» TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. !• ♦ -i For Club1}ine Bates, See First Page of Beading Uatter. :iv£EiDi3sr-a-, -i5^i=i^. 15, iseB. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.— John 16: 33. Notice the present issue is enlarged to 53 pages —16 more than the usual number. UNTESTED QUEENS FKO.M FLORIDA. The first installment has been received and ship- ped. They came in excellent order. We expect now to have them on our table for prompt mailing as fast as they may be called for. T. B. terry's writings. A SUBSCRIBER wishes to know what paper friend Terry writes for besides Gleanings. He used to write regularly for the Ohio Farmer, and also for the Country Qentleman; but we are sorry to see of late that it is only now and then they have an article from him. He has also written some recent- ly for the Rural New-Yorker. THE IMPROVEMENT IN ROLLING FOUNDATION. In our remarks in regard to this device (see page 146, Feb. 1.5) we omit to mention that the wooden roller is not used or needed on the six-inch mills, for they are used only for making strips for sec- tion boxes, and nothing of the kind is needed unless we make large sheets. Will those who have pur- chased six-inch mills take notice? REPORTING TO MR. NEWMAN. We are just in receipt of a letter from Mr. New- man, to the effect that only a few have responded to the call of Prof. Cook, on page 206, for reporters on honey statistics. Mr. Newman suggests, as a partial cause for this, that his address was omitted. To those who may have been deterred from ofi'er- ing their assistance in the matter for the reason just given, we will say that Mr. Newman's address is !t35 West Madison St., Chicago, 111. Editor New- man, of the A. B.J., is so well and favorably known, that no doubt Prof. Cook didn't think it was neces- sary to append his address. BLACK AND HYBRID QUEENS. Please do not send us any orders for the above. There are no black or hybrid queens in our vicinity, and it does not pay us to raise them. By consult- ing the department of each number of Gleanings, headed as above, you will find who has them for sale. We have given prices tor them in our price list, it is true; but we do it only to indicate what we think a fair value for them where parties happen to have them to dispose of. In localities where black bees predominate there will sometimes be more or less blacks or hybrids to be disposed of. Our locality is not at present one of that class. He- liable parties having blacks or hybrids to dispose of at the prices we quote them can have them noticed free of charge. THE STATE OF OHIO FORBIDS THE SALE OF CIGAR- ETTES AND TOBACCO TO MINORS UNDER 16. We clip the following from the Cleveland News and Herald of Friday, April 6: HALEY'S CIGARETTE BILL A LAW. The Senate this afternoon passed Mr. Haley's House bill prohibiting the sale of cigarettes and tobacco to minors under the age of sixteen. The bill makes such a sale, if knowingly made, punish- able by a $35 fine. The Ohio Farmer recently noticed the probable passage of this bill, and remarked that a similar bill in Illinois has been thoroughly enforced by the superintendents of the schools. Now, then, you teachers and superintendents of the schools of Ohio, as well all other good men and women, let us take hold of this law and see that it is speedily and thor- oughly observed by every man and woman who sells tobacco. MRS. COTTON AND HER BUSINESS. The Apiculturist, on page 93, takes me to task for saying that I believe Mrs. Cotton does all she agrees to. Perhaps in our notice of her circular we were not sufficiently explicit. We are well aware that Mrs. Cotton, in times past, did very badly; but I am sure she is doing much better of late ; and al- though she charges fearful prices for the goods she offers for sale (as 1 have over and over again stated), so far as I know, at the present time she does send her customers what she agrees to send them. Friend Alley intimates that, even when she gets .f20.00 for a colony of bees, she sends only a small nucleus, and oftentimes with only a queen- cell instead of a queen. She used to do this, I am aware; but does anybody /f?ioir that she does not send out a good fair colony now? We should give the woman a chance if she is trying to do better, just exactly as we want God to give each and all of us a chance when ire are trying to do better. NOTICE TO HONEY STATISTICIANS FOR GLEAN- INGS. About a month from date, in the issue for May 15, we hope to get out another installment of honey statistics; we trust, therefore, that our special re- porters will, in the mean time, be taking observa- tions. The list of questions will be very similar to those sent out last time, and will be forthcoming in a few days. Probably by the first of May, or a little later, all bee-keepers will be able to make an accu- rate statement as to how bees have wintered. We would strongly urge our subscribers to preserve es- pecially the copies containing the statistical re- ports. A year from date it will be something of a matter of interest to place the reports of one year alongside of another, and compare notes. If it should be found practicable to continue these re- ports from year to year, we may be able to learn from the direction in which the straws blow, as ob- served from reports of previous years, how to 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 321 make some sort of estimate of what may be expected during the season U> follow, and so be better able to estimate the price honey should bring- in the various localities. CLOSED-END FRAMES. The Bee-Keepers' Review for March, 1888, is an ex- cellent number; but the editor, in defending the use of closed-end frames, I think puts it a little too sanguine. In reviewing Cheshire's book, he says: It is evident that these gentlemen have yet to learn how to handle a Heddon frame. And,— While the Heddon hive is especially adapted to handling hives instead of frames, we must pause to explain how its frames can be handled more rapid- ly and with less danger of crushing bees than with either of the above-mentioned styles of frames, or even the hanging frame. Then the editor tells us how to handle these frames. Now, with all deference to the editor of the Review, I should say that he has not yet learned how t(j handle closed-end frames in localities where the bees cover every thing with propolis as they do here. With a hive that has had bees in only a few months, every thing works e.vactly as he describes, and frames can be put on the hive without killing a bee. We have one. of the Heddon hives in our apiary, and I have used closed-end frames more or less for twenty years. The end-bars can be slid down by the side of the frame already in the hive very nicely until they are covered with propolis. In Medina County 1 have never known a season when there was not sufficient propolis, sooner or later, so that sliding one frame against another would rub propolis from top to bottom, and catch bees by the legs and wings, and mash them and glue them fast. Patent-right men with hives con- taining closed frames have tried to talk this kind of logic to us for twenty-five years past; but when they exhibit at our fairs they always get a clean hive, free from the accumulations of propolis of many seasons. 0a^ 0WN )?Pi^RY. CONDUCTED BY ERNEST R. ROOT. THE CONDITION OF OUR BEES UP TO DATE, APKIL 11 ; NO FOUL BROOD YET. fNLY two colonies in chaff hives, up to date, have been lost out of our 240 all told, making the percentage of loss five-sixths of one per cent. The other colonies are in good condition, strong and healthy ; with the present good pros- pects of weather. I hope I shall not be obliged to change the report numerically. Just a year ago, by looking at the records as given on page 820, for April 15, 1887, in this department, I tind that foul brood had just made its appearance for the year. I am happy to state, at tlie present writing, that not a single trace of the disease has reappeared. It should be said, however, that, a year ago, brood-rearing, in conse- quence of the early spring, had progressed somewliat more than now. THAT COLONY IN THE HEDDON HIVE. Last fall we packed all our colonies in chaff, except one, and that was in the Hed- don hive in only oae section. I thought, when colder weather came on I would car- ry it into the cellar; but as the winter ad- vanced I decided to let it stand out, to see how the colony would stand the winter weather, with its brood-chamber reduced to a capacity just sufficient to accommodate it. On or about Dec. 15, examination showed that the bees were quite badly affected with dysentery. In about a week or more, all were dead. I do not give this incident as any thing against the Heddon hive, for it proves nothing either way as far as the hive is concerned. Mr. Heddon does not recom- mend leaving these sectional hives on their summer stands during winter. I had thought, that, possibly, with a reduced brood-chamber, the colony might stand con- siderable cold ; but in this case, at least, the protection was insufficient to prevent the too rapid consumption of their natural stores, the evident result of which was dysentery. All other colonies were amply protected with chaff packing, and were perfectly healthy. I said above, we lost two colo- nies. This was in chaff hives. If we in- clude the loss in the Heddon, which was the result of an experiment, it will make three, or a percentage of H per cent. THAT SMOKER WITH A LOOSE VALVE. In confirmation of what I said in our last issue regarding the loose-working valve of the Clark, the following card from one of our correspondents was received. It is as follows : Friend Ernest:— The improvements that you have made in the smokers is a change ^or the better. Mine got so choked up that I could do nothing with it, so 1 took it to pieces and fixed the valve a little differently. When I put it together again it work- ed all right. Now, my improvement is, I bored a '2-inch hole behind the end of the spring, and cover- ed it with a button. When I want to clean out the tube I open the hole, and have a crooked wire hot. Since I fixed mine I have no trouble. Try one, if you have never done so before, and see how nice it works. W. W. Hunter. Davenport, la., Apr. 4, 1888. Thanks, friend H. I am sure that the loose-working valve is a decided improve- ment, as any one will see by trying the smo- ker. I omitted to mention, in the last is- sue, that, when using the smoker— that is, when directing a blast of smoke upon the bees — it should be held in such a way that the valve side is downward. On the other hand, if the bellows be worked, fire-box downward, the valve drops, and does not immediately respond to the compression of the bellows. I have thought several times that, with the old tube, the best means of gaining ac- cess to it for the purpose of cleaning was by a small hole bored directly opposite the breech end. When not in use, this hole should be plugged, as you describe. The difficulty in the way was, that it would in- crease the expense of the smoker, and we came to the conclusion that the large blast- tube would render frequent cleaning un- necessary, and hence unnecessary a special provision for gaining access to the blast- tube at tlie back end. Sl4 GLl:Ai^lNGS IN Bt:E CULTUEE. Apr. NEARLY THIRTY TONS DADANT'S FOUNDATION SOIjIJ I3V XSS'T'. It is kept for sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111. ; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich. ; F. L. Dougherty, Indian- apolis, Ind.; B. J. Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind.; E. S. Armstrong, Jersey ville. 111.; E. Kretchmer, Coburg, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., M.J. Dickason, Hiawatha, Kansas; J. W. Porter, Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Va. ; E. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y. ; D. A. Fuller, Cherry Valley, 111. ; J. B. Mason & Sons, Mechanic Falls, Maine; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watertown, Wis.; J. Mattoon, and W. J. Stratton, Atwater, O., Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Free- burg, 111.; Geo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1409 15th St., Denver, Colo.; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Palls, 111.; J. A. Roberts, Edgar, Neb., and numerous other dealers. Write for /ree samples, and price list of bee sup- plies. We guarantee every inch of our foundation eqvMl In nample in every respect. Every one who buys it is pleased with it. CHAS. DAD ANT & SON, 3btfd Hamilton, Hancock Co., Illinoiet. 4 YOU BUY your supplies for 1S88, send for my o3page illustrated Catalogue, de- scribing my new reversible-frame hive and T super. They are per- fection. Address 5tfdb E. S. ARMSTRONG, JERSEYVILLE, ILLS. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. HIVES, FRAMES, CASES, SECTIONS, COMB FOUNDATION, ETC. Send your address for fkee circular to KKVNOIiUS BROS., 5tfdb Williamsburg, Ind. inni/ UrDrt 20 tresh eggs in season, for on- LUUI\ nCnb : ly $i.O(i; also agent for thor- oughbred Cattle, Swine, and Sheep, of fine pedigree, and Silver live-stock powder. Write for what you want. Orders filled in rotation. .5-8dl) Fillmore Decker, New Florence, West'd Co., Pa., lireeilcr ti;' I'lirr liroirii Lcf/liorn Foirls. 200 COLONIES Of BEES FOR SALE IN MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. Both Hofman and Moon frames. For particulars and prices, address D. E. FLOYD, 6-9db Fort Plain, N. Y. IVRITE TO JOHN CALLAM & CO., LUMBER DEALERS, KENTON, OHIO, — FOR PRICKS ON — BEE-HIVES, SECTIONS, And General Supplies for Bee-keepers New Factory. Low Prices. Good Work. 3-14 db UUAMTCn 1000 CUSTOMERS torPure Italian bees WAI1 I tU & ("ueens. Address, MARTIN & MACY, 6-11 b No. Manchester, Indiana, Or J. J. Martin & Co.. Publishers of Rays of Light. IMPORTED CARNIOLAN QUEENS. I have 11 FINEST SELEt^TED QUEENS, bred by Mr. Benton in Carniola, August and Sep- tember, 1.SH7, now in my apiary, ready to ship as soon as weather will permit; never saw foul brood. One queen by mail, $8. Queen, with frame of brood and bees, by express, $10. You pay express charges. Safe arrival always guaranteed. Send for 1888 circular of home-raised stock. 8-lOd S. W. Morrison, M. D., Oxford, Chester Co., Pa. HERE I GOME To say ihat R. Hacr, of Dix- on, 111., has sold out his sup- ply business to the Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., who will sell V-groove basswood sections at from $2.7.5 to 1^4.00 per M. Other supplies correspondingly low. Sam- ples and circular free. Ad- dress the GOODELL & WOODWORTH NIFG. CO., 3tfdb ROCK FALLS, WHITESIDE CO., ILL. oo 1 will breed and mail guaranteed pure Italian queen-bees from the best stock for business, for one dollar each, the coming season. Orders solicit- ed, and queens mailed upon the receipt of order. I will also sell 3.i0 colonies of Italian bees in Lang- stroth hives, cheap, or any number of colonies to suit purchaser. I can ship by river, railroad, or steamship to any point. Address 6tfdb J. AV. WINDER, New Orleans, L.a. FOUNDATION, 10-lb. lots or more, a5 cts. per lb. ,5tfdb JAS. McNEIL., Hudson, N. Y. HEADQUARTERS For Cards and Sta- tionery for Bee-keep- ers and Otbers. Besides our beautiful eight-color chromo card, we have other neat designs, also a fine selection of fancy address cai-ds, for old and young, for business and amusement. Also two and three letter mono- grams, all at low prices. See Here, 50 fancy print- ed cards, 15 cts.; 300 envelopes, 300 letter-heads, printed, fl. Package 25 assorted cards, 10 cts. Neat box of cards and honey candies, 15 cts. Circulars free. Address J. H. Martin, Hartford, N. Y. 20tfdb FREE! FREE! FREE! Don't fail to send your address ou a postal card for the March number of the Anierit-an Aplcul- tiirlst. 'Tis filled with essays on "Practicai, Hints to Bee-Keepers," from the pens of the best-known writers on apiculture. Sent Free. Address Al'lC VLTimiST. Venham, Mans. 4tfdb BEAUTIFUIi QUEENS FROITI * Q * ^. IinPORTED MOTHERO Tested, $2.00; Untested, !|1.00. LIZZIE NTSEWANDEE, NEW 0AELI3LE, OLAEEE CO., OHIO. 8-9tfd ^___ L. BRAH.^IAS, P. ROCKS, R. C. B. l,Ex-ioe> Only ^a.SO. Patented Feb. 9, 1888. Address the inventor, 8-lOdb J. V. ITIEL.<'HKR, 0'T Q-U-EEiTS .ii.3SrX3 BEES. J. C. SAYLES, Hartford, Vashin^ton Co., Wis. 2tfd DADANT'S FOUNDATION FACTORY", WHOLE SALE AND RETAIL. See advertisement in another column. 3btfd Tyler's Flour - Receptacle. A Much-Needed Household Convenience. This is the most convenient ar- rangement for Hour that we have ever seen. It holds just a 49-lb. sack of flour. It is to be hung on the wall just above your table. When you want some flour simply place your pan under it, open the lid on the bottom and turn the ei'ank and you get > our flour already sifted. It is sim- l)le, neat, and ef- fective, and not expensive either. I'lice *3.00 each, orated ready for shipment. Aerate of 6 direct from factory, for $1.5.(10. IL, Z. ROOT, l,Cedina, O. u , LOOK HERE! y^Y I ' wi" sell Italian queens from one of tJ A. I. Root's imported queens. One ' untested queen, f 1.00. Tested queen, *2.00. Select tested queen, $3.00. I also give a box of my pure vegetable liver pills free with each queen. Ad- '"" DR. L. L. LOOMIS, 6-17b Pemberville, Wood Co., O. ^r>C"C I My catalogue of Bees, Queens, Api- I© l^tsti I iiriaii Supplies, Standard Poultry (7 I varieties), Japanese buckwheat. Green Mountain and Empire State potatoes. My slock is tirstclass. You should see my prices for 1888 before you order. CHAS. D. DUV ALL, Stfdb Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md. V' EARLY ITALIAN ,0 Z 1 untested queen - - - _:1 1.5 .1 OOi-H -5 3 " " . . . -gs 00 ^3 sotn ^^1 tested " - - - 5^50 s2 OOI-H. C/5 3 " " - - - "^6 00 4 50L*J ^_^ Many of the above will be reared in thehH _j height of the swarming season, and all willLJ ^^ be nearly, if not quite as good as the best^^ ^ swarming queens. In every case satisfac-^H r- ^ tion and safe arrival guaranteed. 6-9db Tf) *^ W. J. Ellison, Stateburg, Sumter Co., S. C. ^ millPT order supplies before sending for circu- IIUH I lar of HIVES, SECTIONS. T SUPERS, ■* etc., to E. L. OLEGG, Peoria, Union Co., Ohio. THE BRIGHTEST FOUR-BAND GOLDEN ITALIAN QUEENS AND BEES and reddest drones. For Working Qualities equal to any, and superior to many. Price, select tested, one and two years old $2 00 Tested 100 Queens reared this season that produce a majority of four-banded workers: Best select tested 3 00 Tested 3 50 Untested in April and May 1 25 Untested in June and after 1 00 Send for circular to li. L. HEARN, Frenclivllle, W. Va. FOB, SALE CHEAP. The following articles: One section-box machine, one cutter-head for making the entrance to section- boxes, one mandrel with dovetailing saws, one planer, for planing hives and sections, one mandrel, two 10-in. saws, one 8 and one 9 in. saw, two 6-in. saws; one 6-in. dovetailing saw. Machinery as good as new. THOMAS GEDYE, La Salle, La Salle Co., 111. HEADQUARTERS IN THE WEST FOR PURE ITALIAN BEES and QUEENS. Full colonies, from $5.00 to *!) 00 each; 2-frame nucleus, untested queen, in May, $2.50; June, $2.35; after, $2.00; 3-frame, in May, $3.50; June, $3.00; aft- er, $2.50. With TESTED queen, add .50c more. Bees, per lb., in May, 90 cts.; June, 75 cts.; after, 60 cts. Untested queens in May, $1.00; after, 75 cts.; six, $4.00. Tested, in May, $1..50; after, $1.25. Write for circular of Bees, Queens. Sections, Foundation, etc. 6-14db Address JNO. NBBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. Cash for Beeswax! Will pay 20c per lb. cash, or 23c i n trade for any quantity of good, fair, average beeswax, delivered at our R. R. station. The same will be sold to those who wish to purchase, at 35c per lb., or 28c for best selected wax. Unless you put your name on the box, and notify us by mail of amount sent, I can not hold myself responsible for mistakes. It will not pay as a gen- eral thing to send wax by express. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 325 OUR DAISY WHEELBARROW. Who has not felt the need ol a Liiu'lit, Strong', and Durable and at the same time CUeap wheelbarrow? The cut shows one that combines allthesequal- Jties better than any other we 'have ever seen. We have two sizes — the smaller one weigh- ing only 35 lbs., and yet it will carry 500 lbs. salelj', and it can be ij'icked so closely together for shipment that you can take the whole thing uniler your arm and walk off easily. The wheel has Hat spokes instead of round. The different pieces are all cut and forged by means of dies. The legs are steel, so they will neither break nor bend, even if you bump them on the sidewalk. The springs are oil-tempered, with adjustable bearings, so the wheel will always run free. Mf)re than all, the wheelbarrows are the nicest job of painting and varnishing, I believe, I ever saw, for a farm imple- ment. They are handsome enough to go ai-ound town with, and strong enough to do heavy work; and yet the price of the small size is only .f4.00. The larger size is 14.35. They can be sent either by freight or express. It is only five minutes' work to put one together. You can do a good work and make good wages Introducing these wheelbarrows to your neighbors. Write for terms to DOUR 35-POUND WHEEI-BAKROW, CAPABLE OK CARRYING 500 POUNDS. -A. I- EI.OOT7, lVXocX±xx<^9 Oliio- APIARY FOR SALE. T will sell my complete apiary and outfit at a very low price. Any one about to invest in bee- keeping will do well to address PHILIP H. LUCAS, mount Vernon, West Cliester Co., N. Y. ITALIAN QUEENS Untested, May, .fl.35; June, *l.OO; July, 90 cts. Send for 16- page ilTjUStrated price list of Bees, Queens, Chaff Hives, Barnes Foot - power Saws, fjangdon Miter - Boxes, and Apiarian Supplies. Address \VIl.L.I.\m E. GOILD, Fremont, Newraygo Co., 7-9db Micliigan. DR. G. L. TINKER, manufacturer of Open-Side White-Poplar Sections, the best-made sections ever offered to bee-keepers. The best-made perforated zinc. The best-made and only perfect wood and zinc honey-boards. Western agent for Crawford's Section Cartons. Sample section, zinc, and beautiful wood cards, 3 cts. Cat- alogue free. Address DR. (i. L,. TINKER, 7 lOdb New Plilladelpliia, O. RY Brown Leghorns. You will nevernkeep any other breed. 6d A. F. HEIGHT, Mazsppa, Minn. T EVERY GOOD FARMER WHO HAS USED The Columbia Chilled Plow ISayM it i»i tite Li ^Ii test Ural't, Eaisiefe^t to Handle, Stronjseist and Most Durable, does Better Work in all Soil!>i; in short, tlie Best Plow in the Market. Don't Tail to try a Columbia l)efore purchasing any other. Send for price list, testimonial, and calendar. If they are not sold in your vicinity send for Si>ec-Ial in- troducing Price. Mention this paper. 69db COLUMBIA PLOW WORKS, COLUMBIA CO. Copake Iron Works, N. Y. D ADA NT'S FOUNDATION FACTORY, Whole- sale and retail. See advertisement in another roll] mil 3btfi1 G. B. LEWIS & CO. w 15 make the best Bee-Hives, the best Sections, the best Shippiug-Crates, the best Frames, &c. |S~AVe sell them at the Lowest Prices. Write for free Tllustrafed Catalogue. G. B. LEVV^IS &CO., Itfdb WATERTOWN, WIS. gEflDWBTEilS IK TIE WEST FOS THE MAHUFACTUEE AND SALE OF Bee-Keepers' Supplies. CHAFF AND SIMPLICITY HIVES FURNISHED AT A GREAT REDUCTION IN PRICE. Nice Sections and Foundation, Specialties. A full line of Supplies always on hand. Write for our new Price List. Cash paid for Beeswax. 16tfdb A. F. Stauffer, Sterling, III. Smith & Smith. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LAEGEST BEE-HIYE FACTORIES IN THE WORLD. If you are interested in bees, send for our price list before buying any supplies. (iOOIt OOOD.S INI) F.ilH FRirKS. SMITH & SMITH, (6tfdb) KENTON, OHIO. Co.stH I, tlKIII i 'Ut.s )ti-r ii-rrt;. THE CANADIAN BEE JOURNAL. THE FIRST DOLLAR WEEKLY IN THE WORLD. THE D. A. JONES CO., PUBLISHEES, BEETON, ONTAEIO, CAN. D. A. Jones is its editor, and this fact is a guaran- tee of its worth. It is thoroughly practical and con- tains weekly excellent articles from leading bee- keepers in the United States and Canada. Fifty-two numbers make a volume of lOtO pages. American currency and stamps at par. Samples free. 326 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Arii. BEE SUPPLIES. MItohsal,- iiiul Jtctfiil. Illustrated catalog-ue free to all. Wo liave the largest steam-power shops in the West, exclusively ussd to make everything needed in the Apiary, of practical con- struction and at the lowest prices. Italian bees, queens, 12 styles ol Hives; Sections, Honey-Extractors, Bee-Smokers, Feeders, Comb Foundation, and everything- used by bee-keepers, always on hand. Address 3-lldb E. KEETOHMEE, OOBUEG, MONTOOMEEY CO., IOWA. The Globe Lawn -A/lower. THE BEST AND CHEAPEST FOR ALL TO BUY. Nothing indicates neatness and thrift about the house so well as a nicely- kept lawn, or apiary, and no flower garden is prettier than a nice green sward evenly mowed. Probably the reason more people do not have these nicely kept lawns and apiaries is because they were not able to get a flrst-class mower at a low enough price. We have been on the lookout for such ii mower for some time, and we have succeeded in getting it at last. The Globe lawn-mower shown in adjoining cut combines all the best features, and is a flrst-class mower in every respect. HaNing only three knives it will cut longer grass than those having four. The axle of the drive-wheel does not project, so that you can run close to the hive. It has two drive-wheels and roll- TABLE OF PRICES: LIST Ol'H PRICE PRICE 10 in. G lobe .... (Ssil.OO) . . . *5..'>0 13 " •' ....( 13.0(1).... 6..50 14 " " ....( 1.5.00).... 7.50 16 " " ....( 17.00).... 8..50 18 " '• ....( 19.00).... !t..50 We can ship from here, or Springfield, O. All, or a part of the freight will be allowed on shipments of Ave or more from Springfield, according to distance. ins<(tr\TS. On 2 machines 5 •' 3 " 10 " 4 " 13'/a "5 " 15 " 8 " 20 " 10 or more 25 er, and the driving gears are simply per- fect. Nothing could be more simple and ef- fective. The prices are very much lower than on any other flrst-class mower, in fact they are about as low as the cheap grade of ma- chines, and yet this mower is not surpass- ed by any machine on the market, but is guar- anteed to be first-class. There Is NO EXCUSE any longer tor not having a nicely kept lawn. The manu facturers of tJQis lawn mower having failed we secuvd the entire stoek and offer them (while thij 1 >■^t) It thist pims whi ly^ MOITTSS FOR 55 GENTS ; Or to every boy or uirl «lio will sseud us one IVKW siibworlber lor 7(4 iiiontli>> with 55 cent!*, and 6 ets. to pay postasie, we will mail free one ol" tliexe beautiful liites. Tlii8 is just the time of year when every boy and girl wants a liite, and I'm sure you can't get one easier than to g-o to your neighbor who keeps bees and doesn't talse a bee-journal. Show him a copy of Glean- ings, and tell him that, by subscribing now. he can get the paper for the rest of the year for only .55 cts. If you don't succeed, you can get the kite just the same by sending 10 cts. and 6 cts. extra to pay postage. .A,. I. H-OOT, 3VCeci.±33.A, Olxio. readlr^of^^'^ANiLl'tLa! NEW AND SECOND-HAND FOUNDATION-MILLS DOOLlTTLEhasconclud- AT REDUCED RATES. ed to sell QHJEEJNS in „r i. i, j ^u •■ n • *v. n, .i .^ ,.„. their season, during 1888, We have-on hand the loUowing tdn. mill& that we at the foUowine- prices- desire to dispose ot; and to do so we quote these One untested qSeen.. . . ' 1 00 special prices : One U-inch mill macle about 3 .years Three untested queens 3 00 »&«, b'lt has never been used^ ^I'^'S^'l a™.H >One untested (lueen fdn. with the round, or improved cell. It is as good reared by natural a mill as we could make a year ago; but with our swarmina- 1 50 °6^ machine tor cutting the rolls we do much bet- Three dittS.' ::::::.::::: 3 bo ter work now hence we offer this mill at the very One tested queen 3 00 'ow figure of $3...(MI. Regular price WO.OO. Three tested queens.. . 4 00 One lO-inch mill, made about 3 years ago; has One tested queen by been used almost none: it is at Church Creek, Md. natural swm'g 3 00 Regular price, $30.00. Will sell for $15.00. Three ditto 6 00 A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. J Tested queen8,1887 rear- . ing, each ... 4 00 TV/TT T'T'TU'C? Extra, selected for JVl U 1 rl O breeding, two years old 1000 •-^-■i — -- _-._-« » MmAVi« Two-frame nucleus with any queen for $2.00 extra. TTnTTFY- EXTRACTOR Circular free, giving full particulars regarding 4i W *i Hi * U^* A *wA*W * VAwj each class of queens. ■|.<>^,^^^^^ SQUARE GLASS HONEY-JARS, 5-13d Borodino, Onondaga Co., N. Y. TIN RUCKETS, REE-HIVES, _ HONEY-SECTIONS, Ac, &c. ^EES ANF) QXJEENS- perfection COl^D-RIiAST SMOKERS. One pound, with a tested Italian queen, in May, $2.25; in June, $3.00. Tested queens, raised from- 1 Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, imported mothers, $1..50 each; in June, $1.35. All Cincinnati, O. kindslof bee-keepers' supplies furnished. p. S.—Send 10-eent stamp for " Practical Hints to T. A. GUNN, Tullalionia, Tenn. Bee-Keepers." Itfdb 332 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. May CHOICE BEED —OK THK— WEW JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. Per lb., 1 S*- ; >4 peck, 604- ; 1 i>eck,;$1.00; '/2 bush., $1.90 ; 1 biiMiel, $».50; 5 bushelii or more, $3.00 per bushel. Here is what a few men did with this variety last year: C. M. Underwood, Oteg-Q, N. Y., raised 11 bushels from 6 lbs. of seed. Jos. Griffin, Klo, Va., raised 3^ bushels from 2 lbs. of seed. F. W. Dean, New Milford, Pa., raised Sy^ bushels from 3 lbs. of seed. J. C. Gallup, Smithport, Pa., raised 10 bushels from K lbs. of seed. R. B. Hetcher, McClure, N. Y., raised 914 bushels from .5 lbs. of seed. These yields are not so remarkable till you consider the very dry season and unfavorable circumstances under which they were produced. The testimony was, that, as compared with other varieties, it yielded from ~ to ."> times as much seed, and seemed to produce more honey. M. J. Bundy. Angola, N. Y., a miller, called his farmer cousin's attention to the matter last season, and he, thinking that, if a little were good, concluded that more would be better. He therefore bought and sowed TWO BUSHELS, July 6, "and during the drought it looked as though it would not be worth cut- ting; but after the fall rains it came on in a hurry." He harvested 140 bushels of choice seed. Mr. Axtell, Koseville, 111., " believes it will do better in this climate than any other buckwheat he ever sowed, and he has had an e.xperiencc of over 3.5 years." I am not aware that any of the above men got less than $2.00 per bushel for their seed, and most of them got much more than that. Send in your orders early, before our stock of 80 bushels is exhausted. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 333 FREE! FREE! FREE! Upon application. Our 28th Annual Price List. A full line of BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. CHOICE COMB FOUNDATION AND WHITE-POPLAR SECTIONS A SPECIALTY. 100 COLONIES OF CHOICE ITALIAN BEES tor sale cheap. Also NUCLEUS COLONIES and QUEENS. Orders booked now. Address WM. W. GARY & CO., ;iMdb Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass. .SuceeHsors to Wm. W. Cary. (Please mention Gleanings. ) Green "Wire Cloth, Window Screens and Shipping Bees, AT GREATLY REDUCED PRICES. The following- lot of wire cloth is a job lot of rem- nants, and full rolls direct from the factory, that are FIRST ftUALIT?, and the pieces are of such varie- ty of size as to furnish any thing- you want. Price \ii cts. per sq. foot, for full pieces. It we have to cut the size you want, 2 cts. per sq. ft. When you order a piece, and somebody else has g-ot it ahead of you, we will substitute a piece the nearest in size to the one ordered, unless you speci- fy in your order that you do not want us to substi- tute. The flprures on the left indicate the width. 8 10 rolls, 67 sq. ft. each : 1 each of 66, 65, 64, 6.3, 63, 62, 5i, 40, 2'i, 24, 22, and 4 sq. ft. 12 34 rolls of 100 sq. ft. each ; 3 of 102 sq. ft. ; ■', of 98, and 1 each of 97. 92, 7.5, 52. 48, 44. 43, and 28 sq. ft. 14 1 roll 14 sq. ft. 16 8 rolls of 133 sq. ft. ; and 1 each of 132, 130, 130, and 128 sq. ft. 18 6 rolls of 147 sq. ft., and 1 roll each of 153, 1.50, 1 18, 145, 14.5. .and 1 69 SCI. ft. 22 I 1 roll each of 55, .55, and 16 sq. ft. 24 I 22 rolls of 200 sq. ft. each, and 1 each of 280, 50. and 8 sq. ft. 26 I 95 rolls of 216 sq. ft. each, and 1 each of 215, 210. and 204 sq. ft. 28 I 47 rolls of 233; 3 of 224; 1 of 257, 234, and 219 .sq. ft. 30 I 1 roll eiich of 250, 250, 125. 125. and 105 s(|. ft. 34 1 17 rolls. 283 sq. ft. each; 1 each of 142, 142, 133, 130. and 9 sq. ft. :« 5 rolls, ,300 sq. ft. each ; 1 each of 195. 1.50, 150, 1.50, and 120 sc|. f . .38 ' 21 rolls 316 sq. ft. ; 1 each of 633 and 300 sq. ft. I 1 r.ill.42inches, of 350 sq.ft.; 2 of 44 in., 366 sq. ft.; 1 of 46 in., 121 sq. feet. THE FOLLOWING CLOTH IS BLACK. 40 I 5 rolls, 3:33 sq. ft each, and 1 of 317 sq. ft. 42 I 9 rolls, 3.50 sq. ft. each. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O, JOB LOT OF POULTRY-NETTING, ISraall Pieces at same Rate as full Itolls — \\ ct. per Square Foot. Two or more pieces, .5 per cent off; ten or more, 10 per cent discount. You will notice in this lot some with heavier wire than No. 19, and some with smaller mesh than two- inch. Both of these are worth more at regular prices than two-inch No. 19; but as it is a job lot we put it all in at the same price. 24 60 IK 72 IK j^ By dividing the number of square feet in this col- > umn by the width in the first column, you can ascer- '■" tain the length of each piece. These figures give the . number of square feet in each piece. 19 170, 140, 130, 56, 32; No. 18. 226. 19 167, 125. 125. 95, No. 18, 150. 18 294, 19 495. 445, Xi5, 330. 325, 285, 280, 240, '220, 180, 165. 160, 140, 80. 18 410, No. 17 wire, 195. 18 228. 19 750, 720, 672. 636, 618. 558,510, 438, 270, 252, 222, 168, 168, 162, 162, 156. 156, 156, 48. We know of nothing nicer or better for a trellis for creeping vines than the above netting. The 12 to 24 inch is just the thing to train up green peas, fastening the netting to stakes by means of staples. If the stakes are set in substantially, one each 12 or 15 feet will answer. When the peas are stripped off the stakes, netting and all can be rolled up and laid away until another season. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. ITALIAN QUEENS Untested, May, $1.2.5; June, $1.00; July, 90 cts. Send for 16- page ILLUSTRATED PRICK LIST of Bees, Queens, Chalf Hives, Barnes Foot - power Saws, Langdon Miter - Boxes, and Apiarian Supplies. Address WIL.L.1AIVI E. OOILD, Frcinout, Newaygo Co., 7-9db ITIlrlugan. En toil's Imp ro I'cfl s:Eic!'rio3v a.A.isjs. Beks AND QuEEN.s. Send for free catalogue. Address FRANK A. EATON, 5 lOdb Blufftoii, Ohio. DR. G. L. TINKER, MANUFACTURER OF Open-Side White-Poplar Sections, the best-made sections ever offered to bee-keepers. The best-made perforated zinc. The best-made and only perfect wood and zinc honey-boards. Western agent for Crawford's Section Cartons. Sample section, zinc, and beautiful wood cards, 3 cts. Cat- alogue free. Address DR. (i. L. TINKER, 7-lOdb New Pliiladelpltla, O. EVERY GOOD FARMER WHO HAS USED The Columbia Chilled Plow Say!>i it i!s the Ligliteiiit Draft. Ea!>>iest to Handle, Strongest and Most Durable, does Better Work in all Soili>>; in short, the Best Mow in the Market. Don't Tail to try a roltiinbla before purchasing any other. Send for price list, testimonial, and calendar. If they are not sold in your vicinity send for Spooial in- troducing- Price. Mention this paper. 69db COLUMBIA PLOW WORKS, COLUMBIA CO, Copake Iron Works, N. Y. ITALIAN BEES AND QUEENS. 1 untested queen $1,00; three for *2.00. Bees by the pound and nucleus. Send for price list. H. G. FRAME, 5-15 d North Manchester, Ind. DO YOU KNOW that I am headquarters for Ctneeii Mothers, and full Colonies? W years in originating a superior strain of Italian Bees. If you mean business, I will cheerfully respond. Price list free. F. BOOMHOAVER, .5tfd Gallupville, N. Y. IF YOU HAVE LOST ALL YOUR BEES, you had better ' send a postal card for my prices for the coming season. 8tfdb Thomas Gedye, LaSalle, 111. A MACHINE FOR PUTTING TOGETH- ER ONE-PIECE SECTIONS. IT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF IN ONE DAY'S USE. No bee-keeper can afford to be without one. Send to your supply-dealer, or to Wakcinan & Crocker, manufacturers. Price *3..50. Lockport, N. Y. Cor- respondence with supply-dealers solicited. :i34 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. May THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW, It ever a bee-paper was started witli a place ready aud waiting- lor it, the REVIEW has had that lucJi. The first number was welcomed before it was read, and when it was read it took its place easily and at once among the things that justify their own exist- ence, and need no probation before being tuUy and finally accepted. It is an imitation of none of its contemporaries, and it is on a level with the best of them, both in the merit of its general schetne and in its typographical neatness. This, we believe, will be the verdict of the intelligent bee-keeping public, and, as proof ot the correctness of this belief, we append the following, which we select from a large number of similar congratulations: I am greatly pleased with the Review, and think it very creditable. It must take the head with intel- ligent bee-keepers. K. L. Taylor. Lapeer, Mich. You have made an excellent start, and I am very favorably impressed with your plan of making each issue a " special number." E. M. H.whi'RSt. Kansas City, Mo. From a practical standpoint you are well qualified to make the venture a success. I hope you may do well financially, and establish an enviable reputa- tion for editorial ability, as you have already as a writer on apicultural topics. Eugene Secor. Forest City, Iowa. Revkw No. 1 lies before me, and I must say it is like a chestnut, brimful of meat, properly cooked and served in first-class" palatable order. Before reading it I thought : " What can friend Hutchinson say that has not already been said by others?" But you have given us a feast of fat things. If the Reri'eu' keeps up to the standard of No. 1, it has a bright future before it. W. E. Clark. Oriskany, N. Y. I like the Review in every respect. There is more in it than in any other bee-journal T have ever seen. That is, more real meat, or what is called meat, as 1 see it. The whole matter, including ads., is tastefully arranged. 1 can not conceive who would not instantly subscribe, at the price, after seeing a copy. J ames Heddon. Dowagiac, Mich. I congratulate you upon the excellence of the Review. It will be an honor to the craft and to our State, if you maintain it at the starting pitch, and I do not doubt but you will. At first I was sorry. What we want is fewer, better papers. But I forgot for the moment who was at the helm. I believe you will succeed, and if you do not go to the top you will stride well up. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich. Sample copy of the Review is at hand, and I was agreeably surprised, to say the least. As a rule, journals in starting furnish at first a sickly, dis- couraging appearance that stamps failure all over them. What a contrast in beholding the Review! Why, friend Hutchinson, the first glance at it shows its success. And then its contents — the very cream of advanced bee-literature. I read it through be- fore laying it out of my hands. E. Kketchmer. Coburg, Iowa. Four numbers of the Review have been issued. The Jan. number discusses "Disturbing Bees in Winter." The Feb. issue is devoted to ' Tempera- ture," as applied to bee-repositories; the March number takes up the subject of " Planting for Honey," while " Spring Management " is the special topic of the April issue. The special subject of the May Review will be, " Hiving Bees." Besides these special discussions, which are oaried on by the best bee-keepers of the country, there are several pages In each issue devoted to short, sharp, concise ed- itorials upon current apicultural topics. An ex- haustive review of Mr. Cheshire's book, " Bees and Bee-keeping," Vol. II., is begun in the March Review and will be finished in the May number. If you wish for the cream of this great work, read these three numbers. Price of the Review is 50 cts. a year. Samples cheerfully sent upon application. THE PRODUCTION OF COMB HONEY. A neat little book of 45 pages; price 25 cts. The Review and this book for 65 cts. Stamps taken, either U. S. or Canadian. Address lOtfdb W. Z. HUTCHINSON, 613 Wood St. Flint, Mich. LOOK HERE ! I will sell Italian queens from one of A. I. Root's imported queens. One untested queen, $1.00. Tested queen. i2.00. Select tested queen, $3.00. I also give a box of my pure vegetable liver pills free with each queen. Ad- DR. L. L LOOMIS. 6-17b Pemberville, Wood Co., O. C/5 O _;1 15 .1 00^ 3 00 t-2 50V— t ~2 50 52 00M EARLY ITALIAN & 1 untested queen 3 " '• - . 1 tested " - - 3 " " - - - "^6 00 "4 .50 Many of the above will be reared in thehH height of the swarming season, and all will j- •* be nearly, if not quite as good as the best ^^ swarming queens. In every case satisfac-^H tion and safe arrival guaranteed. 6-9db HQ W. J. Ellison, Stateburg, Sumter Co., S. C. THE BRIGHTEST FOUR-BAND GOLDEN ITALIAN QUEENS AND BEES and reddest drones. For Working t^iualities equal to any, and superior to many. Price, select tested, one and two years old $2 00 Tested 1 OO Queens reared this season that produce a majority of four-banded workers: Best select tested 3 00 Tested 2 .50 Untested in April and May 1 25 Untested in June and after 1 (H1 Send for circular to L. L. HKARNf Freiieliville, W. Va. 36-Iiicli Exhaust -fan Or Blower, AT BERLIN, WIS., ONLY $25.00. This is well worth $.50.00, and a new one would cost upwards of 6100. We must sell it at once, hence the above offer. It is used for drawing all shavings and sawdust away from your planer and saw-tables, and blowing them into the shaving-room. The one we oH'er above did the work for us for 8 years, and be- fore it was shipped awaj' was overhauled, rebabbitt- ed, and put in excellent repair. There is an 8-inch pulley, each side of the fan, an inlet on each side, and one outlet. A. I. ROOT, medfna, O. ARE you wanting Letter-heads, Note-heads, En- velope-corners, Business-cards, or Visiting- cards? Letter-heads, 12.00 per 1000; Envelope-cor- ners, $2.00 per 1000. ROBERT tiEDYE, L,a Salle, Illinois. OADANT'S FOUNDATION PAOTOEY, WHOLESALE AND RETAII;. See advertisement in another column HEADQUARTERS IN THE WEST FOR PURE ITALIAN BEES and QUEENS. Pull colonies, from $5.U0 to !*!).00 each; 2-frame nucleus, untested queen, in Maj-, *2.50; June, $2.25; after, *2.00; 3-frame, in May, $3..5(); June, $3.00; aft- er, $2.50. With TESTED queen, add .50c more. Bees, per lb., in May, 90 cts. ; June, 75 cts.; after, 60 cts. Untested queens in May. $1.00: after, 75 cts. ; sfx, $4.00. Tested, in May, $1..50; after, $1.25. Write for circular of Bees, Queens. Sections, Foundation, etc. 6-14db Address JNO. NEBEL & SON, High Hill, Mo. Cast) for Beeswax! Will pay 22c per lb. cash, or 2.5c in trade for any quantity of good, fair, average beeswax, delivered at our R. R. station. The same will be sold to those who wish to ptirchase, at 27c per lb., or 30c for beet selected wax. Unless you put your name on the box, and notify us by mail of amount sent, I can not hold myself responsible for mistakes. It will not pay as a gen- eral thing to send wax by express. A. T. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 335 Contents of this Number. Ants of China 346 Apiary, Best Place 354 Australian Apiai-y 343 Bee-keeping for Women 355 Beeswax in Ocean 360 Bees and Poultry 347 Bees on Shares 351 Bees in Tree-trunk 354 Bees, When to Move 358 Bees, To Remove.. . (Q. B.).356 Bees, Larval 343 Brig'hter Pictiue 350 CarrviiiK <>ut HnioU 353 ('ells' on on, •Side 348 Cheshire's Hook 339 Christie's Factory 337 Clipping Wings .352 Clover for Stock 353 Combs. Old, Still Good 8 Vegetables in Florida 3.55 Vermont 3i)4 Wasps of China 346 Wax, To Clarify 3!)8 Wiring in Given Press 358 gPEci^ii pieficEg. BACK NUMBERS OF GliEANINQS WANTED. Until further notice we will pay 10 cents each for the April Ist and April 1.5th issues of Gleanings for the year 1884. Be sure to bear in mind that it is 1884, and not 1888 or 1887. "BEES AND BEE-KEEPING," BY CHE.>^HIHE. We have ,iust received an importation of the second volume, a review of which you will lltid (jii another pag-e. Vol.1, is " Scientific," and ^'ol. 11. " Practical." Vol. I. contains 336 pages, and Vol. II. has 650 pages. Both have very many engravings, almost all of which are original. Price of Vol. I.. J12..50; Vol. II., S3.00, or $5.25 for the two, postpaid. OF INTEREST TO OUR CANADIAN READERS. We have at Cheltenham, Ont., one of our latest improved 12-inch foundation-mills. Express charg- es and duty to get it there were f 10,30, and the mill here is worth $30,00, being geared at both ends, and having also a back gear. We will sell it f . o. b. at Cheltenham for $35.00. We can mail you a small sample of the foundation made on it, if you wish to see before buying i^^ 1214-INCH CIGAR-BOX PLANER FOR $50.00. We have at New London, Wis., a 12'/4-in. cigar-box planer, made specially for planing light stuff, 's thick and above. It originally cost us f 100, and was used for planing sections before we began to saw them smooth. Before it was shipped to Wisconsin it was babbitted and put in first-class running or- der, virtually as good as new. To make a quick sale, we offer it for $.50. For the man who has a place for such a planer it is a bargain. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. THAT WHEELBARROW. The wheelbarrow at hand in good shape, and it is a daisy. It is too nice to use, only on the streets. Cyrus Wilson. Fairmount, Ind., April 18. 1888. I think your wheelbarrow is complete in every respect. It is a beauty. J. B. Spellman. Pine Grove, Texas, April 17, 1888. THE SMOKER A BETTER ARTICLE. I received the goods in good order. They were better than I expected, especially the smoker, which was a better article, and, sent through the mail, it cost less money than, it could be bought for here. D. M. Dorsev. Rainier, Ore., Mar. 23, 1888. The extractor I bought of you, and other goods, I received. They are the best lot of goods that anybody around here ever saw. I am very much pleased with them. Marshall Swain. Edwards, N. Y., April 16, 1888. SIIiENCE GIVES CONSENT. 1 have been getting small lots of goods of you frequently for the last three years, and never told you whether they came all right or not, but they did every time, and always as good as represented, and some a great deal better than stated in your price list. I am one of the " silence gives consent" men; so if you don't hear from me in answer to an order for goods I get of you, it is always perfect. B. B. Messner. Comet, Summit Co., O., Feb. 27, 1888. The BUYERS' GUIDE is issued March and Sept., I each year. It is an ency- I clopedia of useful infor- 'mation for all who pur- chase the luxuries or the necessities of life. We can clothe you and furnish you with all the necessary and unnecessary app-liances to ride, walk, dance, sleep, eat, fish, hunt, work, go to church, or stay at home, and in various sizes, styles and quantities. Just figure out what is required to do all these things COMFORTABLY, and you can make a fair estimate of the value of the BUYERS' GUIDE, which will be sent upon receipt of 10 cents to pay postage, MONTGOMERY WARD & CO. 111-114 Michigan Avenue, Cbicago, Dl. BEE-KEEPERS, TAKE NOTICE! 1 shall move my bee-hive machinery to New London, Wis., and shall have a complete new fac- tory, and shall be able to fill all orders by"June first, 1888. R. H. SCHMIDT. SEND FOR CIRCULAR and Price List of the SHAVING-SECTION SYS- TEM. Address Walter Harmer, No. 411 West Eighth St., Manistee, Mich. LUTHER CRAY,Orlando, Fla., Italian Queens, tested, $1.00 each; untested, 7.5c. For nuclei, see Gleanings, Apr. 15th. 9tfdb FOR SAIiE.— 40-acre farm; 25 acres improved; good old orchard; lies level; 7 miles from Traverse City; good roads; good school in one mile; good fishing and hunting; 2 miles to Traverse Bay; watered by good well and cistern; frame house; log barn and wood-shop, and blacksmith-shop; good neighbors; close and well settled all around; also a good place for bees, and a good market for honey. Will sell place, stock, farm, tools, and bees cheap. Address O. W. JEFFERSON, AOUE,'-GEANDiTEAVEKSE CO., MICH. FOUNDATION ^'^"l p^r^T^ I UU nun I lU 111 Charlton, Saratoga Co., N. V. 200 POUNDS OF BEES at $1.00 a pound. Italian queens $1.00 each. Cir- cular free. S. C. PERRY, Portland, Ionia Co., Mich. ENGLISH RABBITS FOR SALE. Write for prices. 9d DANIEL U.JUEIY, ZiUbock. 0. p J% AO for hatching from Langshans, B.andW. Hill ^Leghorns, W. and penciled P. Rocks. ^liMW EXPRESS PREPAID at $2 per sit- ti ng.2 Ref . A . 1 . Root. W. P . ASHLEY, Medina, 0. 336 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May lY (J6MMN. CITT MARKETS. St. Louis.— Ho/icy.— Our market is pretty well sold out of honey. The demand is only moderate. Prices range from ()(« 7'/^ according- to quality and color. Ouradvices are from the South that a g-ood yield may be o-xpected this season. We look for a good healthy demand during- the year. We will ad- vise you in regard to prices and prospects as the season advances. D. G. Tutt Grocer Co., April 25. 206 N. Commercial St., St. Louis, Mo. Milwaukee.— HoJiejy. — Market is in a fair con- ilition; and with the continued demand the stock will work otf. We can now quote white choice 1-lb. sections, ItiiS 17; 2-lb., 15@16; 3-lb.,14— not in favor. Dark or broken, not quotable. E.xtracted, in bbls. and kegs, white, 8@814; pails and tin, 9!^@10; bbls. and kegs, dark, 5@7. Beeswax. —Dull, 22@25. A. V. Bishop, April 23. Milwaukee, Wis. Cincinnati.— Ho»iej/.— Demand for comb honey is slow; prices nominal. It brings 14@17 for the best, in a jobbing way. Extracted honey is in good de- mand, and brings 4(59 cts. per lb. on arrival. There is a good demand for Beeswax, which brings 2(J@22 per lb. on arrival for good to choice yellow. Chas. ¥. MuTH & Son, April 23. Cincinnati, O. St. Louis. — Honey. — Saturday we received two bbls. of honey from Mississippi, which is said to be this year's honey. It sold at ti cts. Our advices so far are for a good crop of Southern honey. As yet, we have no change to make in prices. But we think there will be some late in the season. Beeswax.— 22@2254 for prime on arrival; 2.5 on order, in small way. W. B. Westcott,°& Co.. April 23. St. Louis, Mo. Detroit.— Honey.— Best white comb honey in 1-lb. sections, 1.5e, with few sales, and considerable in sight. A good many held their honey for better prices, and, in consequence, some honey will be carried over. Extracted, 9@10. Beeswax, 23@24. Bell Branch, Mich., Apr. 24. M. H. Hunt. PfllCE LISTS BECEIVED. Tho following circulars ami price lists were rcceivt'd since our" last issue: S. H. Stoeknian, East .-\uburn, Me.. 20 pages, bees, queens, anri apiarian supplies. .1. A. Foster. Tilbury Center, Ontario, Can., 8 jiages relative to bees and honej'. Walter Manner, Manistee. Mich., a leaflet relative to forms for making his shaving sections— see our previous issue. K. L. C'legg, Peoria, O., 8 pages relative to sections and sup- plies in general. M. J. Diekason, of Hiawatha, Kan., sends us a price list of IC. pages, hives and supplies. Thomas Gedye, La Salle, 111., a4-page list of bees, hives, and svipplies. W. (;. Russell. Millbrook, Ontario, a U-jiage li^l of things pertaining to the apiai-y. A. M. Gander, .Adrian, Mi eh., sends us his 16 page list of apia- rian su]ii)lies. H. H. Brown, Light Street, Pa., sends ; and supi)lies. W. C. (iillett, Le Roy. N. Y., sends us a 4 page list of Italian qui ens and tin points. n IS-page list of bees New York.— Hojiey.- No demand for comb hon- ey of any kind. Extracted in fair demand. Bees- wax sells readily at from 25@27c. r. G. Strohmeyer & Co., April 24. 122 Water St., N. Y. Chicago.— Hojiey.— Market is very weak, and sales are being made where possible at l.")@,16c for best grades of comb. E.xtracted, quiet; offerings fair, with lower prices as a rule. Beeswax, 23@25. R. A. Burnett, 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. Columbus.— Honey.— Market is very dull, ranging in price from 1.5@17c per lb. Beeswax about the same. No demand. Bakle Clickenger, April 23. 119 E. Town St., Columbus, Ohio. Kansas City.- er; Ic per lb. off. FOR ONE-POUND SECTIONS OK COMB HONEY. This box has a bit of "red tape " attached to it to carry it by. It makes a safe pack- age for a single section of honey for the consumer to carry, or it can be packed in a trunk, if he wants. It can be opened in an instant. The price of the bo.v is 2 cts. each, set up; in the Hat, 15 cts. for 10; packufic ni '^r,. 25 cts.; 75 cts. per 100; or $6.00 per 1000; 10,000, #55. If wanted by mail, add $1.00 per hundred for postage. Colored lithogiaph labels for putting on the sides, two kinds, one for each side, $3.00 per 1000. A package of 25, labeled on both sides, as above, 45 cts. By mail, 30 cts. more. They can be sold, labeled on one side or iKjth sides, of course. We have only one size in stock, for Sim- plicity sections. Sample by mail, wiih a label on each side, 5 cts. If you want them shipped in the flat, labels already pasted on, the price will be ten cents per hundred for putting them on. Your name and iiddress, and the kind of honey, may be printed on these labels, the same as other labels. The charge for so doing will be 30 cts. per 100; 250, 50 cts.; .500, 75 cts.; 1000, fl.OO. A. I. KOOT, ITTcdliia, Ohl.o. April 23. ■Ho7iey.— Market is weak and low- Market very slow. Clemons, Ci.oon & Co., Kansas City, Mo. Boston.— H'lTiey. —We quote: 1-lb. sections, white, 16@17; 2-lb8., 14@.16. Beeswaa;.— 2.5c. Sales slow. Blake & Ripley, April 23. .57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. CONVENTION NOTICES. The next meeting of the N.-W. 111. & S. W. Wis. Bee-keepers' Association will be neld in Rockton, May 38, 1888. ' D. A. Fuller. Sec'y. The Keystone Bee-keepers' Association will hold its sixth an- nual meeting in the Court-house in Scranton, Pa., on Tuesday, May gth, at 10 o'clock a. m. .\11 bee-keepers are invited. Arthur a. Davis, Sec'.y. The next meeting of the Susiiuehanna County Bee-keepers' Association will be held at New Milford, on ".May .Ith, 1888. Subjects for cnnsidir.it ion at that time ai-eas follows: 1. Kee- Keeping for l'leas\in- and l'r..lil ; ■-;. Sjiring Work with li<-es; S. Is it advisable to use Koundation,' If so, to what Exli-nt; i. How can we make our Association of the most piaetical L'se to its Members! We especially invite all bee-keepers who can to come and help make the' meeting as interesting a!S possible. H. M. Sebley, Sec. PE^DQa^l^TKI^^ I]^ N. Y. ^T^TK. If you want NORTHEKN QITEENS reared from pure Italian stock, imported or golden queens, send me your order. The great popularity of my golden queens last summer has induced me to de- vote my apiary exclusively to bees and queens the coming season. Prices as follows: Untested queens May 1st - - - - $1 00 Tested " June 1st . - . . i 50 Two-frame nuclei in June and July, with un- tested queen - - 2 GO Reference if desired. Send stamps for reply, to A. I. Root, or National Bank. Sherburn. Send for free circular. MRS. OLIVER COLE, 6tfdb Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. Italian |yeens. M Select tested ones in May, $2. ,50; June. $2.01); after, $1..50. Queens wRrranted purel\ mated. ifl.OO; 6 for $5.00. For further particulai-s see Gi.k.an- ings, April 1st, page 271. J. T. WILSON, Nicholasville, Jess. Co., Ky. Vol. XVI. MAV 1, 1888. No. 9. TERMS: 81.00 Peb Annum, nf ADVANCE;") Tp q+ riJJ -J oT, n rl i-n 1 Si '7 ^ 2Coplesfor91.90;3for«2^6;5for«4.00; -C^O^tt'Oi't'A/Z'CJCt/ VrV ±0 lO. rUBLISHED SEMI-MOXTHLY UV 10 or more, 75 cts. each. Single num- l ber. 5 cts. Additions to clubs may be f ':^^tt^At^lTol.o^^^^.'''''''^''''\k. I. ROOT. MEDINA. OHIO. Clubs to different postoflSces, not less than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the U. S. and Canadas. To all other coun- tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 cts. per year extra. To all countries . NOT of the U. P. U., 42 cts. per year extra. FRIEND CHRISTIE'S FACTORY CANNING HONEY. FOR SOME VALUABLE HINTS IN PUTTING IT UP SO IT WILL KEEI' LIQUID INDEFINITELY. fRIEND ROOT:— Reaching home a lew daj-s ago for the first time since early in December last, my attention is called to an article in Jan. 1.5th Gleanings, copied from the Smith- land Exponent, referring- to my mode of can- ning ray honey for the market. You inquire whether I succeed in putting up the honey in such a manner " that it remains liquid year in and year out." I think I can answer affirmatively. It is true, I sometimes find a can that is candied when opened; but I believe these instances are evidence only of the fact that carelessness was used in put- ting it up. It has either been heated not quite hot enough, or has been allowed to cool off before seal- ing, or possibly some slight defect in the sealing, so as to render the can not absolutely air-tight. Very few cans, though, are found candied on opening. In ray price list I make this very claim for my honey: " The honey is all heated by steam to expel the air in it, then sealed air-tight ivhile hot. Put up thus, it retains its liquid condition until the cans are opened and the air again admitted. Now, you will observe that I do not " seal the honey up and then heat it to the proper temperature," as you seera to understand, but I first heat to proi)er tem- perature and then seal up. What is the proper temperature? I can not an- swer accurately, as I have never used an absolute test, but I heat to that point where the cans can barely be handled by the naked hand in lifting from the fillers' to the tinners' tables, and again in mov- ing from the tinners' tables as soldered or sealed. Three years ago I had a few thousand pounds of honey put up in one, two, and three pound cans, which, by a leak in one of the steam-chests allow- ing a leakage of condensed steam, was somewhat diluted by water. Upon discovering the leak this honey was laid aside to feed liees when needed; and in feeding it out T found that it had all candied more or less. Some of it was solid all through. Most of it, however, was only partially candied, being liquid and solid honey mi.xed. This fact would seem to indicate that the heating process might not prove ett'ective with unripe honey. I want ray honey all capped over before it is ex- tracted, unless where I have solar evaporators for finishing the ri])ening proeeess. and 1 believe the honey immediately and fully ripened in the evapo- rator is equal in flavor to that ripened in the hive. Referring to the article copied from the Exponent, permit me to say there are some slight and uninten- tional mistakes. When we commence canning we find most of the honey candied solid, or nearly so. Some of it is much more solid than that in other barrels or cans, and the " capacity of the factory '" is gauged by the solidity of the honey. Where can- died hard, we can not melt as fast as indicated, without making our heaters hotter than I think the safety of the flavor of the honey will admit. Again, I make use of no lead pipes; and as to my traveling most of the year, I plead guilty so far as the winter is concerned; and sometimes, too (this season for instance), until pretty well along in the 83K GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May spring-; but I stay with the bees all summer, and until they are fixed for winter. I have observed the fact, that the longer the hon- ey remains in the solar evaporator in the rays of the sun— in other words, the more thorrniohly cured or ripened the honey is, the slower it is to candy. In fact, when canning- honey a year ago the early part of this winter, I found considerable honey that had been in the evaporator an unusual length of time, and very thoroughly cured, then drawn off into 60-poun(l cans, simply to store away until the can- ning season, that had not candied at all, while the rr-st of my crop was hard. This is the first time I have ever had any honey in early winter not can- died before heating and sealing. A. Christie. Smithland, Iowa, April 11, 18S8. Thank you, friend C. Tlie point you bring out, that unripened honey is more apt to candy, is a good one ; and it may be tliat one gi'eat reason why some honey will keep in an open dish the year round, without candying at all, is because it is so tlioroughly ripened. Attention has been called to the fact that a very nice article of California mountain-sage honey will not candy, even in zero weather^ We have also had specimens of lioney from alsike clover that behaved pretty much in the same way. Now. is it not owing to the thorough ripening as well as to the source from which the honey is ob- tained V DOOLITTLE'S SHOP AND HONEY STOREROOM. ALSO HOW TO KEEP HONEY THKEE OB FOUR YEARS, OR LONGER, AND HAVE IT KEEP GETTING BETTER INSTEAD OF WORSE. T HAVE been asked to give a description of my (^ shop, and also to tell how I keep my honey so ^l as to have it growing better after it is taken -*■ from the hive, as I have spoken of in back numbers of Gleanings. To do this, friend Root thought it best to have some engravings made, so that the description would be better understood. 1)1 lOl.n I LKS SllOl' AM) HONEY-HOUSE. Fig. 1 shows the shop as viewed from the south- west side of the apiary. It is ',V2 feet long by 16 wide; but if I were to build again I think 1 would have the width at least 24 feet. In this shop, during the winter season, I do all of my work, such as getting out sections, hives, wide frames, honey- boards, and all that is necessary to be done along this line, besides doing much work in the line of getting out bee-flxtures for my bee-keeping neigh- bors, and sawing and planing for any who wish it for all ordinary purposes, although not rigged for very heavy work, as my engine is only a six-horse power, and my saws and planer gotten for my own use in making hives, etc. I am frequently asked if it pays me to do this work myself, instead of buj'ing of dealers in supplies. To this I answer both yes and no. It certainly pays along the line of being iudei)endent, and being able to make any little thing 1 wish to use for an experiment; but when it comes to dollars and cents, if I call the interest on my machinery any thing it does not pay at the present low prices of supplies. I wonder if many, if any, of those who are reading this realize what the close competition in supplies has done for those who pur- chase their bee-flxtures at the present time. When I first began to keep bees I bought my supplies; and what do you suppose the prize boxes, or sec- tions, as they are now called, cost me? Well, if you open wide your ej/f^ I shall not lilame you, for the price paid was $40 a thovisand. nailed, or $30 in the flat. I could not stand this high pressure, so I bniiglit machinery .-ind got out my own. From this, 1 saw ihat there was money in the supply-business, at the hnv (7) price of $30 per M., for sections in the Hat, si) 1 started thcin at that price and did quite a good business at it for a time; but soon some one cut under me, as 1 had done for those before me, till the price went down to $15, then to $13..50, $10, $8, and finally to $5 and less. When the price got as low as $8 I said those who wished to work at the business could do so for all me; and from that time till the present I have had .50 cents an hour for work with machinery, and the man who has the work done helps me at the saws, etc., or else I do not work. In getting out my (iicii hives, etc., I am engineer, fireman, and sawyer at the same time, not hiring any of any amount, as I ha\e before said in Glioanings. an IN'lEKiOlt VIEW INTO THK lluNKV-UOOM THIO SHOP. In the northeast corner of the shop is the oHice, in which 1 write all of my contributions to the dif- ferent bee-papers, and for a few agricultural j have an apiary established on the grounds, and have public manipulation of the colonies by bee-keepers who may visit the Exposition. As the Exposition is in- tended to show the material advancement of Ohio in a hundred years, it will be "just the thing" to have on exhibition the most antiquated appliances, as well as the most modern, and to show also how bees used to be kept and honey obtained, and T hope those having old things of interest in bee- keeping, whether they live in Ohio or not, will correspond with me with a view to having such things on exhibition. The old '• log gum," box-hive, and the straw hive, all with bees at work in them, will be among the attractions, " if it takes all summer" to get them. The cow-bells, tin horns, and tin jians that used " to make the bees alight," will recall to some "the days of childhood," and make them young again. Here is the I'remium List in the Apiarian De- partment. BEES, HONEY, AND APIARIAN SUPPLIES. A. B. Mason, Auburndale, O., Superintendent. All entries close Aug. 6. Any thing competing for a single premium can not be included in a dis- play. Colonies must be exhibited in such a shape as to be readily seen at least on two sides. Such 342 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUitt:. May provision will be made for the display of comb hon- j ey (and other articles that might be injured by : bees), that it can be exhibited without crates. Eve- ' ry thing must be in phice by the morning of Sept. 4, 18S8. Best display of comb honey (largest and most attractive) $25.00 Second best 20-00 Third best 15.00 Best display of extracted honey (largest and most at- | tractive 25 00 Second best 20.00 Third best 15.00 Best sample of extracted honey, not less than 20 lbs., in best shape for retailing 5.00 Second best 4-0O Third best 3.00 Best sample of comb honey, not leas than 20 lbs., in best shape for retailing 5.00 Second best ■ 4 00 Third best 3.00 Best colony of bees, nunieiical strength and purity of i-ace being competing points 10.00 I Second best 8 00 | Third best 600 I Best race of bees, numerical strength, and purity of race, the competing points 10.00 Second best 8.00 ! Third best 600 Best collection of honey-producing plant^ 15.00 Second best 10.00 Third best 5.00 Best display of wax 8,00 Second best 6.00 Third best 400 Best foundation mill 6.00 Second best 5-00 Third best 4 (>0 Best foundation-press 6.00 Second best 5.00 Third best 4.00 Best foundation for a brood-chamber, made on the grounds 4.00 Second best 3.00 Third best 200 Best foundation for surplus, made oft the grounds 4.00 Second best 3.00 Third best 200 Best foundation for sui-plus, sample of not less than lOlbs 3.00 Second best 2.00 Third best 1.00 Best foundation toi- brood-chamber, sample of not less than 15 lbs 3.00 Second best 2-00 Third best 100 Best honev-oake, with recipe for making 3.00 Second best 2.00 Best honey -cookies, with recipe for making 3,00 Second best 2.00 Best honey-jumbles 3.00 Second best 2 00 Best honey candies o.OO Second best 3.00 Best honey vinegar, not less than 5 gal., displayed in glas^s 4.00 Second best 3.00 Third best 2.00 Best display of queens, in such shape as to be readily seen 4.00 Second best 3 00 Third best 200 Best honey-extractor. 1 5.00 .Second best 4.00 Third best ■ • 3.00 Best wax-extiactoi' 3.(!0 Second best 2.0O Third best 100 Best bee-hive for all purposes 4.00 Second best 3.00 Third best 2.00 Best bee-hive exhibition 3.00 Second best ■ 2.00 Best bee-smoker 3.00 Second best 2.00 Best arrangement for securing surplus honey 3.00 Second best 2.00 Third best 1 00 Best sections for comb honey, not less than 50 2.00 Second best 100 Best apiarian supplies and fixtures 8.(X) Second best 6.00 Third best 5.00 . Auburndale, O. Dr. A. B. Mason. • Do you really mean to say, doctor, that only one individual has applied for space at the Ohio Centennial besides ourselves V If so, there is certainly something amiss some- where. Our Ohio people get up good dis- plays of h(mey, and of implements and sup- plies in general for the apiary ; and some of our Ohio exhibits have been equal to any I have ever seen anyw^here, if 1 may except the exhibition at Toronto. The Canadians are proverbially a little aliead, any way. May be we had better get some of them to come down and show us how— especially as this is our centennial year. Now, look here, brothers and sisters of Ohio, up and be do- ing ! It does not matter whether you feel like it or not; and it does not matter so very mucli even if you think you can not af- ford it. You must afford it. There are cer- tain things that must be done any way ; and when the credit and respectability of the State of Ohio are at stake, we have no busi- ness staying at home. We have no busi- ness hiding our light under a bushel. Do what you can. Ohio has bright, wide-awake bee-men and bee-women. They can talk and they can write and they can visit. ( I have the women-folks in mind more particu- larly when 1 make this last remark.) Now, just tell Dr. Mason at once how much space you will occupy, and then set about it at once making preparations for it. Bring plants that bear honey, and every thing else that is curious— seeds of honey-plants ; Jap- anese buckwheat of your own raising. Have a neatly printed report in regard to it. Set about iiaving honey displayed in attractive .shape, especially for exhibition. At Indi- anapolis we had beautiful lettering worked out in honey-comb. Bring your hives and implements, and any thing you have used and found to be a gt)Od thing. Bring, also, your old traps— something that beltmged to your grandfatlier- some of tlie first honey- extractors. May be I can find tlip. first one that A. I. Root patched up. Is there a straw bee-hive in tlie State of Ohio V Some- body should bring an old bee-shed, with a lot of old box hives ; one of the first mova- ble-comb hives ever made anywhere was made in Ohio— yes, in Medina County. Perhaps our good friend W. A. Shaw, when his eyes fall on this, can tell us in whose possession tliis old hive is to be found. If I am correct, it was made and used before the year 1850. It was described in the Scientific American at about that time, so there is not any mistake about it. We expect, of course, father Langstroth to be present, if a kind Providence spares his present good health. Mr. Langstroth can tell us some excellent stories of olden-time bee culture, and may be he can hunt up some primitive imple- ments. Let us have the om bee-books, pub- lished in 1700 or still further back. We happen to have a couple of them. There is time enough to have a garden of honey-plants in bloom on the grounds. Dr. Mason, do you know of a man who can go to work now and get up this honey-plant garden V We want all the clovers and buckwheat, and some little basswood-trees —in short, every thing that grows in Ohio, that bears honey, so when bee-men go to look at them they will always know the honey-bearing plants afterward. Can not somebody from the Experiment Station take up the task ? Prof. Devol would manage it nicely, and our good friend W. J. Green will give him very material assistance. I will furnish seeds and plants free of chaige. Now, then, friends, catch hold of what I have offered, and add to it, and lay your plans, and act. We have applied for space for maclunery for making sections, founda- tion, and perhaps some other things. Shall Ohio be voted behind the times in our in- dustry y 188S GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE, US A GLIMPSE AT AN AUSTRALIAN" API- ARY. EXHIBITED BY AMATEOR PHOTOGRAPHY. R. ROOT:— I am obliged to you for your in- sertion of my statement in Gt^eanings of Oct. 1st. I should be sorry for any one to be misled by pictures too brightly colored. I send, under separate cover, two of my amateur photos. The one is to give you an idea of the size of our largest S. A. apiary, belonging to Messrs. Colman & May, at Mount Barker. AN AUSTRALIAN APIARY. The other is a practical proof of the temper of Cyprian bees. The gentleman handling the frame is Mr. A. E. Bonney, known by name to you. The boy is my youngest brother, aged 0 years; the open hive at which they stand contains Cyprian bees, the progeny of an imported Cyprian queen from Mr. Frank Benton. You will notice that neither Mr. Bonney nor my brother has any jirotectioiT beyond their ordinary clothing. PRACTICAIi TEST OF THE TEMPEli- OF CYPRI.\NS. I may say, that my camera and myself blocked the entrance to another hive of Cyprians whilst the photo was being taken, and that none of us had the slightest trouble from the bees. Lest any one should wonder at the boy being apparently content to stand where he does, I will add that I have ac- customed him to holding frames of all sorts of bees so that he is not a stranger to the business. The S. A. Legislature have this session passed the "Foul Brood among Bees "act, a copy of which I intend sending you. The act is in what will prob- ably seem to you a crude form; but as the " liberty of the subject " has to be jealously guarded, we found it difficult to frame it in any other way. The act provides for fining any bee-keeper knowingly keeping hives, bees, etc., affected with foul brood. I can assure you the measure is necessary here. We are, as bee-keepers, daily in dread of outbreaks of foul brood in our own hives, as there are a good number of obstinate bee-keepers who will not rec- ognize the danger of keeping this scourge amongst their bees, and who take no steps to eradicate it. F. A. JOYNEK. Adelaide, South Australia, Dec. 1.5, 1887. Tlianks tor your amateur pictures, friend J. You see we have had our engravers copy them, that our readers may get a glimpse of your far-away land. We are glad to see the boys work into apiculture ; but please be careful that you do not get that niue-year-old boy stung so as to give him a backset. He may get along all right ninety-nine times out of a hundred ; but as boys will be boys, by some little bit of care- lessness, or absence of mind, the huudreth time he may make a bad move, resulting in letting loose the latent fire that Cyprians almost always have in reserve. I know you can work with them if you mind your p's and (['s ; but woe betide the one who forgets or gets careless. THE FOOD OF LARVAL BEES. PROF. COOK INTRODUCES TO OUR NOTICE OUR GOOD FRIEND STACHEIiHAUSEN. K. EDITOR:— Since the article which 1 wrote on the glands of bees and the food of larva?, 1 have had some correspondence with L. Stachelhausen, of Selma, Texas, one of our German-American bee-keepers whose in- formation and opinion are worthy of great respect. He does not accept the view of Schiemenz and Leuckart, which I presented, but that of Schonfeld. He presents his case with so much of reason that I am a convert at once, as all must be it the facts stated are as he represents them, and 1 have little doubt but they are. I am glad we have one in our brotherhood who is so conversant with German re^ search, and so excellent a scientist, that he sees the true bearing of each fact. I hope that Gleanings will not let him longer hide his light under a bushel. At my request Mr. S. has consented to the publi- cation of his views. He asks that I comment upon the subject, which I am very pleased to do, as I had already contemplated sending another article to Gleanings, giving the views of Schonfeld. I have re-written the article, and have commented In ( )'8. A. J. Cook. OBJECTIONS TO THE GLAND THEORY. Until 1870 it was believed that chyme was fed to the young larva^ or, rather, that the larval food in the ceils is chyme. In that year, Von Siebold ex- amined and described the salivary glands of the 344 Gt^ANINGS m BEE ctjttUEE. May bee. The large size of these glands seemed to indi- fcate that they had some other purpose than to se- crete the saliva. It seemed possible that they might secrete the larval food. Fischer described these glands a year later, and expressed the same opinion as to their function. Leuckart then declared that he tad taught this theory to his students for years. I then thought this theory very plausible, and i^robably the true one; but 1 expected further Study and a closer examination, but expected in vain. V. Siebold, and probably Leuckart as well, forked on other problems. I supposed a micro- Scopib e±aminiition of the secretion from these g-laiids would prove the identity of the same with the food bf the larva?, but no such proof was forth- bomirtg. It may bb said, that there is too little of the product of the glands for analysis. But just this Seems to indicate that the comparatively small g-lands can tiot secret so large a quantity of larval food. (This view alone would not count for much. There is too little nectar in most flowers for a successful analysis; yet the bees gather pounds of it in a day. Supposing that the lower head glands of a single bee do not secrete enough material for successful analysis at any one time.yet thousands of bees might do this with the whole day before them, and have enough left to feed all the larvie.) In 1880, Schonfeld published his theory, which seemed to me nearer the truth. Years before, Leuckart desciibed the larval food as agranular, milky, uniformly colored fluid contain- ing many microscopic corpuscles, similar oridentical with the blood corpuscles, and with the corpuscles found in the chyle, or digested food, in the true stomach, which chyle passes directly through the walls of the stomach by osmosis. Wolff states that the blood corpuscles originate in the stomach. Analogy of the mammalia favors the gland theory of Leuckart. It seems plausible that the young bee, like the young calf, is fed with milk; yet not so plausible when we remember that the larva is not a young bee. I would rather compare the larva to the embryo of a mammal, and this is nourished directly from the blood. The chyle of bees is, in fact, identical with their blood, and contains every thing necessary to build up the body of the bee; so it seems rational and natural to suppose that the chyle is the larval food. (Analogy is always an uncertain argument. In case of animals as wide apart as the mammalia and insects, it really has no force. Grant that it had, even then in the case in question it would be diffi- cult to say which way the argument pointed.) With higher animals, the origin of the chyle is more complicated, and digestion is completed in the small intestines. In bees, the structure of the canal is different; and it is possible that chyle or- iginates in the stomach. (Here chyle must mean the sum total of digestion. With higher animals, chyle means simply the di- gested fat, and is carried to the blood through a special system of vessels, while the other products of digestion are mainly absorbed directly by the blood-vessels.) If the larval food and chyle are identical, of course we must depend on the microscope to prove it. If we examine the stomach of the worker-bee we find more or less partially digested food, but no chyle. (From the fact that, in examining many bees, 1 have never found the granular milk-like substance fed to larval beetj, was my principal reason for accepting th^ secretion rather than the digestion theory.) Schonfeld made the following experiments, and hereby is explained how the chyle can be found in the true stomach of the nurse-bee: a. Honey colored by cherry -juice is fed to bees in a starving condition. /*. Honey colored by holly-juice is fed in same manner. c. In like mannei-, honey mixed with pollen of the white lily, which is easy to distinguish with the microscope, was fed. After feeding, in eabh case the contents of the stomach, and the larval food, were carefully ex- amined with the microscope, tn every case the food in the bells with larva? was the same milky granular substance, with no color, nor any lily pol- len. This lal-Vai food, then, could not consist of chyme or the material from the honey-stomach. Every hour a nurse-bee was examined, and the process of digestion noted. The color was seen to fade out, e tills line crosswise ot'tlie oar. A case of honey so placed— that is, the ends of the sections to the ends of the car, will stand the ordinary bunting of the car without damage; but if the sides of the combs were placed to the ends of the car. the honey might be badly smashed, and the shipper would lay the damage all to the railroad hands. J. A. King. Mankato, Minn., March, 1888. We are very glad, friend K., that you have liad no experience with badly mashed and leaking honey. Your suggestion is a good one. drones from UNFERTILE QUEE'NS; THE VARIOUS RACES OF BEES COMPARED. 1. It is generally conceded, I believe, that, it a queen goes 35 days without being fertilized, she probably will not be, and that all her bees will be drones. Are such drones (from an unfertilized queen) capable of fertilizing (jueens? 3. Are the German, or brown bees the same as our common black bees? 3. Are the Carniolans and the Italians the same? 4. Ai-e the Holy-Land and Syrians the same? I have heard such claims as the above made by men who claim to be posted ; and being only a beginner I want to know the truth of it. o. How many different kinds of bees are there? 6. Please give tbe order of value, as considered by the majority of bee-keepers, in which the differ- ent kinds are considered; in other words, the best bees, second best, etc. 1 suppose, of course, the Italians are tirst; which is second— the Carniolans or Cyprians? 7. Tell us which you consider the best honey-plant for your locality. T. K. Massie. Concord Church, W. Va., April 9, 1888. 1. We have no evidence tliat such drones as you mention are not capable of fertilizing queens. On the other hand, we have had two or three reports given in our back volumes, to the etfect that they are of some service. Most bee-keepers, however, prefer drones reared from a fertile queen. 2. The German bees are considered to be the same as the brown, or black bee. There is, however, a little difference between the two latter. The brown bees are a little larger, and of a 352 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May brownish color. The black bees, in dis- tinction from the others, are smaller and quite black. 8. Carniolans and the Italians are not the same. The former have white fuzz -rings and steel-blue black bands. The Italians — well, yon know, or ought to know, wliat they look like. Both are a very gentle race of bees — the Carniolans, it is said, being a trifle larger. With what ex- perience we have had with one colony in our apiary, we should think they were. Mr. Cheshire, in his book, " Bees and Bee-Keep- ing," gives some measurements in proof of this. 4. We believe there is a slight differ- ence between the Holy-Iiands and Syrians ; but what that difference is, very few of us Yankees can determine. The native home of the two races is not more than 100 miles apart. 5. There are six or seven different races of bees. 6. It is a hard matter to answer this question, for there is no one man who has had experience with all of them ; and if he had, his order of arrangement would probably not agree with the graded valuation of some one else. Most bee-keep- ers agree, however, that the Italians, for general purposes, are the best. Other races nave their peculiar merits. For instance, the Eastern races, the Holy-Lands and Cyp- rians, are characterized by being very pro- lific, more especially tlie former. Both ai'e more vindictive than the ordinary Italians. The Cyprians have left a good record as honey-gatherers. Scarcely any one, now, however, sounds the praises of either one of these races of bees pure ; and we don't know of any one who advertises them at present. Again, the Carniolans are said to be gentler than tlie Italians, though we can not dis- tinguish any particular difference in this re- spect. They are given to swarming much more than the Italians. It is said, and our experience goes to substantiate it, that they secrete very little propolis. This latter trait is quite desirable indeed. 7. The best honey-plant for this locality is clover. In some" respects, basswood (or linden, as our friend Mason would have it) is superior. A PECULIAR AFFECTION. Is there any foundation in fact for the suspicion which 1 have sometimes had, that a person's eyes may be affected from working over a colony of bees? My experience is this: On several occasions after being engaged in handling my bees, ray eyes have become very much inflamed; the eyelids be- come puffed like sacks of water, and the sensation felt is a painful itching and burning, and this con- dition lasts from two to three days. This has oc- curred when I have not been stung in any part of my body. I have been keeping bees five or six years, and am accustomed to handling them as much as is needful, and, of course, get ray due pro- portion of stings. But a considerable nuraber of stings seems to be a trivial matter in my case, and the effects pass oft' within twenty-four hours. I can not charge this eye affection to the bees from my present knowledge, as I work over them so many times without this result. But 1 do not now re- member of ever having had the trouble except di- rectly after handling them. J. F. Parker. Philadelphia, Penn., Apr. 9, 1888. Friend P., other bee-keepers besides your- self have at different times described simi- lar affections, which they attriljuted to the influence of tlie poison from the bees. There may be something in it. I am in- clined to think, however, that the l)ees are oftentimes blamed when they have nothing to do with it. Even so wise and learned a man as father Langstroth at one time got a notion that being even near a bee-hive af- fected him unpleasantly. He afterward, however, practiced handling bees right along every day, without any bad sensations at all ; and I believe he was forced to conclude that it was a good deal the effect of im- agination ; that is, he imagined the bees were the cause of the peculiar sensations, when they had nothing to do with it. Mr. Cowan, in a recent article in the B. B. J., suggests that these symptoms are so nearly identical with hay fever that they may have a common origin ; namely, the influence of the pollen of grasses and flowers at certain seasons of the year. SOME EXPERIENCE IN CLIPPING QUEENS' WINGS. Last spring 1 commenced with 25 colonies of bees; and as I wished to experiment somewhat I clipped the wings of 12 queens. The first that swarmed had a queen with clipped wings. I found her before the hive, caged her, and hived the bees all right. The second I could not find at all, neither in the hive nor outside. In vain I looked for that ball of bees clinging to the queen. The third swarm clustered on a small tree. I hived it, and in about ten rainutes the bees had all returned to the old hive. In vain I searched for the queen, and circumstances in the hive afterward showed that she was lost. 1 had seven natural swarras. Six had queens with clipped wings. Three of these I lost. I was on hand every time before the bees had all left the hive, and I have the ground strewn with sawdust. Now, what has become of my queens? Do you think I had not clipped their wings suf- ficiently so that they could fly a little? or what was the matter? If I should not lose queens by it I should prefer clipping their wings; but with my last summer's experience it is rather discouraging. IS IT advisable to contract THE ENTRANCE TEMPORARILY OF A COLONY IN VERY COLD SPELLS OF WEATHER ? Has it been tried already, closing the entrance entirely in extremely cold weather? I have at present a few weak colonies, and I have closed the entrance to their hives with a rag, to try how it would work, as we have a cold spell here at pres- ent. I have my bees all in tenement hives, double walls, packed with chaff, the space between walls being from 3 to 4 inches of the lower story. Nappanee, Ind., Feb. 28, 1888. L. A. Ressler. Friend R., your experience in clipping queens has been much like ours, and that is why we have of late discontinued it. We would rather manage a swarm with a flying queen than one which can not fly. Your queens probably hopped off in the weeds and grass, and were lost. It miglit answer to cork up the entrances when it is very cold, and open them when it gets warm, if one had nothing to do but to chase around to the hives with every change of the weather. D. A. .lones once recommended something of the kind ; but I think he departed a little from his ordinary good judgment when lie 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 853 went into that scheme. Here in Ohio the weather changes almost every two hours, especially in the spring ; but as it is, we have had very much better success where the en- trances were left all winter, open full width, than where they were nearly closed up, as was for a time so strongly recommended. CLOVER FOR STOCK, ETC. I know of no other person whose information I would rely upon in preference to yours on the fol- lowing questions: Is there such a thing as white-clover seed in the market? if so, where can it be found? What does it cost per lb.? Will clover grow in pasture lands where there is some shade, in Ohio? Will clover produce honey if it grows in Ihe shade? Is it not good for stock to graze upon? How much buck- wheat do you put on one acre of good land? I should like to try the white clover and buckwheat here in Texas. J. H. Roderick. Dodd City, Tex., April 7, 1888. Yes, sir, you will see white-clover seed advertised in every issue of our price list, which see. Clover is sometimes raised in an orchard, especially where the trees are small. Where the trees are large, it doesn't amount to much, for the trees take the strength from the ground, and the shade is also a detriment. The smaller the trees, the more honey the clover will produce ; but with very large trees you would get very lit- tle clover and very little honey. White clover is proverbial for its goodness for stock, and it has been said that the honey contained in the blossoms helps to make sweet milk. No doubt this is true. You will see by our price list we usually sow about three pecks of buckwheat per acre. Half a bushel is a great plenty, however, of the new Japanese, as it branches out so much. CARRYING OUT BROOD AND YOUNG BEES. My bees yesterday were engaged in throwing out brood and young bees. Some of these were dead, but many were still alive at dark, but were helpless. J. T. Gaines. Crescent Hill, Ky., March :i7, 1888. The brood which you say your bees were carrying out was evidently that which was chilled during the snap of cold weatlier. It not unfrequently happens early in the spring, when brood-rearing has progressed to any extent in the hive, that a spell of cold weather will come, causing the l)ees to con- tract to their winter-quarter's nest, leaving the l)rood high and dry, as it were. This brood, of course, dies; and as soon as warm weather comes again, the bees carry it out and deposit it at the entrances, as you saw. If you had examined closely the young bees you would doubtless have found them de- fective in wings or something else. THE OPEN-SIUE SECTIONS. Much is being said about four-side openings in sections. Theoretically there is much to support it. There is no question about the free intercom- munication between all parts of the super being an advantage if it can be secured without too much cost. As the size of sections has been diminished, it has been a mooted question whether it did not impair the production of honey. That it did do this is manifested by the efforts made to dispense with separators and to invent separators which by perforation or by open meshes secured free inter- communication. The claims of those opposed to the non-use of separators are largely based upon this idea. The four-side openings for sections have not been generally tried, nor can they be, by those who use separators, without special provision in the con- struction of the latter, simply because the open- ings in each section are but half bee-space, and the separator comes Hush to the section. Charlottesville, Va., Mar. 3, 1888. J. W. Porter. The points you make are good ones, friend P. Those who have been working without separators can try the open-side sections, without any trouble. But very likely the greatest Ijeiiefit from the open-side sections will be where separators are used. During the present season we presume we shall have plenty of carefully conducted experi- ments in reference to this matter. SPRING DWINDLING, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR IT. I put up 11 colonies last fall— 7 in chaff hives, 4 in American — all on summer stands. I have lost several in American hives, but never in a chaff hive until this winter. The bees were Hying during warm days the same as the rest, and as strong, until Friday last, when I noticed they were not flying. I thought immediately there was something wrong, as it was one of my strongest colonies. To my sur- prise I found the bottom of the hive so thickly covered with dead bees that it was impossible for them to get out. They were moist, so I cleaned them away. I found the colony strong, yet about one-half of them I should judge were dead. They had plenty of natural stores, both capped and un- capped. I did not find the queen with the dead bees. Saturday I noticed the rest were flying, and in the hive a dozen or so of the weak and sickly- looking bees were crawling about the entrance. What is wrong with this colony? and what is the remedy? I noticed last fall that the cappings were all of a very blue color, but still the rest in the same apiary are all right. I lost one colony last winter entirely with exactly the same symptoms as this, but in an American hive, so I should like to prevent this in the future if I can. Would it not be a good plan to have a per- forated tin slide at the entrance to prevent spring dwindling? S. R. BrinEk. North Springfield, ()., Mar. 13, 1888. Friend B., your bees seem to have the real genuine ortliodox spring dwindling ; but I do not believe the honey with blue cappings has any thing to do with it. This is very often the case with stores that winter out- side of the cluster of bees. Some years ago myself and others felt a good deal troubled aliout the result ; but by careful observation we are satisfied the honey is just as good as any. The blue color seems to be occasion- ed by" a sort of mold that covers the capping when the hive contains moisture, or is ex- posed to dampness, or to a long spell of damp weather. Fastening your bees in the liives at such times will only aggra- vate matters. A warm sunshiny day that permits them to fly is the only remedy. Years ago, in our back volumes a cold- 354 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May frame was recommended for giving the bees a flight in the sunshine, wlien the weather did not admit of it in the open air. This seemed to answer the purpose ; but it was so much machinery I believe most of the friends decided to wait for a warm sunshiny day. Leaving the entrances full width, so that those bees that accumulate on the bottom-board may be carried out, is an advantage ; for every time we stop the en- trances, or cover the bottom so as to stop the circulation of air, it leaves matters in a worse state. To prevent such clogging-up of the entrances, a space under the combs, giving additional room during winter time, has been recommended, say U or U inches under the combs. This can l)e secured by raising the frames the required distance. An opening in the bottom of the hive, say (> inches square, covered by coarse wire cloth, also makes a pretty sure thing of air from below. Making the entrances large, and having the colonies strong, will, how- ever, usually be all that is required. HOW TO fiET BEES OUT OF AN OAK-TKUNK. T should like to inquire as to how I could take out a swarm of bees which has taken up its quarters in a white-oak trunk, the hutt of which is hollow, and I can see lots of comb from there. I can get the stuff out, but how to keep the bees in good temper is the question. I saw your advertisement in the Farm .Tmirnal, and, feeling interested in honey, I took the liberty to write at this length. One more thing: Last May a large swarm came past me while 1 was hoeing corn. The air seemed filled with their buzz. T collared the whole swarm, a bushel, by tapping on my hoe, but they all escaped me, and I located them in this tree, half a mile up the lake. How's that for a green one? N. L. Toby. Sandwich, Mass., Mar., 1888. Ft is not an easy matter to get bees out of the trunk of an oak-tree. The plan of pro- (;edure which we would recommend would be about as follows : Provide yourself witli a veil and smoker. First blow a small quantity of smoke in the hollow, not too much, iiut just enough to quiet the bees, and then with a sharj) ax cut a hole large enough to get at the bees, using smoke oc- casionally to keep them quieted down should they show any disposition to sting. Ordinarily bees are quiet and lit- tle disposed to make an attack when being taken from a tree. If you know of some old bee-hunter, perhaps you had better se- cure his services to do the job for you. We would recommend you to the subject of " Bee-hunting," in our " A IJ C of Bee Cul- ture." FROM VERMONT. Frieiul Rout :—Ab it is very seldom that an item from Vermont appears in your journal, I take the liberty to pen a few words that the readers of Gleanings may know that Vermont still has a few active bee-keepers. Though as a rule we are silent workers, yet wo are always interested in what others have to say regarding our chosen pursuit. We are having a severe winter here, so far as re- gards cold weather and lots of snow. Bees have had only a partial flight since November; but as our bees on their summer stands have been well protected by the snow, we feel quite sure they will come out all right in the spring. 1 believe my bees are wintering well, as I notice the few dead bees at the entrance are small and dried up, indicating that the colonies are in a healthy condition. Bristol, Vt.. March 20, 1888. A. E. Manu.m. SMOKER FUEI>; ROTTEN WOOD SOAKED IN TOBACCO .iniCE. I have tried several kinds of smoke for bees, and I like this far the best. Take punkey rotten wood (apple is the best), break it up the size you wish to put into .your smoker. Into a kettle put some to- bacco, also some of the wood, and water enough to cover it. Let it boil, then take it out and dry it. It is handy, cheap, and will subdue the most vi- cious bees, (lid cotton rags soaked in tobacco- juice, and dried, are good. K. N. Leach. Humphrey, Neb. Friend L., tobacco or tobacco-juice is the agent in repelling insects that trouble us in our garden work, and we have for years been aware that tobacco-smoke is more dis- agreeable to bees than the smoke of rotten wood only. In fact, if strong enough it will stupefy them. I believe the general de- cision has been that we do not need any thing so powerful as tobacco. ARE COMBS ON WHICH THE BEES STARVED, FIT FOR FUTURE USE ? I take the liberty of asking your advice as to whether it is best to use comb on which the bees have starved to death this winter, that was made last summer, or not. My bees did not do very well last .season, on account of its being so dry. Thej' filled their hives with comb, but did not with hon- ey, and a good many starved. The combs are, some of them, nice, and some smell a little sour; and I don't know whether to use them or not. Windsor, ()., Mar. 13, 1888. C. Sargent. To be sure, the combs on which the bees starved are good, and they will be just as serviceable as ever. If some of tliese are a little musty or sour. I would not give them to the bees until late in the spring. See AHC. WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR BEES? As you have reports fi-om differeTU States and places I should like your opinion as to where the best place is to raise bees and honey. What of South Carolina? or have you any reports from here? Some say South Carolina is too poor for bees. I think it will do, but I think there are much better places. Is not California or Wisconsin among the best? We have but little report to make, though we have but few colonies. Sam'l O. Eaddv. Johnsonville, S. C, March U, 1888. Friend PI, it is a pretty hard matter to say where is the best place to raise bees and honey. Larger results have been achieved in California than anywhere else ; but the market is low, and the transportation to eastern cities expensive. Aside from Cali- ifornia. we may say that Wisconsin, Michi- gan, and Yorl\ State produce large quanti- tities of very superior ([uality of clover and basswood honi\y. Florida has given us some large reports, but does not seem to hold out year after year, even as well as California does. Perhaps some of our commission men in our large cities could tell us what States e.xcel in quality and (juantity. 1888 GLEA:^lNGt5 iii BEE CULTURE. 355 THE COMBINED SHIPPING AND HONEY CRATE. I want to know more about the combined shipping and honey crate that j-ou describe on pag-e li) of youj- catalogue. Is it intended to go inside of the li4-story S. hive? Tt seems to me that the bees would seal it to the honey-board or frames below until it would be impossible to get the sections out or the crate oil' the hive. My hives are lV4-8tory Simplicity, with the sections in one-half-depth frames; but I don't like them. What would you advise m» to use? T. J. Fokd. Morgan, Texas, March 14, 1SS8. Yes, the combined crate is designed to be used inside of the half-story cover. It has just the disadvantage you niiention, and we always recommend our T super with our honey-board as being cheaper and more easily managed. The combined crate can not be tiered up inside the Simplicity hive. The reason the word " combined " is at- tached to its name is because it is used by some, both as a hive-crate and a shipping and retailing case. Usually it is not advis- able to retail from the same crate in which the honey has been secured. THE GERMS OF FOUL BROOD IN THE DROPPINGS OF BEES ; A CAREFULLY CONDUCTED EX- PERIMENT. T am sure that the germs of foul brood are con- tained in the honej', and T base my assertion on the following: I had some colonies infected with foul brood, and determined to experiment. I there- fore collected about two grains of the droppings of some of the bees from the diseased hives, put them in syrup, and fed it to a healthy colony that I had purchased, and left ten miles from my own bees. It is unnecessary to say, that the bees from the colony so fed were not allowed to fly, except under cover, where there was no means for them to escape. In just 13 days the brood began to show unmistakable signs of foul brood, and in 4 weeks the colony was in a very bad condition of foul brt)Od. They were fed only about Vi pint of the in- fected syrup. This shows the potency of the fun- gus (?) which produces foul bi-nod. Montrose, N. Y. J. S. Gumming. Your experiment is a valuable one, friend C, and it seems to be conclusive ; but we can not help pitying the poor bees, even if it is necessary that they should lose their lives in the " interests of science.'" anxious TO DO SOMETHING TO EARN MONEY. I am a farmer's wife, anxious to do something to earn some money. I have thought of keeping bees, but am entirely ignorant of their culture or care. If I go into the business, I wish to be entirely independent of masculine aid, and wish to make it a success. What is your advice? Mrs. S. D. Ford. Romford, Conn., Mar. :l, 1888. If I understand you, my good friend, you have not, as yet, niuch capital to put into the business. As you are situated, I would advise you to purchase two swarms of bees, not more, of somebody in your vicinity; then get a bee-book. If you are going to follow my instructions, perhaps you had better get the A B C l)ook. Don't buy any thing more until you get acquainted with your bees, and acquainted with your book ; and 1 would not purchase very much until the two swarms of Ijees have furnished the money wherewith to make the purchases. If you go slow and- sure in that way, the masculine element in your vicinity won't have a chance to laugh, and say,"'" I told you so ! '' WHEN AND HOW TO STIMULATE ; COVERING FOR FRAMES, ETC. 1. I should like to have as many young swarms of bees as possible, and also prefer early swarming. How shall I get them quite early, say in June? Would not feeding do this? When shall 1 begin to feed, and how much and how often? 'i. Would not some porous and coarse material, such as grain-bags, cut to suit, be best to lay over frames and under the packing over bees when in winter quarters? I think, if bees would not cut through, this would soak or inhale all moisture from bees, which gum or oil cloth would not. :i. Has it yet been known that bees would smoth- er or die when drifted entirely over with snow? 4. What was the cause of a colony of bees dying during winter? They were all right in the fall. In the spring I found them dead in the bottom of the hive, mixed with what looked to be a handful of yellow corn meal, with an odor coming from it. The hive had about 30 lbs. of honey in it yet. W.E.DOWLING. Drover's Home, Pa., Apr. 5, 1888. 1. You can start brood-rearing by feeding about i pound of sugar syrup daily. You can begin now, if necessary. 2. you can use old grain-sacks or burlap for covering the frames. We prefer enamel- ed sheets, as given in our price list, for sum- mer use, for the bees are less liable to gnaw holes in it. In winter we prefer burlap. o. As this question is so fully answered on page 138 of the Feb. 15th issue, in the '' Question-Box " department, we would re- fer you to that place. Most bee-keepers are of the opinion that the snow does no harm. 4. The bees you speak of as being dead in the bottom of the hive, doubtless died from dysentery. Such bees often look very much as you describe. GROWING VEGETABLES IN FLORIDA. Our bees are doing very well. I have taken some honey from the orange-blossom; very fair, thick honey; comb white, but rather heavy; not so crisp and tender as white clover. I have had several swarms. My location is not the best tor honey, it being high pine lands. Vegetable-growing is going to be a greater industry in Florida tlian the orange. There is being shipped daily now from our station two and some days three car-loads of cabbages. Prices paid at depot, spot cash, $2.-.") per barrel, or crate of same size. Some tomatoes are shipped from here. There are several thousand acres of them within ten miles. New potatoes are com- ing in some, and will be shipped soon. Beans are plentiful, and peas are about all shipped. Prices for i>eas have been good— from $4.0i) to $nM per crate, net cash here. Florida is bound to win. Her resources are great; hut time will develop them. Altoona, Fla., March :iS, 1888. John Ckavcraft. Friend C, when the cabbages you men- tion come to Medina, they bring about $4.50. Why do you say, " Peas are about all ship- ped''? Can't you raise peas all summer long, as we do here? 356 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May 0UR QaEgTi6N-B0?^, With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. All queries sent in for this department should be briefly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip or paper, and marked, " For Our Question-Box." Question No. 49.— Do yon prefer the entrance at the end of the frame? Why? No. Geo. Grimm. I do. It facilitates the travel of the bee. Mrs. L. Harrison. No. I shouldn't expect it to make any practical difference. P. H. Elwood. I use them so, but hardly know why, except that it was the way I started. G. M. Doolittle. Yes. Because every part of the hive is more ac- cessible from the entrance. H. R. IJoardman. I never observed that it made any difference, so far as the working- of the bees is concerned. Paul L. Viat-lon. Theoretically, no. I have never tried frames crosswise of the entrance, but shall the coming season. Dr. A. B. Mason. It doesn't make any difference whether at the sides or ends. I know, for half of our hives for years now have been one way and half the other, and no difference in results is manifest. A. J. Cook. Yes. Well, perhaps l)ecause it's the fashion, and I never tried any other way. At least, that's the principal reason. I suppose it allows a better chance for ventilation, and for ready access to all parts of the hive. C. C. Mii.l,er. Yes. For one particular reason. The hive should always be tipped toward the entrance, to allow water to run out of and not into the hive, as well as for other reasons, and the combs will not be built true in the frames, if they are tipped sidewise. O. O. POPPLETON. I do. To assist the bees in getting out with a worm when they get one by the collar, the hive should be tilted forward; and this will not do when the combs run crosswise -or is it because I'm a Yankee, and the " stupid Britishers " all use side entrances? E. E. Hasty. We like to have the bottom-board slope slightly toward the entrance, then rain or melting snow will run out instead of in. If a hive does not stand level, then it ought to slant lengthwise of the frames, otherwise they do not hang square with the hive. W.Z.Hutchinson. We have over 100 colonies in quadruple L. hives. Half of those colonies go in at the ends of frames; the other half, the entrance is at the side of the combs. I don't see any difference in working the bees, or in the amount of honey gathered, or in wintering the bees. E. France. Yes; because I can tip the hive, making the en- trance lowest, aiding the bees in keeping the hive clean. Besides, it is more natural for them to climb up than down or on the level. If the frames run crosswise, you can't tip the hive toward the en- trance without throwing the frame out of the de- sirable vertical position. James Heddon. This is much debated in Europe, because the Berlepsch hive has the entrance on the side. We prefer the Langstroth way, because it gives the bees and the air access to all the combs readily. Besides, we can slant the hive forward, for the es- cape of moisture, debris, etc., without causing the frames to hang out of the perpendicular line. Dadant & Son. Yes. The bees have more ready access to all the combs as they enter. The brood-neat can be more desirably contracted with the combs in this posi- tion. Ventilation with a proper enti-anee may be made more thorough. It is also often very desira- ble to have the hive stand so that the front is low- est, without throwing the combs out of their perpendicular position. L. C. Root. The Dzierzon method favors the so-called " warm- frame arrangement;" i. e., the bi'ood-frames hang- ing crosswise of the entrance. I prefer the so- called "cold-frame arrangement;" that is, the entrance at the ends of the brood-frames, because any part of the brood-chamber is of easier access to the bees. Besides, practical results have prov^ed Langstroth's arrangement superior to Dzierzon's. Chas F. Muth. Well, friends, this is pretty good. We can rest satisfied that it does not make any difference about the amount of honey stored, whether the bees go into the hives sidewise or endwise ; but so far as aiding the bees in house-cleaning, expelling intruders, etc., is concerned, the endwise doorway offers the best facilities. It seems, also, as if an en- trance the full width of the hive, with the combs running endwise, must offer the bees better facilities for perfect ventilation. Question No. .50.-2. What is the hest method of re- moving bees from sections? 2. Which have you 'used with success? 1. Don't know. 3. Drum on the super, and use smoke. Dr. A. B. Mason. It depends on the circumstances, number of sec- tions, and time of the crop. Dadant & Son. Smoke and shake will do the business, especially where wide frames are used. G. M. Doolittle. 1. Smoke them down, and brush off any remain- ing, with a yucca brush. 3. Ditto. Mrs. L. Harrison. Brush them off with a soft goose-feather, first shaking off with a quick .ierk all that will drop. Geo. Grimm. Bee-tent. Dark box. Vehement shake, such as the experienced bee - keeper understands, and smoke. A. J. COOK. My experience in raising section honey is too lim- ited for me to have any " best " method of doing this work. O. O. Poppleton. I presume this question refers mainly to super- cases, which I do not use. I use wide frames; and the manipulation is to take them out rapidly, and dislodge the bees with a vigorous shake. E. E. Hasty. Drive the most of the bees out with smoke, then carry the case of sections to a room having a win- dow or windows so arranged that the bees can read- ily pass out, and those outside can not get In. W. Z. Hutchinson. GLEANiKGS IN JBEE CULTURE. 357 Bees can be shaken out of their section boxes almost completely. The tew remaining' bees will find their exit and their way home when the boxes are placed in a dark room with the windows lower- ed. Chas. F. Muth. With our two-pound sections we shake the bees from each one separately. We were told that we could shake them out of our one-pound section case (used first last season), but our bees don't shake well; in fact, the shaking affected us more than it did the bees. We may have to resort to drumming them out, as with the old glass boxes. P. H. Elwood. 1. I smoke on the top until the majority of the bees go down, then take the cases into a rather dark room with one opening. By evening all the bees will have left the sections, and gathered on the opening, etc. There are several other methods, but I prefer this one, especially when using two or more tiers of sections, as it doesn't leave the bees without sections to work in until you can return whatever sections are not quite finished. Paul L. Viallon. This department is too limited to do justice to the subject. It depends somewhat on the kind of fix- tures used to hold the sections. I have used bee- escapes successfully, on both cases and hives. I practice a method not in use by any one else that I know of; in which I shake the bees off the sections in wide frames into a hopper, and return the bees to the hive. H. R. Boardman. 1. Remove the cover of the hive, smoke the bees between the sections, lean over, and blow with your mouth as hard as possible, when the bees will make a stampede downward. Before a reaction, snap off the surplus case, give it a few smart, trembling jerks, then set it in a screen-house or dark room with one light hole for the bees to go out at, standing it on end so that the air will move through the space between the combs readily; soon the few remaining bees will all be gone, and others will not return if robbing is rife. 3. As above. James Heddon. If I am handling sections singly, I shake and brush them off. If the whole case or rack is being handled, I smoke them at the top before removing them from the hive, when most of the bees will leave the boxes, and it may be removed and set upon its edge, on the alighting-board, and again smoked, when the bees will pass into the hive. In taking off large quantities of sections in haste, so that they are not entirely freed from bees before being carried in, I have practiced stacking them in a pile, and placing a nucleus box with a caged queen at the top, where the bees would all gather.. L. C. Root. I presume the above question was given witli the view of finding out who had used bee-escapes, such as we have recently illus- trated, for getting the bees out of the sec- tions. It transpires, however, that only a few have used them. Friend Ileddon seems to have had considerable experience in the matter, for he goes at it as if he had had practice in getting the bees from tons of honey. Question No. oh— Does removing the queen, in the height of the honey-flow, stop or diminish the honey f I think not. H. R. Boardman. It diminishes work for the first eight days. P. H. Elwood. It tends to check the storing of honey. Mrs. L. Harkison. It generally diminishes the amount of surplus. Dr. a. B. Mason. It will not, as a rule, affect the disposition of the bees to store honey. L. C. Root. I am convinced that such is the case, in a majori- ty of the trials which I have made. G. M. Dooi.itti,e. No, not if they have the material within the hives to commence rearing more queens. James Heddon. It will not stop or diminish the flow, for at least a few days; but it will stop breeding and diminish the bees, and the consequences will soon be apparent. Paul L. Viallon. It certainly would not increase it, except in that it would lessen the amount of honey used in brood- rearing, and would release more bees for labor in the fields. W. Z. Hutchinson. I have many a time so removed the queen, and I never noticed any difference. Still, there may have been a difference, and on the whole I prefer a queen in the hive. C. C. Miller. Sometimes it seems as though their ardor was dampened, and again it seems to have no effect. Generally the removal of the queen causes them to work less earnestly. Geo. Grimm. I have not experimented on this interesting point. I should expect that some colonies would stop almost entirely, and that other colonies would work almost as well as before. E. E. Hasty. It does, in my estimation, check the production of comb honey. The check to the flow of extracted honey is less noticeable when the upper story has a full set of combs, and no building need be done. Chas. F. Muth. Reason says no. But it always seemed to us that it diminished the result; at any rate, more honey is put in the brood-chamber than there would be oth- erwise, since the queen is no longer there to refill the cells with brood, and less of the made crop is available for the apiarist. Dadant & Son. I have made but very few experiments in this line; but those few seemed to diminish rather than increase the amount of honey stored. There is a great difference in this respect in the different races of bees, and I prefer those that diminish brood-rearing of their own accord during the height of the honey-flow. O. O. Poppleton. Not in the least. Mrs. L. B. Baker, who had quite a phenomenal success as a bee-keeper, removed her queens every season as the harvest opened. She got a very great quantity of fine comb honey- probably more than though the queen had been left; but breeding ceased; and so if there was a basswood harvest, the bees were not prepared for it. A. J. Cook. No, not with us. Take a strong colony of bees in the height of a honey-flow. Take away their queen, but leave them eggs or very young larvae from which to raise a queen. They are then in a perfect- ly natural condition, and will gather honey just as fast as they would if they had a laying queen. In fact, they will gain in honey faster; as fast as the 358 GLEANli^GS IN BEE CULTUKE. May brood hatches, the cells will be filled with honey, instead of another egg being laid in the cell for the bees to feed. Von may not get honey as fast in the sections, for the reason that the bees will put the honey in the brood-combs as fast as the brood hatches out. Kemember, that a colony of bees with no laying queen should have a full hive of combs — no combs to be built in the brood-apartment. E. France. And here is a point where doctors disa- gree. I am sure, from my own experience, that, with some colonies, it puts quite a stop to the whole business of the hive ; that is, if the queen is taken away when they have not made any preparations for swarming. We shall have to conclude, however, that, a great many times, it not only makes no dif- ference, but increases the yield of honey. Prof. Cook, E. France, L. C. Root, and oth- ers, testify to the above. \0¥Ef$ 'p.JiB QaEl^IEf^. STIMULATIVE FEEDING. aOES feeding in spring, for the purpose of stimulating the bees to rear brood, pay ? Does it pay to feed in the fall for this purpose? Peoria, O. R. L. Clegg. [We think it does pay to feed, for stimula- tive purposes, both in fall and spring. Of course, you do not want to feed in the fall, however, for stimulating, if the colony already is large, with abundance of young bees. Injudicious feeding may do more harm than good. As the subject is so broad, we think you had better consult the ABC book.] THE .lAPANESE BTTCKWHEAT AWAY AHEAD. The 3 ounces of Japanese buckwheat I got of you last year yielded at the rate of 140 to one. The silverhuU in the same field yielded only 30 to one, and, if any thing, on better land. Ika Beach. JMasonville, N. V., March 30, 1888. ABOUT THAT BOILED CORN. In answer to your question to A. B. C, on page 3.59, in regard to corn, we do not cook it. Cut it ofi', put in brine, and, when wanted for use, soak it as you would salt fisli. My folks stilt have it nice and good. A. W. Spracklen. Cowden, 111., Apr. 6, 1888. PEPPERMINT HONEY I'NWHOLESOME. I put 31 Strong colonies into winter quarters with plenty of peppermint honey. Six are dead of dys- entery, and the seventh is atfected, but may pull through, as I gave them other honey on the 33d. Comet, O., Feb. 3T, 1888. B. B. Messnek. ONLY ONE HONEY-MEKCHANT IN EVERY CITY. I am a believer that there ought to be some com- petent person appointed in every city, to handle all the honey, instead of its being sent to all kinds of commission men. They know nothing about honey nor about handling it. All they want is to get their commission. Wm. Trie. Minneapolis, Minn., Mar. 15, 1888. HOW TO CLARIEY WAX. What is the best way to clarify beeswax? How do you do it? Geo. w. Cook. Spring Hill, Kas. [The best way to clarify beeswax is to allow it to stand in a melted condition for some time, in order to let the foreign matter settle to the bottom of the receptacle. When cool, scrape off the bottom of the cake of wax. The scrapings will be more or less accumulations of dirt and other foreign sub- stances. It may be necessary to repeat the opera- tion of melting once or twice in order to get it suf- ficiently clarified. The solar wax-extractor will perhaps do the work better than any thing else. It also gives the wax a good color.] the best time TO transfer. What time of the year is the best to drive bees from old hives to new ones? We have just seven colonies this spring to commence with. Part of them are in old rotten box gums that they had been in for years before we got them. Afton, la.. Mar. 19, 1888. Mrs. J. E. Turner. [The best time to transfer is during apple-bloom in the spring; see "Transferring," in A B C] WIRING FOUNDATION WITH THE GIVEN PRESS. I should like to inquire of those who use the Given press, if It is possible to press foundation in wired frames with a single sheet. I can make splendid ones with a sheet on each side of the wires; but with one the wire cuts through. Birdsall, N. Y. O. E. Burden. [We should like to have Dr. Mason answer the above, although we feel quite sure, from what has been said, that one single sheet of wax is all that is used.] WHEN AND HOW TO MOVE BEES. I have four swarms that I want to move about ten miles ; which would be the best way to move them? Could I take them in a light wagon with safety? At what time in April or May would you advise me to move them? My bees have wintered well, and are all alive yet, though there is time enough yet for them to die. W. H. Jeater. Verdun, Ont., Can., Apr. .5, 1888. [You can move your bees anytime you wish to now. Of course, it would be desirable to put the colonies on a spring wagon if you have one. There is no trouble at all when a colony is moved ten miles, or even beyond one and one-half miles. See " Mov- ing Bees," in the ABC book.] CAN QUEENS CARRY FOUL BROOD? Can foul brood be carried, or is it likely to be car- ried, into new localities by purchasing queens of those having it among their bees? J. Langley. W id noon. Pa. [It is generally considered that the queen, when taken from a diseased colony, will not transmit it to a new colony to which she may be introduced. We hav-e taken queens from foul-broody colonies at different times, and placed them in another portion of our apiarj' into a colony that was perfectly healthy. Those colonies so treated never became diseased. Mr. Frank Cheshire, of England, claims that queens may give the disease, and urges, as proof, that he has found the germs of foul brood in the spermatheca.] yUEENS FROM SMALL CELLS. I am starting queen-cells, preparatory to Italian- izing my apiary, and I find that there is consider- able difference in the size of cell-starters. Do you find in your experience in ,o, I think I know practically nothing, and am tryin ^ to learn every day, and gladly take lessons from such as A. 1. Root used to be; but when bigotry takes hold of a person, 1 think he is not a good teacher for me, be he a Christian, a Jew, or a believer or an unbe- liever. L. W. LlGHTY. Mulberry, Pa., April h. 1888. 1 admit, dear friends, that tlie above is pretty severe, and no doubt more tban one reader of Gleanings will feel mightily stirred within himself. Very likely we all need stirring up, and I am sure the above letter will do us good, if we take it in the right way. Our brother has expressed him- self very strongly, it is true, but 1 presume there is at least a grain of truth in every point he makes. As I am getting to the end of my allotted space, perhaps we had all better let the matter drop where it is until ova- next issue. Meantime, let us all re- member that if any of us feel in a lighting mood, there are probably enemies or sins within our own hearts that can be fought to much better advantage than to fight (even with words) one of our fellow-men. I want to say to the writer, however, that I thank him for his timely .warning. I wil! try to take very great care that iiarrovvness it 4; another, 4 in fall, all gone; another, 13 in fall, 3 left. Nearly all have lost some. I would put the average at 14 loss in this lo- cality. L. D. Gale. Stedman, N. Y. Bees have wintered well here. I went into win- ter quarters with 5 colonies, and they are all right so far. Cyrus Wilson. Fairmount, Ind., April 18, 1888. bees IN FINE SHAPE. The reports from 13 apiaries in my vicinity are very encouraging, the loss being only about 5 per cent for the winter and spring so far, and, as a rule, bees are in fine shape. W. Crommie. Cobleskill, N. Y., March 30, 1888. NEW POLLEN. My bees are doing pretty well. They are work- ing on natural pollen gathered from willow and cedar; but there is no honey yet. I have one colo- ny that is about to fail; they have plenty of sealed stores, a laying quee?i, and a little brood; but there are very few bees left in the hive. I put them in a good new hive. They have as much brood as I think they can take care of. What do you think is the matter with them, and can I do any thing more for them? D. M. Dorsey. Rainier, Ore., Mar. 33, 1888. As you describe your bees, we sliould say they have the spring dwindliug. It is usual- ly caused by, or seems to follow, unseasona- ble weather in March and April, and some- times clear down into May. See A B C. l^EPe^'Fg Digc0ai^)^^iN(i. "bees DON'T PAY." SO SOME SAY ; LOSS 75 fo BECAUSE OF NO CARE. T HAVE been watching Gleanings for some iMf time for some kind of a report from this part ^t of the State in reference to the way the bees "*■ had wintered. Having seen nothing on that subject T will now report that fully 75 per cent of the bees in Nodaway County died from poor care and lack of stores last wiuter. A great many claimed that, if the bees could not make their own living, they might starve. The consequence is, there are but few bees left ii: this part; some men losing as many as forty swarms; and almost all who had but few colonies have lost all, and say they are done with the bee-business, as It does not pay. I went into the winter with eleven colonies, and came out with three; but the fault was my own, as I was not in reach of my bees when they ought to have been fed, and I could not get to them to feed them. G.W. Wii,cox. Hopkins, Mo., Apr. 6, 1888. winter losses. Last fall I had under my charge. In three apia- ries, 53 colonies of bees in good shape for winter, as 1 thought. 1 have just looked them over this week, and And in my home apiary of 313 colonies there are 11 living, and three of them are weak, but all are gathering honey freely. In another yard of 17 hives there are 5 living, and the last lot of 13 has 9 alive and in good condition, three with dnmes flying on the 30th of April, and one colony that was queenless two weeks ago. J. C. Balch. Bronsou, Kan., Apr. 31, 1888. BEES IN BAD CONDITION. The Chapman honey-plant has gone where the woodbine twineth. Jack Frost was too much for it. 1388 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 863 Bees are in bad condition— dysenterj', 8j»ring' dwin- dling, and swarming- out ; scarcely any rain. Drought killed most of the white clover last year, and has not got started again. We don't look for much of a crop of honey. HaijI.ett & Son. Galena, 111., Apr. 7, 1888. Our ('liapman honey-plant has fared much as yours during the past winter ; but the freezing and thawing during the moutlis of March and April have been with us very try- ing to all plants wintered over. 0ai^ 0WN ^Finw. CONDUCTED BY ERNEST R. ROOT. BEES ON THE WING. T WONDER how many of our readers (dp know exactly the position of a bee's legs ^t while he is on the wing. If there is any -*■ class of people who have erroneous ideas on this point, it is the average engraver. Usually a bee in mid-air is pictured as hav- ing both the anterior and middle legs pro- jecting forward. (See outside cover of this journal, and you will see what I mean.) If I am correct, the legs are never in this posi- tion while in the air, except just as their owner is about to alight on a clover-head or some other object. When he is flying, his anterior and middle legs are folded com- pactly under his thorax, while the posterior — that is, the hind legs — sometimes hang downward full length, but usually close to the abdomen. There is a reason for this. If a bee were flying with all six legs sprawled in every direction, I fancy he would make poor progress in consequence of the friction from the air. The engraving above, repre- senting a bee on the wing, at the right, is a very accurate representation, so far as my observation goes. It is necessarily accurate, because photographed by the instantaneous process. We have tried several times here, at the Home of the Honey-Bees, to catch a flying bee on the wing witli our instrument, but never succeeded in getting a good focus. Our good friend Alfred Watkins, of Im- perial Mills, Hereford, England, has gotten outa series of magic-lantern slides, as well as a series of micro-photographs. These latter embrace views of the anatomical structure of the honey-bee.* From the list of the former, I selected one slide representing a bee sipping from a clover-head, and one on the wing. This was sent to our engravers, and the result I sub- mit above. If you don't believe a bee holds himself on the wing as shown on the right of the pi(;ture, suppose you watcli a robber (particularly a black bee) while he holds himself poised aloft just before your nose, at such a distance from your face as to make it necessaiy for you, in order to get a view, to look at him cross-eyed. If he be inclined to sting, and seems to be selecting a good tender spot, you Mill observe that the front legs are uncoiled a little and extended for- ward slightly, ready to catch hold. *For further particulars in regard to these slides, see our editorial on page 955, On the left is a very good representation of a bee on a head of clover. The camera was pointed at him just as he had run his proboscis down into one of the little cells, had withdrawn it, and was next about to re- insert it in another cell. I am very sorry that we have not the three acts represented. But friend Watkins is to be congratulated on his success as it is. From what experi- ence we have had, I could never get the bees to adjust themselves just right, and I pre- sume Mr. Watkins has had a similar ex- perience. Now, as dandelions in our Northern local- ity are just coming into bloom, our juvenile friends will find it of some interest to watch the bees as they alight on the yellow heads, just before alighting on, and while on the posy. I do not know that there is any practical bearing in regard to the way in which bees hold their legs while on the wing; but if we are going to have pictures of them, let's have them accurate. There are so many very poor engravings of bees, it is a little refresh- ing once in a while to find one that tells the truth. Murray & Heiss, of Cleveland, have the credit of reproducing the picture above. NO FOUL BROOD. Although we have had quite a spell of protracted cool weather, which would ordi- narily discourage l)rood-rearing, yet our colonies have been raising brood to quite a large extent. We have just been through the bees to-day, Apr. 25, and no evidences of that malady have been found. Young bees are beginning to hntch, and our already strong colonies are l)eing reinforced by the addi- tion of young bees. No colonies have been lost since my last report. THE CLAliK AND niNGHA.M SMOKERS. To-day one of the boys has been using the Bingham and tlie other an improved Clark. They both work most excellently. The Bingham gives a little stronger smoke. The Clark, on the other hand, works easier, sends a blast to a greater distance, and the volume is limply pungent for our purpose. We find, als(K that the Clark is more economical of fuel, iind conseciuently does not require so frequent filling, 3H4 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May Gleanincs in Bee Cultdre, Published SenU-Moiithli/. •o»-40» TCDITOR AND PUBLISHER. TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. For Olutting Bates, See First Page of Beading Matter. livCEiDiiT-iSu, j^^.£^ir 1, ises- Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice.— Ps. 5: U. We have at this date, «137 subscribers. GLEANINGS AS AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM. The following- from S. W. Morrison, one of our prominent advertisers, has come to hand. A. I. RiKiT:-— Don't insert ray .adv't again. I have all tlie ui- ders for queens I can fill for April and May. You can "pi" that ad. I can't take any moie ordeis to lie filled just now. Oxford, Chester Co., Pa., April 11, 1888. S. W. Morrison, Will our readers please take notice? A LIFE ANNUITY TO FATHER LANGSTROTH. A MOVEMENT is On foot to Create a life annuity in favor of L. L. Lang-stroth. Those of our readers who have been benefited by his writing's and in- ventions, and who would therefore be glad to con- tribute .something yearly to the father of American bee-keeping, should write to Dr. C. C. Miller, Ma- rengo, 111., for particulars. CONDITION OF BUSINESS AT THIS DATE. So far this season orders have, with very few ex- ceptions, been filled within three days from the time they reached us. Most of them have gone the same day, or the day following the receipt of order. But those big piles of goods we had prepared are being depleted rapidly. Another thing, there is a slight upward tendency in the price of beeswax. You will notice in our adv't we have marked the price ui> two cents per pound, although we have not changed the price of foundation. In view of these things, let me urge you to get your orders in early, that you may not be disappointed. The progressive bee-keeper has his supplies in readiness for the bees .just as soon as they are needed. pains has been spared, either in material or con- struction. In principle it is similar to the one rigged up a couple of years ago. Its weight is 3400 lbs. It has immense power, and is able to perforate 70 holes at a " chank." Our machinists were un- able to put it together in time to judge of the qual- ity of work, in order to make a report of it in this issue. But the superior cut of the dies, together with the fine workmanship on the steel and cast iron of the machine itself, justifies us in believing that the quality of the zinc will be second to none on the market. The prices of the zinc will be the same as quoted heretofore. Probably by the time this item reaches your eyes the machine will be in full operation. Samples mailed on application. THE LOMB PRIZE ESSAYS. From Dr. Irving A. Watson, Secretary American Public Health Association, Concord, N. H., we have received three of these extremely intei-esting and useful essays. The first is entitled, "Healthy Homes and Food for the Working Classes," by Vic- tor C. Vaughan; the second, "The Sanitary Condi- tion and Necessities of Schoolhouses and School Life," by D. F. Lincoln; the third, "Disinfection and Individual Prophylaxis against Infectious Dis- eases," by Goo. M. Sternberg. The price of the first one is 10 cts. ; each of the others, 5 cts. These es- says are published at cost, and should be in the hands of every person in the land. They are not dry dissertations on medical subjects, but are as in- teresting to read as any thing can possibly be. The hints contained in them touch us at every turn in life; and their observance will, without doubt, add to the sum total of human life, and render far more pleasant what remains to us. In the spirit of Christian jihilanthropy, Mr. Henry Lomb, of Rochester, N. Y., paid several hundred dollars for each of the essays referred to above, as being the best out of a large number sent in for the prize. We almost feel like begging of our readers to send and get these valuable works, for they are of vital [ interest to all. The thanks of this generation and of more to follow are due to Mr. Lomb for this ju- dicious expenditure of wealth. Address Dr.Watson. roads and road-making. The Rural Neiv-Yorker for April 21 is a special number, entitled, " Road Special;" and the pictures on the front cover ought to be worth to every man who travels on our country roads the subscription price of the paper a year. The saddest part of it is, that the first two pictures are true— or, at least, have been true within the memory of most middle- aged farmers. The last two pictures we hope and pray may soon take the place of the former, if they have not indeed come pretty near it already in many localities. Reader, how are the roads in yo>i.r vicinity? and if they are bad at certain seasons of the year, what do your people do toward making them better? a new machine for perfok.\tino zinc. In consequence of our low prices on perforated zinc, there has been a big run on it ; so much so, indeed, that we felt justified in going to the expense of building a new and better machine. Our ma- chinists have been at work on it for something like eight weeks, and its cost will be about $400. No THAT HOARHOUND HONEY. One of our subscribers sends us a lai-ge illustrat- ed circular, entitled, " Hoge's Hoai-houud Honey; " price .")0 cents and $1.00 per bottle. On the circular, or advertising sheet, is a series of pictures, the first of which represents cutting honey out of the trees in Santa Rosa, Southern California, where a large amount of hoarhound grows naturally. The pic- ture shows a bee-hunter following the bees; a man sawing off a limb; then cutting out the honey by the tubful. Then there is a picture of an apiary near Santa Rosa, and then there is a packing-room where the bottles of hoarhound honey are packed into bo.xes. On the other side of the sheet there is a series of jiictures representing the manufacture of comb foundation, with a sort of rude backwoods honey-extractor. The pictures are very well gotten up; but ray opinion is. that the whole thing is a scheme to sell this hoarhound honey at a big price. A string of testimonials is appended ; but these tes- timonials are signed by parties without giving the addresses. Two of them are from England. A big testimonial for Mr. Hoge himself comes from the A. B. J., but it does not say when or why it appeared. The New York Commercial and the New York Times also give Mr. Hoge a big puff. Now, if we have a 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 365 subscriber in Santa Rosa, will he please tell us if he knows any thing- about Mr. Hope's hoarhound-hon- ey apiary? Our stenograjther sug-gests that we might put adecoction of hoarhound in the honey we already have, and then we could have it without starting a California apiary. The circular says that Hoge's hoarhound honey is sold by all druggists. Can anybody tell us where we can get a bottle? The circular has no date on it; furthermore, it gives a picture of the process of making artificial honey-comb . HONEY STATISTICS FliBSH FROM THE FIELDS. On page 377 of the A. B. ■/., the editor remarks, in reply to a correspondent, on the matter of se- curing statistics, as follows : " At first we thought the best way to get statistics would be through the assessors, or a statistical bu- reau of each State; but in all probability those gathered by persons interested in the pursuit are of the most immediate value. We like the plan in- augurated by Mr. Root, in Gleanings, for the pur- pose, of which we gave a summar.y on page 343. Those obtained through the U. S. statisticians will go upon record, and be handed down to posterity in the history of the material resources of the country. We fear they will not be gathered and published soon enough to be available to the pro- ducer, in regulating market prices." You are entirel.v correct, Bro. Newman. While we would in no way depreciate the value of statis- tics in the hands of the government, historically, yet we fear our Uncle Sam (and it takes him a good while to turn around sometimes) will not be able to dish them out in time to be of any service to bee- keepers, as affecting or regulating- the price of hon- ey on the market. Tf there has been a dearth of honey in any given district, the fact should be made known at once, in order that the resident bee- keepers of said district who have secured a moder- ate crop may not be in too great a rush to dispose of it at a sacrifice. A knowledge of such facts, fresh from the fields (not months afterward) is what is required. So thoroughly impressed were we with this view of the case that we thought best to get something a going in the matter of statistics on our own responsibility, immediately. It is true, with the limited number of contributors to the Honey Statistics which we have already inaug-urat- ed, we can not get at the number of colonies and the number of pounds of honey and wax in our broad domain, but we can collect considej-able valuable information, and we believe there is no better medium for disseminating such information 071 time than through the medium of bee-journals. decision of the u. s. supreme court in re- gard TO THE PATENT ON THE ONE-PIECE SECTION. A COUPLE of telegrams received a few days ago in regard to this matter read as follows: Cleveland, Apr. 2.'>. Mr. Root:— The Supreme Court afflrins the decision of the District Coui-t. 1 congi-atulate you. M. D. Leggett. Cleveland, 0., Apr. 23, " ' )atent vo . A. Osborne. I suppose this ends the controversy; and it is with a feeling- of sadness that I announce the re- sult, even though it has been decided in our favor. 1 feel sad to think of the amount of money that has been wasted in this lawsuit. I do not know what it has cost Mr. Forncrook, but it has cost me alto- gether somewhere between •'S1300 and iflSOO. At one time I offered Mr. Forncrook $50(1 to drop the mat- ter. I told him that 1 should have to pay to our lawyers $500 or more, and that I would as soon pay it to him as to the lawyers. The pi-oposal may have had the opposite effect from what I intended. The lesson we have learned may be worth something. The day is past, dear fiiends, when our courts will authorize one man to collect together the inven- tions of a great many, and, by a little improvement of his own, monopolize the whole thing. Mr. F. very likely produced a better one-piece section than anybody else; that is, he may have used bet- ter lumber, and finished it up a little nicer. He also did obtain a patent, or a sort of one. This patent, however, when subjected to close scrutiny in both cases, has been declared void. Another thing, Mr. Forncrook's employers declare that all the improvement he made on sections was made while in their employ, and by their directions. They decided to make a better-finished section than any that had yet appeared on the market, and selected him from among several workman to do what they wanted done, and according to their instructions. Possibly I may have been misin- formed in regard to some of the points I have made; but it does not matter very much if I have. Now for the moral: Do not think of getting a pat- ent on any thing you may have invented, unless the invention is clearly and decidedly your own. Even if you succeed in making a little improve- ment on something already in greneral use, it will not pay you to get it patented. I do believe in pat- ents, and I am glad to respect the rights of others in the way of patents; but they should he clearly and unmistakably the inventions of the individual to whom the patent is granted. SHIPPING BEES FKOM THE SOUTH, IN order to catch the honey-flow as IT IN- CREASES NORTHWARD. fHE following letter from Mr. Byron Walker has just come to liand. It seems he is going to put the sclieme into actual operation, as given in the heading above. Friend Root:—! have been in this State for sever- al weeks past, buying- bees, and I expect to remain here a month or so longer, increasing my stock preparatory to shipping- north in time for the clo- ver harvest. Can you give me the names of any parties living in Missouri or Illinois, in the vicinity of St. Louis, who might post me as to a good loca- tion for placing my bees for a couple of weeks be- fore shipping home? I think of shipping from Hel- ena to St. liOuis, or some point near there, by boat, in time for the white-clover yield, if I can get the desired information. The parties who furnish it ought to live at some point on or near the river. 1 should prefer to locate south of St. Louis, as trans- shipment would be necessary to points above the city. If you can help me to the information desir- ed, you will be doing me a great favor, and at the same time aid me in solving the problem proposed for solution b.v M. M. Baldridg-e. Bees are doing well here at present on poplar and locust bloom, and are swarming to some extent. I found 15 cards of brood nearly a week since in a Mitchell hive. Byron Waf,ker. Marvell, Phillips Co.. Ark., Apr. 34, 188S. Will those of our subscribers who live on or near llie river be kind enough to give friend Walker the information lie desires? 366 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May Wants or Exchange Department. Notioes will be m^citid under this lieaU at one-half our usual rates. All ad's intended for this department must not exceed 6 lines, and you must say you want your ad. in tliis de- partment, or we will not Ue responsible for any error. Tou can have the notice as many lines as you please; but all over live lines will cost you ac-cordinf; to our regular rates. This lepartment is inteiuh-d tested Italian (jiicens to mail in May, at $1.00 each. Also queens tor season, and nuclei very cheap. State what > ou want, and ad- dress ■ S. F. REED. N. Dorchester, N. H. NON^WARMING QUEENS. Send for circular to \\. C. <; 11. LETT, L.e Koy, N. Y. ALiIi difficulties in pyro development and toning explained by an artist of more than twenty years' experience; methods, formuhc, and informa- tion which will enable amateurs to make first-class photos-raphs. Sent on receipt of 25 cents. Odtfdb JOHN CAPWALLADEE, Photographer, North Vernon, Ind. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 367 KENWARD-HALL APIARY IMPORTANT ! TESTED QUEENS AT ONE DOLLAR EACH. We do not send out warranted queens. Our Tested Queen-i are sold at the price asked for war- ranted. Our queens are Irom imported mothers, are i.akge, LIGHT, PROLIFIC, and, ABOVE ALL, A PLEASUKE TO HANDLE, and will prcjve A No. 1 in every respect. Satisfai'tion guaranteed. See ad. in Glean- ings March 1. Untested queens $75 3-frame nucleus, 3 lbs. bees, tested queen - 3 00 Orders filled promptly by return mail. Special rates to dealers. Write tor price list. J. W. K. SHAW&COm (Iberia Parish.) LOREAUVILLE, LA. MY20TH ANNUAL PRICE LIST OF ITALIAN, CYPRIAN, and HOLY-LAND BEES, QUEENS, NUCLEUS COLONIES, and APIARIAN SUPPLIES, sent to all who send me their name and address. 7-l.")d H. H. BROWN, Light Street, Col. Co., Pa. 4 YOU BUY your supplies for 1888, send for my 32-page Illustrated Catalog-ue, de- scribing- my new reversible-frame hive and T super. They are per- fection. Address 5tfdb E. S. ARMSTRONG, JERSEYVILLE, ILLS. 200 COLONIES ofBEES FOR SALE IN MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. Both Hofman an hirjre pkis. of garden-seed, fresh and No. 1 in all respects, fortiftcts., i>ost^Hiid. Write for furtluM- particulars, to O. M. (;OOD^JPEKl», Mo\ •.':, I'liorii Hill, N. Y. He sure and name Hox ''~ in an.-iweriny this adv't. BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES. HiVbS, FRAMES, CASES. SECTIONS, COMB FOUNDATION, ETC. Send your address for kkkk ciiu'I'i.ah to kk:\!noi.iks bkok., r>tfdb ^Viniauiwbiir;^, liitl. BEES^d QUEENS READV TO SKIP. Frieiuls. if you are in need of Italian bees and nueens, leared from imported mothers. 1 can ai-- ct)mmodate you at the followinji' lowv>riees: Italian bees. 'jlb.. T"> cts.; l 11).. ^^l.iK); untested (jueens. f\M; tested, S-.MKI. Hybrid bees. '. lb.. «,■> cts.; 1 lb.. Wets.: Hybrid queens. 7."i cts. Prices by the quan- tity will be sent on applicatioi\. 5-lld W. S. CAI THKN, PIea».»iit Hill, »«.r. 1070 ALL MY ORDERS FOR 1887 |000 in f X wert' tilled without one word|flff fj "■ ^'of complaint ; and the protr-"""" eny of my ((ueens was pronounced by some to be the tlnest they ever saw. I am now booking orders, to be tilled as soon as weather permits. itne untested queen $ 80 One tested " 1 (K) (tnc selected " { M Safe arrival and satisfaction truarantced. Send for price list. C. M. HICKS, 'i'^i Fairview, Wash Co., Nld. ITALIAN DEE -HIVES, QUEENS D lloiic) - l':xli-»ctor!«, and Fruit - Boxon. :!tfd SEXD FOli PRICE LIST. B. J. MILLER & CO., - Nappanee, Ind. FOLDING BOXES. Kn< l..>e y..iir<-«>MH HONKY in our Car- tons. I*ri<'«'s Ketiueed for 1888. .Sample Co. •JO papre Catalotre of (ilass .7ars. Honcv Labels, etc., FKEK. Send for it. Address A. O. CRAWFORD, ><• Weymouth, Mass. r/.V CiSJ-JS, SKC- i/O.V.S'. METAJ, < ohxkhs. The Globe Lawn - IVIower. A FIRST-CUSS MACHINE AT A LOW PRICE. Nothinsf indicates neatness and thrift about the house so well as a nicely- kept lawn, or apiary, and no flower s'anlen is prettier than a nice green sward evenly iuowed. Probably the reason more people do not have these nicely kept lawns and apiaries is because they were not able to get a tirst-class mower at a low entniirh price. We have been on the lookout for such a mower for some time, and we have succeeded in jfetting- it at last. The Globe lawn-mower shown in adjoining cut combines all the best features, and is a flrstclass mower in every respect. Ha\-ing only three knives it will cut longer grass than those having fotir. The axle of the drive-wheel does not project, so that you can run close to the hive. It has two drive-wheels and roll- er, and the driving gears are simply per- fect. Nothing could be more simple and ef- fective. The prices are very much lower than on any other first-class mower, in fact they are about as low as the cheap grade of ma- chines, and yet this mower is not surpass- ed by any machine on the market, but Is guar- anteed to be rtrst-class. TABLE OF PRICES: LIST OIK FRIl'E 1»KICK Klin. Globe. . . .(:Ml.lHb. . . $.">..")(> 12 " •' ....( 13.txt)..., rt..^ U •' " ....( 15.WK... ~M 16 •• " ...A 17.001... 8.50 18 " '• ....( 19.00).... 9.50 We oan ship from here, or Springfield. O. All, or a part of the freight will be allowed on shipments of five or more from Springfield, according to distance. ins< oiyrs. On 2 machines 5 % ••a " 10 " " 4 " IS^i " " h •• If) •• "8 •' 20 •• " 10 or more 2.5 •' A.-. X. Z%.001*, 3\Xecl.ix3.A>, <31xlo. A Good Lawn-Mower for Only $4.25. Discounts for more than on same as on the Globe. No :ui!umcnt is needed to convince \'ou that a nice iirecu lawn, well kept, bciiutifles the home, and indicates thrift. The reasiMi man> can not ha\e such a lawn is lie- - eas> . Having onh three knives on the reel, they will cut very long grass, and cut it close to the ui-ound or not just as you choose, bv holding the hanBi>H, Office 44.> ClieKtiiiit St. Kcadin^, Fa. HERE I COME To say that E. Baer, of l)ix- on, III., has sold out his sup- ply business to the Gf>odell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., who will sell V-gTOOve basswo^xl sections at from ?2.7.5 to *4.(>j per M. Other supplies corro.-pftndiDK'ly low. Sam- pies and ciicular free. .Ad- dress the GOODELL&, WOODWORTH MFG. CO., ;itfdb ROCK FALLS, WHITESIDE CO., ILL. HOW TO R.\ISK ro.nB HONK^ . See Fos- ter's advertisement on another page, l-nidb ^IMew Orleans Apiary.>o 1 will breed and mail guaranteed pure Italian fjueen-bees from the best stook f'^r business, for one dollar each, the coming season. Orders solicit- ed, and rjueens mailed upon the receipt of order, f will also sell -W) coloni^ of Italian bees in Lang- stroth hives, cheap, or any number of colonies to suit purchaser, f can ship by river, railroad, or steamship to any point. Address 6tfdb .r. W. WIMJER, >ew OrleaiiM, l.a. The Simplest Extractor Ont. Doe*- perfect, g<^K>d work, and lasts well. Is adjustaide for bar- rels or cans, and save^i express charges on cans. Px-ice Only 92.90. Patented Feb. '■>, l-^". .\ddres8 the inventor, 8-lOdb J. <;. .TIELi HKK. O'Qiiinn. Fajette < o..Tex. By the use of NATURAL GAS WE .M.\N'rKAdT'KE BEE- HIVES, ONE AND FOUR PIECE SECTIONS, SMOKERS, FEEDERS, HESr (HKHtS AT i.inv l-lil< ES. .1. HEADQUARTERS ^' »Ol>'DATIO>', 10-lb. lots or more, ai cts. per lb. 5tfdb .JAS. iricNEIIi, HndHon, N. Y. Cardie and Sta- leryfor Bee-kecp- erft and Othern). Besides our beautiful eight-color chromo card, we have other neat designs, also a fine selection of fancy address cards, for old and young, for business and amu.sement. Also two and three letter mono- grams, all at low prices. See Here, ."/j fancy print- ed cards, 1.5 cts.; ^WJ envelopes, 'Mi) letter-heads, printed, 11. Package 2.") assorted cards, 10 cts. Neat box of cards and honey candies, 1.5 eta. Circulars free. Address J. H. M.^RTiy, Hartford, N. V. :ifrtfdb ► EAITIFC X QIKKNS FROn .; \ * inpoRTKn noTHK Tested, $2.iXj: Intesteij. -*].ij\f:k, Findla), Oliio. ITALIAN BEES % QUEENS Tested fjueen. fl..'>j; uute.-ied, K\-^fr. bees per .:j.. -*l.fXj; frames of brood, -tOc each ; ."J-frame nucleus, containing %Vi lbs. bees, 2 L. frames of hTrx>4 and tested queen. I4..VJ. With untested queen, |4.0f). Orders filled promptly. Send for circular. V-fJd .TIISS A. .TI. TAVLOB, .Mulberry Grove, Bond to.. III. Box 77> »»Qf p I My catalogue of Bees, Queens, Api- l» rrl* I" I arian Supplies, .Standard Poultry r? I ■ » ■" ^ • varieties'. Japanese buckwheat, Green Mountain and Empire State potatoes. My stock is flrst-class. You should see my prices for 1888 before you order. CHAS. D. DU V ALL, .5tfdb Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md. DASAHT'S rOtTHSATIOV rACT0S7,WB0LE3ALZ aadSZTAIL. See a/lvertisement in another column. -Stfbd LIZZIE H7SZWAOTE2, VIW CASLISLE »-9tfd 1888. Pure Italian Bees and Queens for sale in Full Colonies or Nuclei. Five L. Iraiue nuclei a specialty. My queens and bees possess all the good qualities of the most desirable hones'-bee. Send for prices. WM. LITTLE, stfdb Marlssa, III. JTALIAN BEES FOR SALE. Seventy colonic- in ten-frame I.angstroth hives, at $6.00 per colony. JOH> «iRA>T, 8-lldb Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio. BEES T BEES I I will sell full colonies in eight-framf- i.angstroth hives, one to five, *-5; over Ave. f 1..tO. ^-'M\ H. C. GILSON, Burr Oak, Mich. WANTPn 1000 CUSTOMERS forPureltalian bees II AH I lU a. queens. A'idress. MARTIX i MACY, 6-llb No. Manchester, Indiana, Or J. J. Martin Sc Co., Publishers of Rays of Light. ITALIAN BEES, QUEENS, AND EGSS from high-ciass .-iiVf-r I.aced ^^ yarj'jotte, and .-. • . B. Leghorn fowls, at living rates. Price list free. 8tfdb 5Z0. A. 772I5HT, SlsiTcod, ozzuzi'u.zti Zc., Pa. FOR SALE. Italian Queens and liees by the • olony. Nucleus, and Pound. Dealer in Bee-lceepers' supplies. -Ad- dress OTTO KLEINOW, •otfdh (Opp. Fort Wayne Gaten Detroit, Mich. BEES, Queens, Hi%-es, Given Comb Foundation, Apiarian Supplies, German Carp, Small-fruit Plants. Send for catalogue free. E. T. PUnagaa, Belleville, Ills. l-34db. '888 Oliver Foster, of Iowa. Italian bees, '>■ cts. per lb. in .July, to ll.'XJ in April. Pkgs. with queens, brood, etc., cheap. A'o fiiul hrii'j'l nenr. SKK SI PPLIKS.— Best sections, cases, and hives, f atalogue free, ."^end h one-cent stamps for pamphlet, -HOT ZZ 2AI32 J:J£2 HCiTZ?,-— chuck full of practical information '"in a nutshell." 4-l.')db Address Oliver F^iStek, Mt. V'ernon, la. LITHOGRAPH LABELS Zra. 12 Colors, a.-b $2.00 ^ex lOOO. When Mr. .lames .\bbott, of London. Eng.. was with us a year ago. he had samples of a very neat lithograph label, oblong in shape, measuringS'sxZ'-,- We mentioned them at the time in GLE.*^>"i>"f;s. agreeing to send samples as soon as we rec-eived them. Well, they have just come to hand, although we ordered .yj.OfX) over a year ago. Thes' are about the nicest labels we ever saw for glass tumblers, pail.-, and small packages of honey. We will mail a sample inclosed in our label catalogue, free on application, and will furnish them postpaid at the following prices: .5 cts. for 10: KJcts. for 10<": f 1.2-5 for .yjij; $2.(X) for UXXJ. A. I. R. Will .'lell for $1.50. No. 2. At San Marcos, Hays Co., Texas. 5000 prize sections, S^f X 6^ high. Value 820,50. Will sell for $17.00, No, i. At Eureka, III. 100 lbs. of heavy brood foundation. 8^^ x 17Ji, for wired L. frame. Value fee.OO. Will sell for $32.00. No. 6. At Lawrencebnrfr, Tenn, One No. 1 Honey-extract oi-. for frames 11'4 x 12Jl(Hroo. We will sell this for $25.00. It is a bargain to tlie one who is in need of one this size. No 1.1. .\t Knoxville. Iowa. Oii>' light-power saw mandrel. $5.00: one 8-in. rip-saw, $1.15; (Uie 6-in. cut-otf saw, $,80; and one5-in, dovetailing saw, $.85, Worth $7.80. Will sell for $6..50. A. I. ROOT, Medina. O, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 375 Contents of this Number. Aoid in Sugar Syrup :i99 American Garden -95 Apiary, Where to Start 399 Bee Poison— Laiigstroth 3«fi Bees on Shares 398 Bees Confined 161 Days 398 Bees, Larval, Food of 388 Blood, Italian, For Sale 398 Blueberries 402 Buckwheat Free .... (i^. B. ). 397 Cellar Wintering 381 Clothing, Care of 410 Combs, Old, To Melt 396 Combs, Age of 398 Cook's Losses 408 Cotton, Lizzie 398 Cotton-growing 401 Crate, Heddon, To Empty.. 396 Cuba, Poppletonin 383 Editorial 408 Frames, Reversible. (Q. B.) 396 Glossary, Cowan's 410 Heads of Grain 395 Hive, Inventor of Frame.. .379 Hives, Painting :i99 Honey Statistics for May. ..382 Honev a Confectionery.. ...395 Honey in Uak trees 387 H.oicV-b.iarils ....393 Insects, To Destroy 396 Laii(iiim?k-s fur Bees 390 Lanirstr.illi ..n Hed'n Hive.. 391 Maniiiulaticii 391 Notes and <^ucnes 398 Oldroyd's Death 409 . ry Peppermint Oil.. Poem on the Bee 40J Pollen, Sources of 400 Prospects for 1888. . . (Q. B.) ..397 Question 38 385 Queens, Doolittle's Plan 410 Question-Box 390 Reports Encouraging 406 Sap vs. Su)i-ai- 399 Silos 387 Smoke for Bees .381 Spacing, Bad 399 Stinging, Severe 402 Uncle Amos' Picture 400 PfllCE LISTS RECEIVED. •T. N. Colwick, Norse. Texas, sends out a one-page list of Ital- ian bees. He says: " They are the bees for this country. All through the hardest and dryest years in Texas, I have never failed to market the finest honey." M. E. Mason, Andover, O., sends us his list, 8 pages, of foun- flation and supplies. A nice sample each of light and heavy foundation is inclosed. Miss A. M. Taylor, Mulberry Grove. 111., sends out a list, one page, of Italian bees and queens. G, H. Knickerbocker, Pine Plains, N. Y.. sends out a neat cir- cular of 17 pages, relative to bees and queens. KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. GLEANINGS AS AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM. Send me no more orders; Gleanings enabled me to sell out in 4 days. T. K. Massib. Concord Church, W. Va., April 28, 1888. I received my goods in fine shape, and am well pleased with them. I never nailed together any thills' nicer in the line of bee-material. Killbuck, Holmes Co., O. Jacob Bower. I received four boxes of bee-stufl all right. Eve- ry thing came in fine shape, and just in time for my bees. M. J. Twining. Hanford, Cal., Apr. 31, 1888. gleanings an old friend. Many thanks for Gleanings. You would have laughed if you could have seen us meet. It was like meeting an old friend. G. H. Heed. Anneville, Te.x., Mar. 13, 1888. well PACKED. The box of goods came in good condition, and we were well pleased with the contents. The packing was so well done 1 believe they could have gone to China, and even the glass remained unbroken. Dayton, Mo., Apr. 34, 1888. L. M. Wagner. OUR LOW PRICES. I am well pleased with my goods, and will soon order several articles included in your catalogue, which can not be had jere at all, or else at very high i)rices. The bell jack-screw, for instance, would cost !f5..50 here, and do only two inches more work. I think the screw marvelously cheap. Henderson, Texas, April 33. Wm. B. Baxter. THANKS. Mr. Editor :-^Or perhaps I should say dear editor, for truly the latter is the correct expression— I want to thank Prof. Cook and you for his "Brighter Pic-^ tui'e," and your remarks in Gleanings. What a grand world this would bo if all men were like A. J.Cook, A. I. Koot, and Master W.! I should like to meet and greet you all, but this ma.v not be now. I can only say. God bless you all. M- A. Kelly. Milton, W. Va., May 6, 1888, I think all the Christian readers of Gleanings must rejoice with you in the precious contents of "Our Homes." J. Mekbel. Poplar Ridge, N. V. gleanings like a class-meeting. Please find inclosed one dollar for Gleanings, 1888. I could not think of doing without it. It's like going to class-meeting. There are many grand experiences, especially the practical, from such men as France and a host of others I can't mention. I had the pleasure of shaking bands with Prof. Cook at our farmers' institute. I wish we had lots of such men to instruct the people. I tell you, friend Root, I appreciate the contributions of these men. Wm. Cox. Viroqua, Vernon Co., Wis. KIND WORDS from NEVADA. Friend R. .-—You must excuse me for not writing to you before, but I have been so bus.y I have had 1 ut little time to write, and j/oM know how busy we all have to be at this season of the year. The goods arrived all right and in good order; and the wa.v they were packed ought to please any person. I forgot the separators, and so 1 shall have to get them here. The.y will cost just double what you charge for them. I have several orders, but the people here know nothing about movable-frame hives, and for that reason it takes time to get them introduced. They all give me credit for the nicest put-up honey; and if I can sell a few hives and bees 1 think I shall be able to do pretty well in time. Reno, Nevada, Apr. 34, 1888. E. A. Moore. NEW AND SECOND-HAND FOUNDATION-MILLS- AT REDUCED RATES. We have on hand the following fdn. mills that we desire to dispose of; and to do so we quote these special prices: One 14-lnch mill, made about 3 years ago, but has never been used. This mill makes fdn. with the round, or improved cell. It Is as good a mill as we could make a year ago; but with our new machine for cutting the rolls we do much bet- ter work now, hence we offer this mill at the very low figure of $35.00. Regular price »40.00. A. I. Root, Medina, O. LEPAGE'S LIQUID GLUE. Few words of praise are neces- sary for this excellent article, so widely known and advertised. It is one of the best of liquid glues. Always read.v for use. Mends every thing. We have 4 different- sized packages. Glass bottle like the adjoining cut for lOcts.; 75cts. forlO; *7.00 per TOO. Half - gill tin cans with screw cap, and brush fastened to inside of cap. price 1.5 cts. each; $1.10 for 10; $10.50 per 100. This latter can be sent by mail for 10c. extra for postage and packing. Gill tin can with ; brush, 30 cts.; 10 for fl.50; 100 for $14.00; i/z-pint tin'' cans, no brush, 35 cts. ; $3.30 for 10; $21.00 per 100. LePage's Mucilage, in large bottles, with a nice enamel-handle brush, at 10 cts. each; 75 cts. for 10; $7.00 per 100. This is the best mucilage made, and will do nicely in many eases for glue, although it is pretty thin fo be used as glue. A. I. ROOT, Medina, O. Four-Color Label for Only Cts. Per Thousand ! 75 Just think of iti we can furnish you a very neat four-color label, with your name and address, with the choice of having either " comb " or " extract- ed " before the word "honey," for only 75 cts. per thousand; .50 cts. per .500, or 30 cts. for 350, postpaid. The size of the label is 2'/^ x 1 inch— just right to go round the neck of a bottle, to put on a section, or to adorn the front of a honey-tumbler. Send for our special label catalogue for samples of this and many other pretty designs in label work. A. I. ROOT, IVle5. 3-frame nucleus, 3 lbs. bees, $4.00; with q., $4.90; L. frames, half full of brood. 1 guarantee sale arrival of bees and queens. Make all money orders payable at Clifton, Tex. Send to 10-lld S. H. COLWICK, Norse, Bosque Co., Texas. I WILL SELL OUT CHEAP ! my entire apiary of over 100 COLONIES, all strong, and in No. 1 chaff' hives, Langstroth frame. A BARGAIN FOR SOME ONE. Inquire at once. E. W. <'OTTREl.l., 10-ll-13d No. 4 Merrill Block, Detroit, Midi. FOR SALE. 40 Stands Italian and hybrid bees in chaff and Simp, hives, good condition; young queens. Price, Simps., $5.00 each ; chaff, $6.(t0 each. C'H.\S. W. BEAN, Seller»iburg'. Iiid. nppA and queens cheap. Tested queen, $1.50. Kp p X Untested, $1.00. Frame of brood, 50 cts. ■*■■"*' Bees, per lb., $1.00; '/2-lb., 60 cts.; 3- frame nuclei a specialty. Send card for price list. MISS A. M. TAY LiOK, Mulberry far as we can ascertain, your staleraents in reference to the Dzier- zon hive are correct. Dzierzon used only top-bars. These were supported in horizon- tal grooves made in the sides of the hive, half an inch from the top. Whenever it be- came necessary to'remove a comb, the side attachments had to be severed before it could be taken out, as the bees would nec- essarily, in the absence of side-bars, fasten the sides of the combs to the hive. Mr. Cbeshire is correct, liowever, so far as dates are concerned. lie is in error in using the word "■ frames '' instead of '" bars." Those of our readers who are fortunate enough to possess a copy of the tirst number of the old .1. B. J. will tind interesting matter on this subject from the pen of that scholarly editor, Samuel Wagner, page 14. See old editon of Laugstroth's work on the honey- bee, and also Prof. Cook's Manual of the Apiary. Since the above was in type, the following article has come to hand from that veteran bee-keeper, Charles Dadant. So thoroughly conversant is he with the literature on bees throughout the world that his article will be read with unusual interest. THE INVENTION OF MOVABLE COMBS AND MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. SOME VALUABLE INFORMATION FKOM CHARLK! DADANT. fAVlNG seen, in Glbanino.s tor April 15, the quotsilion or a mistake inade by Mr. Che- shire, who wrote that Dzierzon was the first inventor of the movable- t'rivme hive, 1 desire to redress it. The bee-keepers of Greece secMu to have been the first to use movable-comb hives; for Delia Rocca. in the second volume of his Trnitc unr les Aheilles, Paris, 1790, writes, page 465: "The method of the Greeks of old, from whom it has gone to Germany, is now practiced only in the Canrtia Island. The hives are made of willow; their upper part is fur- nished with several small bars, separated from each other, the whole being- covered, to shelter the bees and prevent a current of air. These ekes are made in such a way that bees build a comb under each bar. and every comb is separated from the others. With this method, the bee-keepers, just be- fore swarming time, visit their hives, take out the bars loaded with combs, and, when they find queen- cells already made, and containing scaled larva% they put several of these bars, with their combs, in several other hives, making more or less swarms, according to the prospect of the season." Then, after giving the exact diiucnsion of these bars, and of the distance to be preserved hcHwcen them, Delia Kocca describes the beveled under side of the bars, which induces bees to build ( heir combs straight. C- G Delia Rocca, haying trjeij tljese movable-comb hives during his stay in France, improved them by adding, at the end of each bar, a double enlarge- ment to keep them at the proper distance from one another. He gives, also, at the end of his third volume, the engraving of a two-story bar hive made of boards, and opening at top and side. In 1838 Dzierzon used bar hives, which opened at the top, like those of the Greeks; hut as the first comb was ditflcult to remove without breaking, for it "••!< fastened by the bees to the sides of the hive, he ii.\ented a side-opening ease, in which the bars wevi- supported by slats, nailed inside a few inches below the top, to allow the placing of small thin boards, with which he covered the spaces between the bars. In 1845, Herlepsch, after a visit to Dzierzon. be- came enthusiastic about these bar hives, and soon alter he improved them by reinventing the enlarge- ment described by Delia Rocca, and thus modified. Yet. being tired of the difficulties encountered in the handling of these movable combs, he labored to invent movable frames, and succeeded in 1851, 1853, for he writes: "Till 18511 had the misfortune of using movable-comb hives, so miserable that my work was tiresome or delayed At last, after seven years of silent work, I came to the front in the years 1853 and 1854, with my letters on bee-keeping, having then solid ground under my feet." In the same book, Berlepsch continues: "The frames were welcomed with great rapture on every side, but Dzierzon and Kleine objected by several feeble arguments. Later, Dzierzon accepted them for the surplus bo.\es, not for the brood-chamber." —Die Biene, 3d Ed., 1868. The frame hives of Berlepsch, like the bar hives of Dzierzon, have their combs parallel to the en- trance, and open at the rear by doors, like cupf boards. They were adopted as standards by bee- keepers of Germany and Italy. They are high, di- vided in two or more stories. But some bee-keep- ers, in both these countries, began to try hives opening at top, as invented by Langstroth, and the comparison proves so much in favor of the latter that 1 hope to see, sooner or later, the German standard yield to the American, as I have prophe- sied for nearly twenty years it would. While Dzierzon and Berlepsch, in Germany, were working to find a practical movable-comb hive. Munn, in England, Debeauvoys, in France. Lang- stroth, in the United States, labored toward the same end, and it is Mr. Langstroth who became the winner in the race. Just a few months before Ber- lepsch's invention, in 1851, he took a patent for his hive. The inventions of MUnn and Debeauvoysare already forgotten, and the differences existing be- tween the Berlepsch and Langstroth hives are so manifest that nobody can have the least doubt that the one suggested the other; for the only point of resemblance is the space between the frames and the sides of the hive; space indispensable to the re^ moving of the frames, and to which Dzierzon has always been, and is even to-day opposed. F. Huber also, nearly 100 years ago, had invented, and used for his studies, a movable-frame hive, which was known under the name of " leaf hive," and modi- fied since by a number of bee-keepers of botb continents. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. \ 381 The closed-end Quinby is an outgrowth of the Ruber hive. Although this hive is praised by some bee-keepers, I dare predict that it never will super- sede the Langstroth, on account of several defects. I write with a full knowledge of what I say, having tried it and seen it manipulated by some of its par- tisans. As the combs in this hive can not be more or less distanced, since the frames always touch each other, it is often Impossible to change their order in the hive, or to introduce combs from an- other colony, if there is the least irregularity in them. When this change of order takes place it often happens that a layer of propolis, put by the bees between the frames, meets another layer of propolis just opposite. Then this propolis has to be scraped before closing the hive. When the closed ends are brought together, it is about impossible, especially when the colony is populous, not to pinch a few bees, which complain and arouse a number of angry sisters. During my work with a closed-end hive, bought from Mr. Quinby, I have killed a good queen between two frames, and concluded that such hives would never do for me. Ch.^s. Dadant. Hamilton, 111., May 1, 188«. USE OF SMOKE IN SETTING BEES FKOM THE CELLAK. SOME INTERESTING FACTS FROM G. M. DOOLITTLE. T DO not know that I can tell the readers of Of Gleanings any thing that will be more inter- ^i esting to them than to tell them just what I ■*■ have been doing for the past three or four hot days, which were the first warm days we have had this year. I know that this will be too late for any of you to put the same thing in practice this spring; but as it is fresh in my mind I shall have to tell it now or it will be forgotten, without doubt. The first thing to be done, when warm weather is delayed till about May, is to get the bees out of the cellar; so when the morning of the second warm day came 1 went to the cellar and jjicked up a hive as carefully as T could, and carried it to the sum- mer stand; but in spite of my care, the bees thought best to come out on the road, and then such a stinging and hissing as I had to endure while I carefully lowered the hive to its stand was not easy to bear. If the bottom-boards to my hives were nailed fast, this could be easily overcome; but as I prefer them loose for many reasons, they are not. It did not take me long to remember that I used to have a little smoke with me on such occa- sions, so I went to the shop and got my wheelbar. row that has springs under it, and the smoker, set- ting them near the outside door of the cellar. I then took a hive and set it on the wheelbarrow, and immediately blew a few puffs of smoke under the hive, just enough to set the bees to roaring a little, when I could wheel them to their stand, set them on the bottom-board, and regulate the entrance blocks before any of the bees could come out, so that, after this, 1 did not get a single sting in set- ting all the rest out. One other thing that a little smoke does is, it makes the bees come out more slowly, so that they do not rush out pellmell as they will sometimes op a warm morning, and thus much of the mixing we read about is avoided. ROBBING STOPPED PROMPTLY. As a part of my bees were wintered outdoorg. it was but natural that these should be looking around to see if there was not some honej\tbey could get on this warm morning; so as a few bi my small queen-rearing colonies were light last ffejl, and still lighter in bees this spring, one strong colo- ny went to robbing one of these little ones. I con- tracted the entrance to the little colony, so that but one bee could pass at a time, so that the honey could not all be carried off before night, and left them. At night I carried them back to the cellar. The next day this same strong colony overcame another little one from the cellar, and I feared the strong one was going to do about as it had a mind to, when the thought struck me that, when night came, I could carry this to the cellar, and leave it for a day or two, and thus have it out of the way. At night I took this, and also the little one they were robbing, to the cellar, and the next day I went in and took away all of the combs that the little ones could not care for, and placed the colony to one side of the hive. At four o'clock I set the little ones on their stands again, but fixed their entrance at the opposite end of the hive from what their combs were, as I told the readers of Gleanings last summer, when I had such a time of robl)ing in hot weather. They seemed well satisfied with this arrangement, and the next day I set the strong one out again. As soon as out they went for the little ones again, and it was with pleasure that I watched these little fellows catch each bee as it would alight, and pretend to sting It, till the robber was glad to retreat. Toward night all of the weak- er colonies were treated as those two, and now I have no further trouble from robbing. UNITING IN THE CELLAK. All the very weak ones, four in all, were not put out till I had united them, and I find the cellar a very good place to unite bees before they have been set out at all. In this way all have the same scent, so there is no quarreling; and by leaving them over night in the cellar they become as one colony before morning. This item I think quite a good deal of, when used in the following manner: In the spring some one is almost always in a hurry for queens before I can raise any or even get my bees out of the cellar; and as I can almost always get quite small nuclei wintered in the cellar to March and April, I can use these queens, and unite the bees, as I have given above, into one colony, or make as many of them as I choose. As some do not like these (jueens from, small, or, as often call- ed, " dwindled colonies," I send the queens which are bought from the colonies wintered outdoors, and then introduce those from the cellar to the colonies made queenless. It at first bothered me to find the queens in the cellar, as the light used is not so strong as daylight; but after a little I learn- ed to place the light on something that was tall and slim, so that, by holding the frame to be examined, on the opposite side of the light, I could bring the frame close up to it; and by waving it so that the strength of the blaze would touch all points, the queens were easily found. It is also best to have the light on the further side of the hive from where you stand, so if any bees take wing they will go from you toward the light, and not get on your clothing. Bees on one's clothing in the dark are not pleasant, as they will almost always get where you will pinch them, when they are sure to sting. This uniting of colonies in the cellar, two or three weeks before they are set out, seems to work to 38-J. gleaki:ng8 in bee culture. May tlic'ir benefit, riiilier tliiui to their injury; for it sets tlietn to hreeding-, so that. l)y the time they are set out, tliey will have brood about liatching, or about to baioh, aud this in time to take the place of the bees which die of old age. However, I should not want them to breed earlier than three weeks be- fore setting- out. G, M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., May 1, 1888. O. O. POPPLETON IN CUBA. IIIC TKI^LS US WHAT IS UEING DONE TO INTRO- DUCK ENIj1GHTENI:U liEE CUiyrURE THERE. TT may he interesting to our readers to ^f know that our friend O. O. Poppleton, W recently of Hawks Park, Florida, is ■^ now located in Cuba, witli Mr. Dussaq, Apartado 278, Havana. Mr. Dussaq has an immense bee-ranch, and Mr. Popple- ton is to take charge of it, as Mr. Osburn, who formerly held this position, is about to leave for the United States. We vi^rote to Mr. Pop])leton that we should be glad to hear iiora him in his new locality. In a private letter he replies, and we give an ex- tract from it below : Friend Root:— We have been in Cuba only a little over two months. What information 1 yet have of bee-keeping here has been obtained from Mr. Os- born; and his principal work while in Cuba has been in building up apiaries more than in running one already establislied, so you see we are working a partially untried field. So far we are very well pleased with the outlook, both as to bee-keeping and to the comforts of living. In this last respect cPi)eciall.v we have been very agreeably surprised. 1 am also well pleased with the kindness ard friend- liness of our neighbors, and with all whom we have dealings Avith. Owing to the tact that the honey crop is obtained during the two coldest months of the year, it has been found best to lo- cate the apiary in a valley, and to closely surround it with bushes as a windbreak. This makes it im- possible to obtain a good view of the apiary; and both Mr. Dussaq and myself have looked the ground over, and decided that it will hardly pay to attempt it. I know of but three movable-comb apiaries in Culia. One of them, belonging to Mr. Casanova, contains between 200 and 300 colonies, and is situat- ed some 30 miles east of here; one now starting in charge of A. J. King, near the center of the isl- and, and this one where we are located, consisting at present of about 400 colonies, with empty hives aud shed-room for .51."> in all. When nearly all the hives arc filled we shall pi-obably have one of the largest and best-fltted moxable comb apiaries in the world. 1 am free to praise it what I think is right, as the planning and work have so far been Mr. Osborn's and not mine. By the way, won't it pay you largely in the mat- ter of health to take a month ne.vt winter from your business, and take a Hying trij) to Florida and down here? I think it will. O O. Poi^pt-.ETON. Havana, Cuba, Mar. 31, 1888. Friend P., we are greatly obliged to you ; but after you get to work a little more we w^ant you to give us more of the details — write them out fully. We all know that you have a remarkably happy faculty of tell- ing us all about any thing we want to know. 1 know there are lots of your old bee-friends who would be very glad indeed to hear about bee culture in Cuba. P0NEY g¥^¥Ig5iqC5 FROM ALL PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. In order to read understandingly the reports given below, it will be necessary to observe the foll<^wing points: First, the State is given; then next in their order are the names of the reporters, witli their respective postothces. To indicate local- ity, the usual ahbrevations are nsed N, S.. E.and W., for north, soutli, east, and west; N. E. for north-east, etc. The letter C indicates the word ■' central;" E. C. east central, etc. In the following list, the first figure represents the month, and the second figure the date at which the report was rendered. The small italic letters, a, b, c, d, etc., indicate the answers to the questions propounded in questions a, b, c, etc., just below E herewith present our readers with the second installment of statistical reports. As this is a large country, those questions which would apply to the Northern States would not be applicable to those in the South. You will observe, therefore, that we have pre- pared two sets of qviestions. Tlte resident bee-keepers in the North answer the first set, and those of the South answer the sec- ond set. Those who are located on or about the dividing line sometimes answer all of the questions. The questions which our correspondents answer are as follows, and the replies are indicated by the correspond- ing letters in italics : QUESTIONS ANSW^EKED BY ItKrORTEKS LOCATED IN THE NOKTHEItN STATES. (a) Whatper cent of your bees hare winlercdf lb) What per cent of the been iv i/our locality do you estimate have winter edf (c) Wh^. d. Very poor. Clover nearly all killed, f. A ' mall quantity from fruit-bloom. INDIANA. T H. Kloer.Ter re Haute. W.C .5-1. a. 90. b. 60 to 70 c. Outdoors mostly, d. Not promising. J. A. Burton, Mitchell. S. C. 5-4. a. 89. b. 90. c. Summer stands, d. Good ^ield from fruit- blossoms, so far. Poplar promises good; white clover bad. I. R. Good. Nappanee. N. 5-4. a. 74. b. .W. o. On summer stands, d. Not Hattering. Mar.v E. Harding. Indianapolis. C. 4-23. a. 94. b. 75. c. Wintering on summer stands Mrs. A. F. Proper, Portland. E. C. 5-7. a. 85. b. Can't estimate. 3. Winter on summer stands, d. Very good. IOWA. J. M. Shuck, Des Moines. C. 4-30. a. About 95. b. About 25. c. On summer stands, d. Not good. White clover seems to have been killed. Z. T. Hawk, Audubon. W. 5-4. a. 96. b. 60 or 65. Losses from spring dwindling liave been very heavy, c. Probably two thirds winter in the cellar, d. Copious rains in last 24 hours materially brighten the pros- pect. Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon. E. 5^3. a. 80 per cent. b. Just 72 per cent, of about 500 heard from. c. Cellar, d. Good. Eugene Secor. Forest City. N. 5-1. a. 85. b. 80. c. Cellar exclusively, d. Good, except spring is backward. J. W. Bittenl)ender, Knoxville. S. E. 4-30. a. 92. b. 35. c. Cellar and cave. d. Good. KANSAS. J.B. Kline, Topeka. E. C. 5-4. a. 100. b. About 98. c. Cellar preferred, though either does well. d. Very fair. B. F. Uhl, Boling. E. 5-3. a. 80. b. 80. c. Summer stands, d. Good. J. E. Stanley, Wichita. S. C. 5-1. e. 30. Better than usual. 1;. Elm, soft maple, and fruit bloom. KENTUCKY. J. p. Moore, Morgan. N. 4-24. a. 97. b. 95. c. Wintering ou summer stands, d. Only tolerably good. White clover is not very thick in this locality. Johns. Reese, Winchester. G. 5-1. e. Fruit, full bloom, and yielding well as usual, f. No surplus yet. D. F. Savage, Hopkinsville. S. W. 5 1. a. 100. b. Black bees, in " niims," 60. Of bees in L. or Simp, hives, 95. c. Winter on siuiiiiier stands, d. Red clover much injured by last year's drought. White clover promises well, e. Fine yield from fruit and forest bloom, above the average. No surplus yet. f. White clover just ojiening. Upper stories now go on. LOUISIANA. J. W. K. Shaw. Loreauville. S. C. 4-25. a. 100. b. Blacks, and in boxes, have died out badly, e. Se- cured a fair average from china-tree. f. The crop from white clover is now being gathered. MARYLAND. S. Valentine. Hagerstown. N. W. 4-27. e. Very backward spring. Bees have carried very little pol- len, and no honey, f. Good, if weather will permit bees to rty. S. P. Roddy, Mechanicstown. N. C 4-30. Not more than 5 per cent. It has averaged just as well as it usuall.v does, so far. It was secured from maple and fiuit- blossoins. MASSACHUSETTS. J. E. Pond, No. Attleboro. S. E. 4-21. a. 100. b. Fully 75. c. On summer stands, although that of special depositories is to some extent in use. d. Very good indeed. E. W. Lund. Baldwinsvllle. N. C. 5-2. a. 75. b. As far as heard from, not 50. c. About eqnall,y di- vided, d Prospects are good, but bees are backward for the season. No blossoms yet. Wm . W . Gary, Colerain N . W . 4-21 . a. 95. b. 50. I estimate from my locality c Cellar wiiiler- ing safest and cheapest d. Rather discouraging. MICHIGAN. George E. Hilton, Fremont. W. 5-3. a. Spring cold and backward; have allowed two to starve; 95. b. 90 c. Summer stands in chaff hives, d. If wc can get our bees strong in time for clover, good. James Heddon, Dowagiae. S. W. 4-20. a. 667^. b. Between 50 and 66 7!i. c. About equal, of each. d. Poor, so far as can now be guessed at . R. L. Taylor, Lapeer. E. 6-3. a. 86. b. 50. Many have lost all. c. Cellar wintering d. Very poor. White clover is greatly injured by drought. H. D. Cutting, Clinton. S. W. 5-4. a. 100. b. From 75 to 80. c. About equally divided. d.Fair. T. F. Bingham, Abronia. S. W. 4-24. a. 9%14. 0. Loss is light, c Both cellar, and chaff-packfd. d. Clover is injured by frost; and unless the se^tson retards the clover-bloom as it does breeding, the crop will be injured. MINNESOTA. Bright Bros., Mazeppa. E. 4-26. a. 94}^. b. 75. c. Cellar wintering, d. Good. W. Urie, Minneapolis. E.G. 5-4. a. 90, and veiy strong, b. I am safe in saying that only 75 jier cent in Northern Minnesota are alive, d. Good. J. H. Johnson, East Chain Lakes. S. C. 4-28. a. 100. b. No complaints, c. Cellar, d. I should say good. D. P. Lister, Lac qui Parle. W. C. 4-23. a. 92. b. 50. c. Cellar, d. Could not say. W. W. Hamilton, Jackson. S. W. 4-23. a. 100. b. 95. c Cellar wintering; wintering on summer stands is not often tried on the Northwestern prairies. MISSISSIPPI. Oscar F. Bledsoe, Grenada. N. 4-24. e. Have taken 40 or 50 lbs. each from some hives. I can get 2 or 3 times that much more. W. A. & E. E. Montgomery, Pickens. C. 4-26. e. We have an averatre honey-yield up to date. f. A little from willow, but the greater part of it from poplar. O. M. Blanton, Greenville. W. C. 4 30. a. 90. e. No honey. Cool backward spring. Bees are gath- ering from a dozen varieties of Howers. Will handle my apiary myself this year. MIS.SOURI. Jno. Nebel & Son, High Hill. E. C. 5-1. a. 96. b. 25 per cent in the hands of careless farmers; 50 per cent in the hands of those more careful, c. We prefer to win- ter in cellar. Most bees in our locality wintered on summer stands, d. Piospects good. S. E. Miller, Bluffton. E. C. 5-1. a. 96. b. 20 to 66,^. c Mostly on summer stands il. Strong colonies are whitening their combs. 884 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. May E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas Uity. W. C. 4-28. e. The honey-flow is better than usnal at this date. The bees are gatherinjr a little more than they consume, in spite of un- favorable weather, f. .\pple-blossoni. Chas. L. Gough, Rock Spring. E. U. 4-23. a. 20. b.lO. c. Cellar, or some place to protect them from the sudden changes and cold winds, d. Unfavorable. James Parshall, Skidmore. N. W. 4-21. a. Aboutl.i. b. Ahout25. Some have lost all. c. On summer stands d. Good, if we have any rain. M.\INK. .John Re.>-nolds, Clinton. S. E. 5-9. a. In i apiaries, 88. b. Outside, we estimate 50. c. In the cel- lar, d. As good as usual we think. NEBRASKA. Jerome Wiltse, Falls City. S. E. 5-2. a. 80. b. 80 c. Cellar, d. Unfavorable. FKingsley, Hebron. S. C. 5-4. a. 75. b. 75 c. Cellar wintering by those who undferstand it, although 90 per cent are left on summer stands, d. Good. J. W Porter. Ponca. N. E. 4-20 a UK) ijcr cent in cellar; 8 per cent on summer stands, b. 65, c. Cellar No method of packing on summer stands has been successful in this locality. J. M. Young. Rock Bluffs. E. 4-30. a. 7.'>. In chart' hives; all dead in single-walled hives, b. 50. c. Cellar wintering, with experienced apiarjsts; Inexperienced, summer stands, d. Very favorable for the linn bloom, but white clover nearly all killed. NEVADA. E. A. Moore, Reno. W. C. 4-30. c. We winter on summer stands, in this section. d. Pros- pects for a good crop are very flattering, e . It has averaged better than usual, f. It was gathered from fruit-blossoms. NEW HAMPSHIRE. J. A. Bachelder. Keene. S. 5-3. a. 70. b. 60, and all very weak. e. Summer stands. S. F. Reed, No. Dorchester. C. 4-24 a. 66X. b. About 75. c. Most peot)le prefer summer stands. d. I should say, good. C. E. Waltz, Rumney. C. 5-2 a. 56. b About 40. c. Cellar wintering; those left out, dead. d. Prospects fair. NEW JERSEY. Watson Allen, Bernardsville. N, C. 5-5. a. 80. b. 80. e. On summer stands, in chaff hives, d. Good. J. H. Stidworthy, Ogdensburg N. 4-3. a. 89. b. 25. c. summer stands, d. Good. J. D. Coles, Woodstown. S.W. 5-5. e. 90. Not all secured; season two weeks late. f. Fruit- bloom and dandelion. NEW YORK. P. H. Elwood. Starkville. C. 5-1. a. About 95. b About 92. c. Cellar wintering, d. Prospects good. F. Boomhower, Gallupville. E, C. 5-3. a. 99. I have traveled over a portion of two counties, Schoharie and Albany; h.ave seen hundreds of empty hives; bees are over half dead. c. Cellar, d. poor. G. M. Doolittle, Borodino. C. 4-23. a. 90. b. 90. c. About half and half. No bees set from cel- laryet. Think those wintered on summer stands will be the best on May 15 this ye.ir. d. Good, except that it is the off year for basswood Geo. H. Knickerbocker, Pine Plains. S. E. .'J-3. a 85. b. 75 c. A cellar is preferred by those who h.ave one suitable for wintering. H. P. Langdon, East Constable. N. E. 4-25. a 90 b. 75 c. In the cellar, d. Cold backward spring. Oth- er prospects good. Put bees out to-day — 64 swarms. NORTH CAROLINA. H. M. Isaac, Catfish. W, 5-2, e. Honey is coming in freely at this date. f. From tulip, called poplar with us. Abbott L. Swinson, Gold.sboro. E. 4-28. e. Very little; flow just began yesterday. The earliest sea- son since 1884. f . From poplar, or tulip, and black gum. OHIO. Chas. F. Muth, Cincinnati. 4-14. a. 100. b. 75. c. Wintering on summer stands, d. Thepros- gects of a honey crop will be below the average yield, to the es-t of my .iudgment. A. B. Mason, Auburndale. N. W. 4-30. a. 97. b. 85. c. Cellar., d. (Jood. S. A. Dyke. Pomeroy. 5-5. a. 100. b. 95. c. Summer stands, in chaff, d. Good. Honey has been coming in quite lively from fruit-bloom the last few days. Dr. G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia. N. E. 5-7. a. 98. b. 90. c. Summer stands d Never better. Dr. H. Besse, Delaware. C. 4-28. a. 11 My loss is 100 colonies out of 112 put into winter quar- ters—the greatest I ever had. b. 20 per cent as far as I have heard to date. c. Cellar, d Seem good. OREGON. J. D. Rusk, Milwaukee. N. W. 4-26. a. 66^. b. .'JO. c. Summer stands, altogether, d. The pros- pects are good . PENNSYLVANIA. Watts Bros., Murray. C. 5-2. Vatts Bros., Murray .■No f Softlmapk S. W. Morrison, Oxford. S. E. 5-3. a 75. b.40. c. Summer stands (it is generally successful I. d Excellent, if we had the bci^s e. Some honey, f. Cherry- blossoms. (Jeo. A. Wright, Olenwood. N. E. 4-28. a. 80. b. 60. c. Summer stands, d. Good. C. W. King, Enilenton. N. W. 5-1. a. 80. b. 80. d. Good. RHODE ISLAND. A. C. Miller, Providence. E. 4-20. a. 60. b. 95. c. Summer stands, chart-packed. <1. Fair; sea- son 2 weeks late. Samuel Cushman, Pawtucket. 5-1. a. 85. b. 75. c. Wintering on summer stands, d. New honey is coming in from mai)le SOUTH CAROLINA, W.J. Ellison, Stateburg. C. 5-2. e About .50 per cent already taken from the bees. Crop far above the average, f. Some from clover, blackberries, and locust, but our most abundant crop is from holly. I am about the oidy one who has taken any honey as yet. Most of our bee- men use box hives, and don't rob until corn tassels. Harvey T. Cook, Greenville. N. W. 4-29. e. Not quite an average crop up to this time. f. Apple, eheri'y, raspberry, and from various sources in swamp or foiest. J. D. Fooshe, Coronaco. 4-27. e The honey-flow is better up to date than for two or three years, and the prospect at this date is for a good yield. No surplus has yet been taken, f . The first honey of an.y conse- quence was gathered from the willow; next, poplar and black- berry, which are now in bloom. TEXAS. B. F. Carroll, Dresden. E. C. 4-27. e. Some apiarists extracted 12 lbs. of judas-tree honey per colony, and now the hives are being rapidly filled with honey from rattan Vint?. Plenty of rain up to date, and the mint is fine. L. Stachelhausen. Selma. S. C. 4-25. e. AboutSO lbs. surplus per colony as yet Usually we get no surplus honey at this time. f. From mesquite, persimmons, cat-claw, and many different prairie flowers. J. P. Caldwell, San Marcos. S. W. 4-22. e. Have secured a full aveiage crop. We never have surplus honey before May 15 f . From Spanish persimmon. J. E. Lay, Hallettsville. S. E. .5-1. e Honey crop just beginning; perhaps 10 per cent, f . From spring fiowers and prickly ash. W.A.J Beauchamp, Orange. S. E. 4-24. e. Crop to date, above average. Swanning fevei' amounts to a craze, f . From all sources— wild flowers and hawthorn lead- ing, to be followed by locust, fruit-blossoms, etc. TENNESSEE. W. H. Greer. Paris. N. W. .5-3. a. 80 b. 90 c. Summer stands, d Very good. e. None harvested yet, but quantity gathered seems equal to an aver- age, f. From soft maple, fruit-bloom, black gum, black lo- cust, blackberry, and white clover. G. B. Cartmell, Jackson. N. C. 6-1. c. The aveiage is rather better than for the last 3 years— about 40 per cent of an average crop. f. From poplar and other growths in the woods; also from white clover. J. J. Lawson, Lookout Mt. C. 5-7. e 314 lbs. per day. Better than for 7 years. First swarm April 3. f. Fruit-bloom, now poplar; soon will follow raspberry and oxydendron. C. C. Vaughn. Columbia. C. 5-3. e. Average crop. f. Poplar, white clover, black gum, locust, fruit-trees. VERMONT. Howard J. Smith, Richford. N. C. 4^24. a. About 40 per cent. b. Not over 25 i)er cent. c. Cellar win- tering is the most practical, d. Good L. A. Freeman, Guildhall. N. E. 5-7. a. 50. b. 50. c. Cellar wintering, d. Poor. A. E. Manum, Bristol. W. 4-23. a. 94. b 90. c Wintering on summer stands is preferred here. d. Favorable, though we expect only a medium crop; off yeai' for basswood. J. E. Crane. Middlelmrv. W.C. 4-20. a 95. b. 911. Out of aliout 440 out-door hives, I have lost only 18, and broken u)> tive more. Of 130 in cellar, I have lost seven, certain, c. Outdoor, d. Good. VIRSINIA. James E. Duvalls, Bellefair Mills. E. 5-1. e. Owing to very cool weather, no surplus secured so far. f . Principally from fruit-bloom, what there is. J. W. Porter. Charlottesville. C. 5-4. e. Orchard bloom, just past; average yield; season back- ward and dry. f. Yield from orchards mainly . Condition of bees fine. H. W. Bass, Front Royal. N. 5-2. e. Bees working well oncherr.y and fruit bloom. No surplus until about May 12 to 15, from locust and clover. WASHINGTON TERRITORY. W. J. Frazier, Olympia. N. W. 4-24. a. 100. b. At least 90. c. On summer stands— when set under a long open shed. d. The prospects at present are good. W. W. Maltbv, Port Angeles. N.W. 4-27. a. 100. b. 90. c. On summer stands, as our winters are very mild. d. The prospect for a crop is good. John H. Goe. Mossy Rock. S. W. 4-29. a. 90. b. 66^;$. c. Summer stands. WEST VIROINIA. J A. Buchanan, Holllday's Cove. N. .5-4. a 90 b. 90 c. Summer stands, d First-class in all things, save a light clover honey crop. Bees are now hauling honey from sugai-tree bloom. M. A. Kellev, Milton. S. W. 4-22. a 9inted for in another way ? Xow. I still think one might readily con- clude fiom the above quotation that you had decided it to be a mistake ; and the last part of the quotation also encourages the idea, does it not, that your singuh\r experi- ences may have been caused by something else, entirely outside of bees or bee culture ? Now, it may be that there is some subtile agency connected with bees, so wonderful in its properties that even a postal card written by a bee-keeper may cany unpleas- ant sensations to the reader ; but I hope you will excuse me for saying I can not believe it possible until we have further evidences of it. I know that a great many people honestly think they are affected in the way you describe, because I have heard it men- tioned several times ; but I do think they are mistaken ; and without any idea of giv- ing olfense to any one, I can not but consid- er it a '• notion "" that people are liable to fall into. I do not mean to reflect unkindly by using the word '• notion." I get notions myself, and sometimes I hold them so tena- ciously that I am inclined to take offense when some one suggests that it is only a notion. May God give me grace to let go of my notions, when proper proof is presented. When you told us how you rejoiced to be able to" handle bees and movable combs again, and expressed it in that happy fash- ion.— My foot is upon my native heath. And my name is McGregor, (see page -560, Gleanings for Aug. 15, 1885), I took it that you meant to tell us you could have handled bees at any time had you res- olutely decided so to do. and shook off the idea you had fallen into, that they were do- ing ybu injury. In other words, instead of experiencing any terrible effects from get- ting stung repeatedly, the bee-stings did you good. If I have pained j^ou by hastily jumping at conclusions, I beg pardon. But the principal point involved is this : Are these people who say they can not go near a hive, or even go near a person who han- dles bees, right about it, or is it a mistake they have fallen into V I should prefer to substitute the word " notion '" for '' mis- take," but perhaps mistake will be the bet- ter word. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 3S7 THE SILO. PROF. COOK GIVES HEAVY TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF ENSILAGE. a EAR MR. EDITOR:— I wish to add to what Mr. Terry says of ensilage. I have a silo, and I know I can fully double my stock on the farm by its use. This means double the ma- nure, which in turn means double the fertili- ty of the farm. The silo may be right in the barn. Mine is. It needs only to be air-tight. It may be very cheap, and, if rightly used, furnishes a food that keeps the stock in most excellent condition. An acre of corn may furnish eighteen or twenty tons of ensilage, tliree of which equal one of the best hay. Tbese facts show ensilage to be a grand adjunct to the farm. I had been feeding my cattle ensilage for some weeks, when my brother thought of an experiment. One day while the cattle were in the yard he filled the mangers, half with bright hay which they had not had for weeks, imd half with eiipilrtge, which they were being fed daily. They CDmmenced as usual to eat the ensilage, with a gusto, while the hay was unnoticed. The hay was then replaced by nice corn and oats ground. They still kept at the ensilage, and paid no heed to the grain. Now, I believe that relish is a wonderful condiment. Food we relish is the food that will do us good, no matter what the chemist finds as to its composition. It is true, that the chemist finds no more nutriment in ensilage than in the dried fod- der; but the chemist can not measure digestibility nor suitability. It is a fact, that ensilage acts much as does the green succulent pasture of June. Again, the ensilage of to-day is no sauerkraut; and if friend Hayhurst could have seen, smelled, and tasted of that in my barn the past winter he would not object to it for his cow, I am sure. One could go into the barn, close by the silo, or even into it. and not think of ensilage. Indeed, it was pleasant to the taste. I found when I was in the barn that I was follo-«-ing the example of the men who did the chores— constantly nibbling away at the ensilage. It was not very tart, but pleasantly so. I, with many others, have proved the following points: Ensilage is a grand adjunct to the farm. Corn can be saved as ensilage cheaper than in anj- other way. It is best to leave the ears on the stalks. The corn is softened so that digestion is easy and per- fect. The corn-stalks should not be cut till the corn is glazed, when it may be put rapidly into the silo, or allowed to dry or wilt some. I put mine in as fast as was possible, and secured nice sweet ensilage. Some, however, say that it is better to fill one day, then wait a day, then fill again, etc. I cut my stalks into half-inch lengths. This makes it easy to pack it well in and about the sides of the silo— an important point — and to re- move it when feeding. The door should go from bottom to top, and be closed by strips eight inches or so wide, as we fill the silo. This muxt be made air-tight by use of pa- per as the boards are put in place. In feeiling it is best to rake oft' from the top, and lower all at once. My brother never runs in debt. He was a doubter on the silo question, and had charge of building, filling, and feeding at my place. He was asked at a recent farmers' club what he thought of the silo, now that he had seen its work. He replied, " I think I should build one at once, even if I had to run in debt to do it." A.J.Cook. Agricultural College, Mich. Friend Cook, I am greatly pleased to get this testimoBy from you just in time to buck up Terrv. It is about what I expected. But in all I have read upon the subject. I never before noticed that ensilage was tit for liuman beings to eat. 1 am exceedingly fond of sauerkraut. The tart taste of it is very pleasing to me, and it agrees with me so well I am sure it is a very wholesome food. Now, I am inclined to think the horses and cattle find the ensilage, as you and your brother put it up, conducive to their" liealth in tlie same way. For years we have had trouble with the stalks from our sweet corn ; that is, we have hud trou- ble in curing them. They either mold, or dry and break all up ; then the horses and cattle both dislike them. Xow, I wonder if either yourself or friend Terry, or anybody else, can tell whether it would be practica- ble for us to put our sweet-corn fodder into a small silo. It contains more sugar than ordinary corn fodder, and I am inclined to think this fact makes it mold all the quicker, unless you dry it as above men- tioned. Our ground is so valuable that we pull up the stalks just as soon as the ears are off ; and as we pull the ears before the glazing stage, the stalks are green, and full of juice. After the ears ure off, every stalk of corn is little better than a weed, so we get them out of the way, and put something else on the ground as speedily as possible. We have perhaps two or three acres of sweet corn ripening at different times, from the middle of July till frost. Would a silo be practicable under these circumsttmcesy ANOTHER SLANDEROUS STORY ABOUT OUR HONEY-BUSINESS. A DOWN-SOUTH REPORTER COOLLY DECLARES THAT GOLDEN HONEY RUNS OUT OF THE TREES BY THE BARRELFUL. «LMOST every mail brings us more or less clippings from different newspa- pers al)Out a tree near Griffin, Ga., that yields a barrel of honey every year, etc. It seems strange that it is necessary for us to even say that the whole storv is simply a canard, to make people gape and stare and wonder. The reporter who got it up is doubtless the same chap, or one of the same class, that got up the story about artificial eggs and artiticial honey. It is substantially as follows : I made a visit a week ago last Sunday to Jt)hn H. Mitchell's. I found this gentleman at home with his family, and my wife and I rectivcd n most hearty and cordial welcome, and spent a hitppy day. We had every thing good for ditmer. and I tried to do full justice to their bountiful hospitali- ty, and I guess I did it. Mr. Mitchell is one id our stirring, active business farmers. He always says, "Come on, boys," rather than go on. He moves, and his work moves with him; he does not wait for luck, but trusts to vim and energy. He is a practi- cal as well as an experimental farmer— hv works to utilize every thing, and wastes nothing. After din- ner he was sitting on his front piazza, and I discov- ered some bees going in and out of a knot in one of m G^LlSAJ^lNGg ii^ BEE CULTURE. MAY the large oak-trees in front of his dwelling. This tree is known to be over a hundred years old. I learned that, several years ago, a swarm of bees as- sembled in that tree as their new home, and they have lived and worked there ever since. After they had been there three years the colony became very large and strong, and no attempt had ever been made to rob them of their honey. At last Mr. Mitchell came to the conclusion that the tree must be full of honey, from seeing the large number of hies and iiees around the root of the tree; so he set to work to devise some means to get the honey without cutting the tree down. After supplying all the tests known to bee-men he satisfied himself that the tree was full, and then decided to tap it. So he got him a faucet and an auger, and bored a hole in the tree near the root, and then screwed in the faucet, and, to his surprise and great delight, a solid stream of pure and elegant honey, as clear as crystal, gushed forth, and the supply seemed to be inexhaustible. It continued to pour out until he had tilled six barrels, and he has drawn each year since that time from three to four barrels of pure strained honey from that old oak-tree, and up to this there seems to be no signs of failure of the supply, as the bees are still a very strong and healthy colony. The same year that Mr. Mitchell tapped the old oak-tree there was a new thick growth sprung up around the old oak, of an unusual appearance, hav- ing a smooth bark and thick waxy leaves. One day he pulled off one of the leaves and put it in his mouth, and found it to be very sweet; and upon examining the place from which he had picked the leaf he discovered that the plant was bleeding, or emitting from the wound a clear thick-looking juice, which, upon tasting and examination, proved to be honey. He then commenced to nurse the new volunteer growth with the tenderest care and attention, looking after them daily; and as the summer advanced, the plants continued to grow; and in the fail he selected and transplanted 300 of them in very rich soil, thirty feet apart, and they grew very rapidly, making a beautiful display with their straight smooth trunks and their thick and glossy wax-like leaves, and the grove was seen and admired by all for miles and miles around. Mr. Mitchell's idea was that, as large money was made from the sugar maple by boiling the juice, he ought to make more from a tree that would run the pure honey, and he was right. When the trees were four years old, in the fall of the year they -were large enough to insert faucets. So he had 300 fau- cets made to order, and screwed them into the young trees, and the following spring the result was remarkable. Each tree yielded an average of ten gallons of the richest golden honey; the follow- ing year each tree yielded an average of twenty gallons, and now the average is about a barrel to each tree during the year, and the grove continues to grow and tiourish, and shows no signs of failing to supply a bountiful yield in the years to come. The quality of the honey is so fine, and the flavor is so delicate, that it always commands the highest prices, and the demand is greater than the supply. A hollow tree might contain a barrel of honey, iiiul there might be bees enough to store" it for a year ; but the above story goes on to say that the farmer named Mitchell has .">00 rnore of the trees planted out, and that, when the trees were four years old, each young tree yielded golden honey. Now, i am sure that the newspaper that gives place to such a yarn does itself a dam- age that it can not soon get over ; and every paper, north and south, that copies it, es- pecially under the guise of a truthful state- ment, also damages its standing among sen- sible people. It looks now as if almost every paper in the land were going to copy it ; and so far, I have not seen a single pro- test from any editor. Dear friends of the press, is there not ignorance and supersti- tion enough in the land, without having our papers and joiu-nals go into the business ? The press sliould be our edticators ; and their special ofhce and Held is to put down fraud and humbug. Some of you may say, that if any man, woman, or child believes such foolish stories it is their own fault. Not so. It is our business to guide the young and the illiterate ; to sift truth from falsehood. If you want to print any such sto- ries for the fun of it, add a postscript or short editorial that will effectually prevent any Credulous person from accepting the whole thing as truth. Remember the " comb hon- ey "and "artificial eggs" stories. Thou- sands of good people gravely declared that eggs were manufactured so skillfully that none but experts could tell the genuine from the bogus. The reporter probably did visit a bee-man, aiid very likely this bee- man was unable to supply the demand for his honey. lie may also have had a bee- tree on his premises, and perhaps he may have had a maple-sugar grove— that is, it they make maple sugar in the South. The reporter, seeing the maple sap drip from the wooden sap-spiles into wooden l)uckets, got things mixed. Perhaps if the State of Georgia had managed to shut up all the sa- loons, this reporter might not have got ma- ple sap and golden honey so confused in his imagination. The Saturday Telegram, of Albany, N. Y., says the reporter "took his wife along. It is a pity she was not still with him when he wrote up the story about that visit. THE FOOD OF LARVAL BEES. THE I.OWER HEAD GT^ANDS. Continued from last issue. foIHE ducts from the lower head glands open ^ into the lower part of the mouth, between i the muscles of the mouth. If the bee chews, this secretion must surely empty and be mixed with the chewed material. This, then, is mixed with the pollen. This is certainly true; for the pollen in the honey-stomach shows some of its caps opened or elevated; and as no gastric juice is secreted in the honey-stomach, tills partial digestion is accomplished by the saliva, and presuiiiubly t hat from the lower head glands. Further, this saliva is used in kneading the wax by the jaws. F. Huber (New ()lise)vati(ms) says that the fresh wax scales and the chewed wav are chem- ically different; and Euleumayer and Von Planta found in the wa.x scales 0.5977% nitrogen, while in the chewed wax there was 0.95;t . This must be due to this saliva. So we see that these glands secrete true saliva, and so can not be organs to secrete bee- food. (I replied to the last argument in last issue. The above positions are well taken. Is it not quite like- ly that these glands serve merely to mix with and partially digest the pollen, and that Wolff's glands at the base of the mandibles are the glands that moisten the wax'/) The large size of these glands is no argument favorable to the gland theory, if we take into con- sideration that the saliva is veiy important in di- gestion, and in part takes the place of the gastric ferment of higher animals. Surely a large quantity of saliva is added to the pollen food of bees, and so this saliva is indirectly a part of the chyle and larval food. (This is surely a powerful argument. We secrete saliva almost entirely to moisten our food, and the daily quantity is estimated at three pints. If this GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTUKE. Hfifl saliva in bees is to moisten the pollen, and the po- sition of the duct adds powerfully to the argument, then much would certainly be needed. The fact, too, that drones and queens do not have these glands, and do not prepare their own nitrogenous food, is in harmony with, and, in fact, lends support to this view.) We can find the same glands in other insects which do not feed the larva at all, as Eristalis termr, which has these glands fully as large as those of the bee; and Nepa cincrea, which has these glands, and they are very similar to those in the bee. (This is surely a very strong argument.) The product of these glands can not be spit into the cells, for bees never spit. Nor is it at all likely that this secretion is swallowed to be regurgitated into the cell. Nature always empties her products where they are to be used; so if there were milk- glands they would either empty into the honey- stomach, or else some apparatus would have been developed that this secretion might have been poured directly into the cells. ([ think these points are excellent.) These glands are in full function all winter, when no brood is to be fed. They must then have another purpose. (How is this when bees have no pollen for their winter food? Of course, they usually have the pol- len.) If a colony passes the winter queenless, and no brood be fed for five or six months, and then re- ceives a frame of brood which has been kept out of the hive till the larvte are in a starving condition, we observe that this brood is fed at once. ]f this food is a product of glands used only for such pur- pose, this would be absolutely impossible al'ter such long rest. (This is certainly a good point.) If bees are fed honey mixed with indigo, the larvsB are no longer fed, but commence to starve, while the mature bees remain healthy. The indigo prevents contraction of the stomach, and so regurgi- tation is impossible; yet the food is digested and ab- sorbed. If the larval food were a secretion it would still be supplied. (Granting these facts, theconclusion mustfollow.) The following experiments of Schonfeld prove that the larval food is chyle: Bees were fed honey mixed with carmine. In the larval food of this colony, and also in the chyle of the true stomach of the bees, were found the chili- nous points of the cochineal insects from which the carmine is made. The blood was normal, because the fine particles were not digested, and, of course, could not be absorbed. As a secretion is derived from the blood, the secretion could not have what the blood did not have. (This is also a crucial argument. The facts grant- ed, the conclusion must be.) Powdered iron was fed, with the same results. Again, bacteria were fed to the bees— at first Bacterium termo and then the bacillus of foul brood —Bacilhis (ilveMlaris. In both eases the organisms were found in the larval food, but not in the blood of the nurse bee. As these were not in the blood, they co\ild not exist in a secretion from the blood. (This is an interesting point, as it explains fully why the fasting method, or the changing of the bees to clean hives, cures this dreaded malady.) Von Planta finds the food of the young larvie as follows: Queens. Workers. Drones. Albuminous 4(>..5 % 50.16?, ;!9.91% Oil 13.63 6.84 7.85 Sugar 17.90 37.65 1.17 We see that the food for the different kinds of larvfe varies greatly in composition. If this is a secretion it could not vary, as the glands could not secrete arbitrarily a richer or a poorer substance. But if this is chyle, it is easy to understand its variability; it would necessarily result from a variation in the food of the nurse-bees as to honey, pollen, or water. The defenders of the gland theory say that the secretion may be mixed in the honey- stomach with honey or water — pollen is out of the question, as we have seen thiit it is not given undi- gested to the larv.e. The experiments with colored honey shows this to be untrue. That chyme (Mr. S. uses this term to denote part- ly digested food) is added to the secretion of the gland is out of the question, because chyme is surely prepared in the true stomach, and not in the honey- stomach. In the chyme are the shells, or husks (cuticulaj), of the pollen, but no whole pollen grains. If we examine the stomachs of bees we shall never find such empty pollen grains— husks —in the honey- stomach, except in the case of quite young bees just recently emerged from the cells. These bees are fed by the older bees with chyme. In the true stomach we can find these shells, if we examine a bee at the proper stage of digestion. As soon as the larva fills the bottom of the cell— from the close of the fourth day— the larva receives chyme, or partially digested material, from the true stomach, and this contains the cuticuht. At first these are few, but more and more are added, so that, just before the cell is capped, they are numer- ous. This is also true of color when colored honey is fed. (This is very interesting, and bears the impress of truth. This chyme is fed to the larvte of work- ers always, and sometimes, not always, I think, to the larviP of queens.) The defenders of the gland theory say that it is impossible that bees regurgitate any material from the true stomach into the cells; for, as Schiemenz has shown, the stomach-mouth is prolonged into the true stomach, and so would act as a valve, and pre- vent any of the contents of the true stomach from passing back into the honey-stomach and mouth. But Schonfeld has shown that this is a mistake. The muscles are so arranged that this prolongation can be drawn up, and so in nowise prevent regurgi- tation. The bee itself proves that it can, for the full-grown larva does receive chyme, the product of the trvie stomach, and not of the honey-stomach. If the bees can regurgitate chyme or partly digested food, they surely can chyle, or that which is fully digested. This is chyme and not pollen, as the husks show. Why should we be surprised that the bee does this? It is a master of regurgitation, vomiting up all its honey, and some of it several times. A full understanding of the stomach-mouth enables us to understand how it regurgitates its chyme and chylci Selma, Texas. L. Stachelhauseis. Friend Cook, I congratulate you on hav- ing got liold of and brought out a man Who is so t'amiliiU' and so fully conversant with these valuable experiments of Leuckart, Von Siebold, Schonfeld, and other German naturalists. The above facts remind one of 390 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May the old .1. 7>. J. wiu'ii Warner was in charge of it, durijig its infancy. j)iiringtliat period we had some very valnable translations from the writings of those distingnislied German writers. I am surprised to find we have in our own country a man able to give us all this valnable information, and I w^ould ask our good friend S. if the results of these ex- periments have ever l)efore been given in print — that is, in our language. We are in- debted to him for having opened the way for our American microscopists to verify the results given above, by actual experi- ment. If I am correct in the matter, what I have written in the A li C book in refer- ence to the food of the larvsy is not so very far out of the way, after all. I presume now that my information was mainly obtained from the old volumes of the ^l. B. J. LANDMARKS FOB BEES. C. C. MILLER FINDS FAULT WITH THE HEXAGONAL APIARV. fRIEND ROOT:— I have done a good bit ol thinking- about your remarks at the close of uiy article on page 301. (The best part ot my articles is always found, ru the coarse print!) You say that, in your apiary, " even with the hives seven feet apart, and even though the chaff hives alternate with Simplicity hives, and have their entrances in opposite directions, there is a good deal of trouble with bees getting in the wrong hives." In reply I may say that this is quite a serious matter; for if what you say is correct, my advice may lead others into trouble. But my hives occupy less than half the space that yours do, and all of the same pattern, and I have tested the matter thoroughly for years, and I am coniident there is no such trouble as you speak of. Now, here's a state of affairs! Which of us is telling the truth? But if we go to calling one another hard names, we'll only have to make up again; and it's a good rule to make up heforc ire fall out. Let us see if we can not find out what makes the difference. It can hardly be the kind of bees, and I don't be- lieve we can lay it to locality, that poor thing at whose door so many things are laid. Suppose you say to me, "Do you see that level acre meadow lot? Vou will find there a jack-knife that I left on the ground in the middle of it." I might liunt a long time before finding it; and if you told me it was at the foot of a tree, the lot be- ing filled with trees just alike, seven feet apart, the task would still be a dilHcult one. But if the trees were a rod or more apart, and you should say, " I left it just a little to the north of that wide-spread- ing elm," I could find it directly. Now, between our a^jiaries exists much the same difference as be- tween the bare meadow lot and the lot of big trees. You have a beautiful level piece of ground with not a bush or tree in it or about it, and the only thing to direct the bees is the appearance of the hives; and the result is just as you say : "There are so many hives looking almost precisely alike that they pitch on to the wrong hive." In my apiaries there are trees more or less unlike at all parts of the apiary, and I think the bees pay but little attention to the appearance of the hive, so far as finding it is con- cerned. It is true, if I change the appearance of a hive even so little as laying a bush on top of it. the bees appear to take note of it; and if there is much change in the appearance of a hive, quite a commotion will be raised by the bees reconnoiter- ing in front before entering; but still the bees do not try to enter any other hive. That the bees do not find their hives entirely by the appearance of the hive, is clearly proven in this way: If I take away a hive entirely, the bees on returning from the field go directly to the spot where the hive stood. Certainly the appearance of the hive does not attract them, for there is no hive there. They appear to take their l)earings from the trees, build- ings, or other surrounding objects. If you watch a single bee thus perplexed by the removal of its hive, you can almost imagine it soliloquizing as follows: " Here I come with a nice load of nectar, and I'll find my home just between those two apple- trees, and a little nearer to the one with the big drooping limb at the north. What! I thought I took my bearings all right, but I seem to have missed it somehow. Guess I'll go back and try it over again." And that bee, instead of entering a hive a foot or so to one side, or even its own hive if moved not more than a foot or two, will fly up a rod or perhaps several rods in the air, and take its bearings afresh, and repeat this operation till, dis- couraged, it seeks refuge in any convenient hive. But in your apiary, friend Root, it has nothing to take its bearings from except the hives, and they are so much alike that mistakes are made. If a hexagonal apiary were placed in a ten-acre field, entirely level, and with nothing on the ground but the hives, they all looking alike, and twenty feet apart, I suspect many bees would enter the wrong hives, just because once in every twenty feet there is a place that looks all right, both of itself and in its relation to surrounding objects. Prof. Cook tells of his bees going in numbers to acertain part of his neighbor's house, because of the similarity of the two houses. Now, in my apiary, wherever a hive is lo- cated, there is no other spot in the apiary, or in the world, for that matter, just exactly like it, considered in its relatiiin to Kiimmnding objects. What's the lesson? If I had your apiary, friend Root, I would have some landmarks at once. Even a ten-foot pole stuck in the ground, with a rag at the top, would help. Yciu" grounds look very nice, so neat and clean and so regular; but that regularity is what makes tlie mischief; and I don't think your grounds are more lieautif ul for being entirely tree- less. So I would have some trees set out this spring among the hives. If the trees are exactly alike I think two or three roils apart would be better than a rod. But if the trees are unlike in appearance, as tliey most surely will become as tliey grow, it will matter little al'out the distance. A carefully planned irregularity in planting, imitating nature as closely as possible, would be more pleasing to the eye and convenient for the bees. Then I want shade trees to work under, every time. Marengo, 111., April, 1888. C. C. Miller. Well, old friend, you have been thinking the matter over considerably, haven't you ? I guess you are right about it too. We have thought of this matter of trees a good many times ; in fact, the boys have started some already. They told me, when 1 objected, that r could pull them up when I found them to be detrimental. There are a good many reasons why I do not want trees in 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 8yl our apiary. From the windows of our of- fice as it IS, we can see every hive, and see the apiarist phiinly, unless, indeed, he be stooping down introducing queens, or some- thing of that sort, behind an unusually bushy grapevine. In tact, the office girls are in the habit of calling to him when a new lot of queens arrive by mail, or when some special order demands that he go at once to get it off by the first train. Another thing, it is always a great bother to have to run around a tree or a building to look after a swarm that has issued. In our old apiary we had a honey-house in the center, and some mischief was sure to be going on behind that house that would not have happened if I could have swept the whole apiary with my eye at a glance. Since you call attention to it, I remember several things tbat corrol)orate your point — that bees depend on trees, buildings, and large objects, rather than on the looks of the hive. The first swarm of bees I ever owned was set before an open upper window in a row of brick buildings. They recognized their own window, because it was always open. Final- ly, however, when a workman raised liis window precisely as their window was raised, the bees were evidently perplexed, for great numbers of them came into the window and annoyed him exceedingly. He was on the same floor, but the third window from where they were located. Our grapevines, when covered with foliage, differ somewhat, it is true, but perhaps not as much as trees. But our worst trouble is in thespring time, when the vines are entirely destitute of leaves. During the working season, when tlie vines, grass, and perliaps a few sti'aggling weeds, change the aspect of things, there is not nearly so much of this sort of trouble ; and about the time we rear queens largely, the aspect of things is usually changed, so that we are quite successful in getting young queens fertilized. No doubt some of our keen inventors may make a practical use of tlie liints you have thrown out. Notwith- standing your objections, I do like a nice, regular, neat, and orderly apiary. We shall be glad to hear from otherson this matter. MANIPULATION. EASY AND I' not IT ABLE IN WELTj-ADAPTED HIVES. "Up LTHOUGH I was present at the Detroit Con oilk vention of beekeepers in December, 188.1, ^^K where Mr. Heddon first called attention to ■^^ the system of management with his " New hive." I heard him too imperfectly to get any adequate conception of his invention. My head trouble returning soon after, and lasting near- ly two years, I lost all interest in bee-matters, and it was only in February last (my attention being re- called to this hive) that 1 was impressed with the idea that it might be a great step in advance, in practical bee-keeping. From the very start I .saw that many rt/Hc-eti the power of manipulation given by the Langstroth hive, because they failed to see that progress lay in reducing the necessary mani])- ulations to a minimum. In the latest work of our honored Dzierzon, his wonderful acquaintance with the habits of bees seems, to Americans at least, to be greatly wasted upon a hive and system of man- agement which would make our honey cost more than it would sell for. To manipulate with whole cases of frames in- stead of by single frames, seemed to me a very wide extension of the principle so much insisted on in my first work on bees, published in 1853, that a hive ought not to re(iuire one single unnecessary motion, either lor the bees or its owner. Influenced by such considerations, I determined to see the actual workings of the Heddon hive in his apiary at Dowagiac, Mich. As the weather on my arrival there was too cold to handle bees, 1 care- fully studied the hive. From what I know of the habits of bees and construction of hives, just as a short e.vamination of a Munn hive shows me that it is worthless either for amateur or practical uses, so the longer 1 studied the Heddon hive, the strong- er was my belief that it would accomplish what he claimed for it. As soon as 1 could see bees handled in these hives, and could handle them myself, all my favorable prepossessions were fully confirmed; and knowing how little I could count upon the continuance of health, 1 felt that, in justice to the public, as well as to Mr. Heddon, I ought to put this opinion on record, by writing to some of my bee-keeping friends. I think that no one who knows how I was depriv- ed of the legitimate fruits of my own invention will be surprised that I should feel it to he a positive duty to use what infiuence I may have among bee- keepers to secure for Mr. Heddon both the honor and the profit to which he seems, not only to me, but to so many of our best apiarists at home and abroad, to be justly entitled. Suiun Cin'(/i(c— " to each his own." From uiy earliest recollections my dear father en- joined this as a sacred duty upon his children— and I believe that all who know what I have done and written in connection with bees will bear me wit- ness that I have not departed from the spirit of his teachings. It was this strong sense of duty to give honor to whom honor is due, which made me desire, even before 1 had any correspondence with Mr. H. about his hive, to go to Dowagiac and judge of il for myself. I will now describe some of the most important things that I there witnessed: 1. Before I saw the easy working of his frames {even in hives which had been occupied for several years by hecs), with close-fitting uprights ([ prefer this French term to our word ends), I could not conceive how they could possibly be handled as rapidly or safely as the Langstroth frames. The ])iopolis trouble alone seemed to forbid this. Judge of my surprise, then, to find that, by leaving no space for bees to get between the uprights and the cases holding the frames, and by keeping the touching surfaces of the uprights so closely press- ed together by the thumb-screws as to leave no joint open wide enough for bee-glue, he had actu- ally reduced the propolizing propensity of bees to a minimum. My knowledge of the trouble and delay in manip- ulating all the previous styles of close-fitting up- rights led me to think that it would be quite diffi- cult to handle the Hc'ddon frames. To find that I wiis mistaken on this point was a greater surprise than the way in which the propolis difficulty was met. In handling Langstroth frames of the stand- aid depth (and still more with deeper frames), bees 892 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May are of ten hurt between the uprights and case— a thing- impossible with the Heddon arrangement, while at the same time the uprights of his case— as they go down into the hive, when a frame is put back— only push the bees away instead of pinching them between their closing surfaces. When the Langstroth frames are put back, even by experts, it often happens that they must re-adjust the spac- ing, to get room for the last frame; whereas the Heddon frames always go to their proper places. As a matter of fact, then, the Heddon frames can be safely handled with more rapidity than any in 7»revious use; thus securing all the advantages of ( lose-fltting uprights without their old inconveni- ences. 3. I was actually charmed to see how quickly the queen can be found in this hive. There is really no place where she can hide behind either the uprights of the frames, or on any of the f rame ])ieces, or on the combs, which, by a single inversion of their containing case, have all been made to completely till the frames. Alarmed, now, by the introduction of both light and smoke into such a shallow case, she usually glides at once to the bottom-board, to hide herself between it and the bottom of the frames. If she does not show up when the ease is lifted oflf, she can, as I have seen, be readily shaken out from such shallow and uniformly straight combs, so as to be easily secured. To catch a queen with so little trouble, and with no danger of robbing, seems almost too good a thing to be believed, until it is actually witnessed; and the mere thought that such a feat is possible, must recall to many of my readers their weary (lueen-hunts, in the old styles of hives, under the broiling sun, and with the hateful annoyance of robber-bees. ;j. Another important feature in this hive is the I'emarkable rapidity with which the exact condi- tion of affairs in the brood-chamber can be ascer- tained. In less time than is needed to remove and replace a single frame in other hives, a Heddon brood-section can be lifted off; and from its being shallow enough to allow a good view of the combs from both above and below, even without shaking out the bees, the quantity of brood and honey, and every thing else essential to be known, having been learned by a few glances of an expert's eye, the section may be replaced before any robbing can be done. 4. The shape, size, and lightness of the parts com- posing this hive greatly facilitate all necessary manipulations in the apiary, and must therefore make it peculiarly acceptable to all who for any reason wish to economize their physical strength. A weak person who can not handle many hives needs it, and the strong man also needs it, that he may make all his strength tell, in the management of the largest possible number of colonies. 5. The simple way of holding the frames so firmly in place b3- thumb-screws admirably fits this hive for safe transport. I use the word tranapcnt in its widest sense, so as to include every movement of any of the parts of the hive, from the simple lifting- off of a section, to the carrying of a hive with bees for any purpose, to any distance, however short or long. I have seen a frame filled with comb, tossed about the room, and thrown ovit of a second-story window— also a whole section of such frames slid, and even kicked about a room, and all without any injury to the combs. ti. I am strongly impressed with the great advan- tages which seem to me must certainly be gained by one of the leading features of Mr. Heddon's inven- tion and system of management; viz., the divisible biood-chamhcr ; but as this is a point on which the season (April 17) gives me no opportunity to speak from actual observation, I relegate it to the many able bee-keepers who can speak from their own ex- perience, remarking only, that, when capacious brood-chambers and surplus apartments are desir- ed for any purpose, they can all be readily obtained in the best form by the Heddon hive and system. 7. Perhaps there was no feature in the Heddon hive which surprised me quite as much as the fa- cility it affords for the use of the extractor. In- deed, when I first gave it my attention I was so ig- norant of its scope as to suppose it was a conceded point that it could he used profitably only for the production of comb honey I This is one of the points where I can not speak from my own actual observation ; but those in Dowagiac, who have had the largest experience, affirm confidently, that, in a given time, they can actually extract more honey by the Heddon system than they could with their Langstroth hives, and give these reasons for their belief: Nearly all the bees can be easily shaken out of the combs of the extracting sections, and these quickly carried to a safe place, where the few bees not shaken out will soon leave them. The eight frames of a section may then l)e turned out in a standing position upon a table by a single motion —their regular shallow combs uncapped with un- usual rapidity, and all their contents extracted at the same time; and nearly all of this work can be done binder cover. Need any thing more be said on this subject, to those who have followed the te- dious routine of shaking and brushing off the bees from each separate comb in the sun, and exposed to robber bees ? 8. It need hardly be said to any good bee-keeper who has carefully weighed the above points in fa- vor of the Heddon hive and system of manage- ment, how greatly it reduces in an apiary the lia- bility of robbing. Those who have the Heddon hives will have no use for any bee-tent, when they can so easily find the queen, or can shake out the bees from any section when necessary, to examine it at leisure under cover. In reading this enumeration of benefits to be had from Mr. Heddon's invention, it might seem that, if I have not exaggerated them, any one of a num- ber of them must be worth, to a person who handles many colonies, at least the price of an individual right to use his patent. I can only say, that I have sought to avoid all over-statements, and have, in addition to what I could see with my own eyes, questioned at much ' length some who have largely handled the Heddon hives, and have been from the beginning familiar with every step in the progress of his invention. I would, therefore, not be afraid to risk my reputa- tion for sound judgment as to the great value of the forward step which he has taken, even if I did not know that my opinion accords so well with the experience of many who have had the opportunity to put the hive and system to the test of practical use. It is proper that I should say, before closing this article, that I have carefully examined the claims of the Heddon patent, and the reasons which have been thought by some to invalidate them. Neither 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 393 luy acquaintance with the literature of bce-keepiug: nor my familiarity with our patent laws, nor any facts which have been alleged against the Heddon patent, lead me for a moment to question its validi- ty. History seems often to repeat itself . In my own day, how often it was declared to be enough to in- validate the claims of the first person who had in- vented a hive, which commended itself at once to those most largely engaged in the production of honey, to show that some one before me had used a frame in a bee-hive 1 It mattered nothing that! never claimed to have been the first to invent a movable frame; that my frame and way of using it were fully described, and that the few frames which antedated mine were of no practical account —still the attempt was for many years persisted in (I sometimes shudder now at the bare recollection of those weary years) to persuade the bee-keeping public that my patent was invalid. On all sides patents sprung up, usiriu, hut not claim- ing, the most valuable features of my invention; and one bee-paper, having then the largest circula- tion, went so far as to accuse me of perjuries, which, if committed, ought to have sent me, in ray old age, to the penitentiary. Thus were the feel- ings of my wife and children outraged; and even where no credit was given to such atrocious accu- sations, many honest bee-keepers were so misled as to believe that they had a perfect right to the free use of my movable frames, or were induced to pay for infringing patents the money which would have provided amply for me and mine. I do not think that the bee-keepers of this country will ever suffer a similar outrage to be perpetrated either against Mr. Heddon or any other honest in- ventor and henefactor. L. L. L.vngstroth. Dayton, O. I liave read your communication over very carefully, even the second time, dear friend Langstroth ; and wlule reading it I could not but admire the eloquence witli wliich you present friend Ileddon's claims. If we did not know how utterly impossible such a thing would be, we might be tempt- ed to think he had employed you to adver- tise for him. I know, dear friend, that eve- ry word of the above comes honestly from the boitom of your heart, and is entirely unsolicited ; but I do think you great! v over- estimate. We have one of the Ileddon hives in our possession, and are pretty fa- miliar with all the points you make. No doubt all you say can be done ; but I think nearly every point can be carried out and put in practice without using any hive dif- ferent from that which we have had for years. I should greatly prefer to pass by this whole matter, and let it remain un- answered ; but we have permitted you to use the pages of Gleanings; to advertise a patent bee-hive, and to advertise the prac- tice of selling individual rights. With the exception of friend Ileddon, I l)elieve that almost all the bee-keepers in our land have abandoned this matter of individual rights, and given it ftp as not the proper thing to do. In fact, you have, by your own writ- ings, many times advised against it ; and 1 am sure I should do wrong to let this mat- ter pass as you have left it, without a pro- test. Years ago you paid us a visit ; and during that visit I discovered (I thought) that you felt uncharitable toward a good many of our prominent bee-men. In fact, you felt as if the world at large had done you a great wrong. I suggested that perhaps you were forgetting God's promises, and that dwell- ing on these things was marring your peace of mind, or something to that effect. One morning, when you first awoke, T came into your room and was greatly rejoiced to hear you say vou believed I was right, and words to the effect that the world was not so very bad, after all. You told me you had decid- ed to try to forget these things you had talked with me about, and not dwell on them. You not only made this resolution, but you put it in practice, and afterward wrote me you had become happier over it than you had been for years. I am now afraid, dear friend, that you are getting back where you were. I will not dispute but that a few individuals did you great wrong ; but I feel sure it is bad for any one to let the idea creep into his mind that the world has never given him due credit, or that he has never been appreciated or prop- erly rewarded. I think I stand where 1 can appreciate and fairly estimate and weigh what friend Ileddon has done for the bee- keeping world ; and I feel perfectly safe in saying that it is not just or fair or right or best that every one who desires to experi- ment with or' use these things you have mentioned should be compelled to pay Mr. Ileddon $;.5.0U for an individual right. If they wish to use his arrangements just as he "has them, let them purchase a sample hive. If they want the whole matter ex- plained in plain words, let them purchase Heddon's book. At the prices he charges for each, there is a good round profit. The matter of charging $5.00 for the right to use some arrjingement of hives and fixtures is a bad precedent if nothing more. I would not stand side l>y side and in company with the class of men (with a few exceptions) who have been in years past taking money for individual rights, for all the gold in Califor- nia. I have discussed this matter with friend Ileddon in our private correspond- ence for a considerable time, and to consid- erable length. 1 have weighed all his argu- ments, and I presume he has weighed all of mine. I did not intend to speak in public as I have done ; but after I consented to re- ceive a letter for the pages of Gleanings, advocating " individual rights'' to such an extent as the one above, I do not think it would be right for me to do otherwise than to give my opinion; and, dear friends, it is only my opinion ; but I think that opinion is unalterable. HONEY-BOARDS. A MOST IMPOKTANT PART OF A HIVE. f7!>EFERUING to question .56, which you have WW just sent me, you know that, for years, I was ';|\ almost alone in the advocacy of honey- -^^ boards, and never failed to try to impress my brother bee-keepers with the important advantages of their use, whenever opportunity :i!)4 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May presented itself. I suppose nearly all of your read- ers know that 1 invented the bee-space and break- joint arrangements in honey-boards nearly ten years ag-o; and now that it is evident that both of these arrangements are not only very valuable, but well nigh indispensable, the reason that the claim- crs of others' inventions are not trying to claim these features must be because I published them so long ago, and at a time when they had not yet learned the value of honey-boards, but were clam- oriiigagainst their use, and advising placing the sec- tions flatly upon the brood-frames. Well, now, up came the (luestion of a queen-cxeluding honey- I oard, flr.st urged by Bro. D. A. Jones if I am not in crroi- (if 1 am, please correct me), and we at once pot to work to make the best honey-boards embrac- ing that feature. As T considered either the break- joint or bee-space features worth much more than the one of queen-excluding, I set about to make my honey-board queen-excluding. I tried placing the slats so closely together as to admit workers and exclude queens, but 1 soon found that wood could not be depended upon; and, woi'se than all, when the slats were placed ,^,, apart, instead of %, the bees plugged the narrow spaces full of brace- corab. Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson, who was the first to try the same thing, like myself was compelled to give it up. Another experiment was to tack zinc strips, containing a row of queen-excluding open- ings over the spaces between the slats of my hon- ey-board, and this worked perfectly. It made the board strong, and kept an even upper surface. Then came the thought of grooving the edges of the slats, and sliding strips of zinc into the grooves, as the honey-board was nailed up, which was quick- er done, and made a neater and far more attractive job; and C. E. Boyer, W. Z. H., Dr. Tinker, and my- self, all thought of this simple device, without the aid of each other; but as Dr. T. was the first to publish it to the world, no one opposed this priori- ty, nor should they; and on page 303 of this journal for 1886, he fully described and gave it to the pub- lie, and therefore has precluded himself from get- ting any valid patent upon that feature, as intimat- ed in a recent number of the C. B. J. Uncle Samuel takes freely, but never gives back any thing. He is opposed to that, en masse. The honey-board made on the Tinker plan is not so strong as when the zinc is tacked on the upper sur- face of the slats, nor is it so sure to prevent all brace-combs from being built between the honey- board and the surplus receiitacles, because the zinc is 's of an inch further away than the general sur- face of the honey-board which is just the right dis- tance—?8 scant. But for all that, it is the popular way to make the combined honey-board, and no doubt will be so made, for the trade at least. Now for Question No. .'jti. The best queen-exclud- ing honey-board that has yet been devised can be made with the full sheet of zinc, and I think at a proportionately less cost, when made in large quantities. No. fie mentions "transverse stiH'ening- slats," but seems to forget that these slats will take up room in the bee-spaces, and so add greatly to the chances for propolizing and crushing bees, as to be objectionable. But here we have it. Cut a sheet of zinc just the size the honey-board is to be; tack around its outer edge a piece of poplar (white- wood), ^i by % scant, to form the bee-space. This can also be formed with strips of tin, soldered on, previously bent in the shape here given. Either one will be good, and the wood is I I cheapest and handiest to some manu- facturers. Previous to putting on the | rim, the sheet zinc should be perforated in such manner that one or two rows of openings will come directly over the top-bars of the frames below, and only imperforated zinc will come over the spaces between the top-bars below; thus we have embodied the break -joint and bee-space functions, and now to the most knotty problem of all, the stififeners. Cut two strips of tin, which arc each as long as the hotiey-board, and ^4 inch wide, and fold them this shape, A. which is a ■;'« triangle, tin on two sides. Now solder these strips on to the under side of the honey-board, and in such a position that their points will come directly between two top-bars, and thus you see they can pinch no bees nor induce propolizing, and yet they are full size and full strength, and will keep the honey-board as straight, and, in fact, it will be much stronger than the com- bined wood and metal. "But," says one, "sup- pose the laterally movable frames below should not be in regular position at all times; would not your tin V touch a frame and make trouble?" Seldom, I think; but with my new hive the positions must always be such that perfect harmony of ar- rangements shall exist at all times. This device will not be patented, for I have all I care for in my claim on the honey-board in combination with the main features of my new hive. I wish to say, before closing, that we have as much propolis stored here as in any i)lace 1 ever saw. I find that nearly all bee-keepers make the error of thinking that f/ieir location is worst of all for propolis. James Heodon. Apr. 33, 1888. Since the above came to hand we have re- ceived the following : Friend Root:— Day before yesterday I got to thinking about the honey-board I wrote to you about, and particularly about the formation of the rim, which forms the bee-space and strengthens the whole construction, and I conceived the idea of turning up scant 5 on all sides, and soldering at the corners, which would greatly facilitate and cheapen construction, and make a stronger and better board ; and in order to have the supers ad- just nicely on so narrow a surface, luake the thing 14 inch narrower and shorter than the hive, so that the edges of the honey-board will retreat from the extreme edge of the hive, jus( 'a on all four sides. This thin edge will facilitate in quickly adjusting the supers without crushing bees. One more point: If you can set the dies as you choose, set them so that the zinc between the two rows of perforations will be unhi half as wide as usually left. You see, 1 want the two rows of open- ings closer together. The reason is, I wish to keep the outside of the openings from coming quite so near over the spaces between the frames below. This is no vital point; but if convenient, why not have it just right? James Heddon. Dowaglac, Mich., Apr. 36, 1888. I would say to our readers, that tlie article above was siiggested by one of the queslions sent out periodically to our corps of contril)- utors. Mr. Ileddon, being one of this num- ber, thought best to answer it more fully. The question to wliich he refers has not yet appeared in the C^uesl ion-Box, but it will very soon. In order that our readers may 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 395 get more clearly before them the point at is- sue, we submit the question below : Question 5(>.-y>" j/iiK tliiiiJi a pcrfdratcd zinchou- rjl-Jxiard, wooipes to raise the temperature to a desirable height, at the same time allowing a current ol' air to pass through, would soon reduce our ordinary honey to the con- sistency of jelly. It could then be placed in tum- blei'S, or any kind of ves«el; in fact, i)aper bags could lie miiuuracturcd of ii size and shajie suitable to hold it. and sold in .5c.. 10c. , ir)c., and 30c. pack- ages. It might even be sold by the pennyworth, which would Increase its consumption. 896 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May now TO KMPTY THK HEDDON CRATE. 1. 1 sbouki like to learn how to empty the Heddon case (old style) without breaking- the sections all to pieces. 2. What is ii dummy in a hive; and how made? Dayton, Mo., Apr. 24, 1888. L. M. Wagner. . We liave never had any experience in re- moving sections from tlie Ileddon case. Perhaps some one who has experience can enligliten you. After contracting the brood- nest from ten to six or eight frames there will be a space left by those frames which have been removed. Before putting on the honey-board and the surplus case this space should be filled with a division-board, or '' dummy," as it is called. A dummy is, therefore, sometliing to fill up the space previously occupied by frames. Unless this space is so filled, the bees are pretty apt to build combs in there, even if a thin division- board be used to separate the brood-nest proper from this vacant space in the hive. HOW TO MELT OLD COMBS OFF FROM MIRED FRAMES. How long do you consider it advisable to keep the same brood-frames, built on foundation, in the brood-chamher, for brood-rearing, and how can the combs be most easily removed from wired frames, for melting? M. W. Moe. Denver, Col., Apr. 31, 1888. Keep the brood-combs just as long as they are even and good. We should never destroy them simply because they are old. Age does not necessarily impair their usefulness ; on the contrary, it rather toughens them. Combs may last ten or fifteen years, depend- ing, of course, on the usage they have had. If you have wired combs that are uneven, W(n"m-eaten, full of holes, or otherwise unfit for use, put them in the solar v/ax- extractor. We know of nothing better to take old combs clean off from the v^ires and leave the frame fit for new foundation. We tried some old combs in the solar wax-extractor last summer. Although old Sol takes his time to do it, he charges nothing for his services, if we give him any kind of a chance. If the comb is very old, it may be necessary to lift tlie lid of the extractor, and crowd the co- coons out from between the wires with a small stick. FIGHTING INSECTS. I will send a few suggestions for fighting insects. For potatoes, walk through the rows, turning the leaves with a sticK. The eggs will be found in clus- ters of from ten to thirty, and are easily destroyed. The cabbage butterfly lays her eggs on the out- side of the outer leaves. These are more easily destroyed than the worms. Keep the currants so well pruned that every leaf can be seen. Watch carefully for any that are per- forated. On these you will find the newly hatched worms. By destroying a leaf you will destroy worms enough to mutilate and render disgusting a whole bush, it you look the bushes over three times a week your currants will be safe. Of course, it is better to catch the parent insect before the eggs are laid, if you can. I do not know the moth that lays eggs for currant worins. I should be glad to learn how to save the bushes from the worm that bores through the stalk. L. W. Delavan, Wis., May 5, 1888. With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. All queries sent in for this department should be briefly stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, and marked, " For Our Question-Box." Question No. .52.— Do recersihle frames produce the results claimed; i. e., ivhen reversed, cause the bees to place the honey in the sections"^ I don't know. Geo. Grimm. Not with me. H. R. Boardman. I never tried it. E. France. Not according to my experience. Paul L. Viallon. I know but little about reversible frames. O. O. POPPLETON. I presume they usually do. I know that some- times they don't. C. C. Miller. Reversible frames for the purpose set forth are largely things of the past. G. M. Doolittle. Not always. With a large hive and a small queen it will make bad matters worse. P. H. Elwood. I can not say from personal experience; but from what I have learned, I think they do. Mrs. L. Harrison. This is one of the new methods which promised more in theory than it has proven in practice. L. C. Root. I take no stock in reversible frames, and my ex- perience does not prove the result claimed for them. Chas. F. Muth. Yes; the bees do not like to leave their honey near the entrance, below the brood, for it is not so safe there. Dadant & Son. Not always; but if the brood-frames are filled to the bottom with brood, reversing will do as claimed. I have tried it. Dr. A. B. Mason. They do, if reversed at the proper time and under the right conditions, all of which have been ex- plained in the journals. W. Z. Hutchinson. I have valued reversible frames because they were filled completely with comb, which was fas- tened on all sides, and they, when properly maniij- ulated, will send reluctant bees into the supers. A. J. Cook. I had not confidence enough in reversible frames to try them. It is tolerably plain, however, that, when bees will leave honey in bi'oken comb placed outside their door they will not move that inside merely on account of its position. They will move it when they want the space for brood. E. E. Hasty. Yes, if done at the right time. Not only this, but they more than pay for their extra cost, from the fact that with them we can get the frame complete- ly filled with comi), leaving no lurking-place for bees. Friend Root, I hope none of your readers will im- agine that my standing firm for reversible frames is because I have a patent hive in which they sup- pose invertibility to be the main feature. Such is not the case. It would be to ray interest in dollars and cents, if it should prove that inverting is de- structive to the brood, because in my divisible 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 397 brood - chamber I have the only other principle which will produce the desirable result sought by inversion, and much more perfectly. James Heddon. Well, friends, the al)Ove replies are a little singular — especially when we recollect that, not very long ago. "this matter of reversing frames was talked about, not only all over our own country, but in the journals across the ocean, and many imagined it was going to make quite a revolution in our industry : and now it transpires that a great many of our prominent honey-raisers have tried it a little, and some not at all ; and most of the others have dropped it as of no particular account. It reminds me of our old friend Benedict, at the Olao State Fair. lie was ex- hibiting a hive that permitted the frames to be used one side up as well as the other. In fact, any one of the four sides could be placed uppermost, without any difficulty. When I suggested this as a valuable feature in the hive, he said he had never tried reversing them at all— didn't want them reversed, and wouldn't have them leversed. Now, another peculiarity of humanity comes in here. A great many people will finally slip back into the old track, even when a new process or new method is a good deal better— perhaps I should say considerably better, especially if the new way recpiires a little forethought and preparation. When combs get broken loose in the frames, I very much like the idea of placing them upside down, to enable the bees to fasten them securely ; but where the combs are properly wired, I presume we shall seldom have occasion for this. Question No. 53. —In localities where white clover has been entirely liilled out by the drought the past summer, and there have heen no fall rains to start the plant from the seed . ii'hat is the prospect for a crop of clover honey next season! Bad. Very poor. Unfavorable. I should say, very poor. Dadant & Son. Dr. a. B. Mason. h. r. boardman. O. O. POPPIiETON. Very poor indeed, I should say. James Heddon. Very poor; with a dry spring, none. Mrs. L. Harrison. As you state it, I should say very poor. G. M. DOOLITTLE. Quite slim, unless there is basswood or fall flow- ers. W. Z. Hutchinson. Poor, as far as clover honey is concerned. I don't think white clover will blossom much the first year. E. France. Pretty poor prospects under those conditions; but you will find that the drought did not entirely kill it. Geo. Grimm. My locality is one of those unfortunate ones, and my prospects for the coming season are rather slim. But a favorable spring may help us out con- siderably. Chas. F. Muth. If the following sertson should be favoralile, I have no do\ibt but a new crop will appear. I have never known white clover to fail to start when the season was favorable. L. C. Root. I much fear for the crop, so far as the white clover is to furnish the nectar in such cases. In the autumn of 1886 we had a great drought here. Last season we had almost no white clover. A. J. Cook. I never knew the clover to fail to come up every year, though I have seen it so dry that nearly every thing was parched; but I have seen it fail to se- crete honey when the ground was a complete mass of clover-bloom. Paul L. Viai.,lon. Prepare for a large crop of clover honey. It is probably not entirely killed out; and if the winter and spring are favorable for both clover and bees, a smaller numlier of flowers well filled with honey may give you a crop. P. H. Elwood. Bee-keepers are somewhat akin to farmers— their crops are fre(iuently " all killed out," and yet come in heavy enough to glut the market. If last year's clover was actually all dead, it is not likely that spring seedlings would bloom enough to give a crop of surplus honey. B. E. Hasty. If killed early enough, no seed was formed, and the only hope is from seed of previous yeai-s that has lain dormant. 1 should think that would be limited in amount, and I don't know whether it blooms well the first year it comes from seed. I'd give more for the opinion of one good agricultural- college botanist than for the opinions of the whole batch of us. C. C. Miller. The sum and substance of the above seems to be that good yields of honey sometimes occur when we do not expect them ; and. on the other hand, they often fail when we do expect them, so many causes affect the matter, both favorably and unfavorably. I do not think the white-clover bloom will be verymitch less in our locality than it usually is. Question No. 54.— Is it profitable to the bee-keeper in furnitth buckwheat seed free of charge to all fanners who promise to sow it within a radins of a mile and a half of tfie apiary'/ I never thought that it was. Chas. F. Muth. Yes, and I much prefer the Japanese variety. Dr. a. B. Mason. Yes, to a limitceanings you will tind reports, more or less, from almost evei-y State. If you will read the articles from Dr. O. M. Blanton, of Greenville, Miss., you can form a good idea of his locality.] bad SPACING. My bees tie the frames all together. What is the cause, and what the prevention? How far apart ought the frames to be? How often does a queen mate? C. M. Farrar. Confidence, W. Va., Apr. 37, 1888. [Why, friend F., I should judge that your combs were badly spaced. They should be 1?« inches from center to center. If you can not get them together as close as this, shave them down so that they will. One-and one-half-inch spacing will do very well ; but for general purposes, l-'„ is a little better ; and this spacing is preferred by the majority of bee- keepers.—A queen meets a drone only once in her Every boy or girl, under 15 years of age, who writes a let- ter for this department, containing some valuable fact, not GENERALLY KNOWN, ON BEES OR OTHER MATTERS, will receive one of David Cook's excellent Hve-cent Sunday-school books. Many of these books contain the same matter that you tind in Sunday-school hooks costing from 81.00 to 81.50. If you have had one or more books, give us the names that we may not send the same twice. We have now in stock six different books, as follows; viz. : Sheer Off, Silver Keys, The Giant-Kill- er; or, The Roby Family, Rescued from Egypt, Pilgrim's Progress, and Ten Nights in a Bar-Room. We have also Our Homes, Part I., and Our Homes, Part II. Besides the above books, you may have a photograph of our old house apiary, and a photograph of our own apiary, both taken a great many years ago. In the former is a picture of Novice, Bine Eyes, and Caddy, and a glimpse of Ernest. We have also some pret- ty little colored pictures of birds, fruits, flowers, etc., suitable for framing. You can have your choice of any one of the above pictures or books for every letter that gives us some valuable piece of information. CONDUCTED BY ERNEST R. ROOT. A LITTLE STORY FROM UNCLE AMOS, WITH A PICTURE. TTp good many years ago there was a ^1^ man who had loved himself better j^ than he had loved God. You know, ^^ my little friends, that the Bible says that we should love God before every thing else. I do not know whether this man knew about that text then or not ; but if he did, he was too fond of having his own way, and going ahead with his plans, to care very much about it. Yesterday we were plant- iug some raspberries out in the garden. After we got the plants set in tlie furrow all nice, where they ought to be, we took old Charlie (that is one of our big horses) with the cultivator, to throw^ the dirt back into the furrow, back up against the raspberries. Now, in order to do this just right, we want- ed Charlie to walk on top of the furrow, in- stead of down in the furrow. Well, Cliaiiie is a very intelligent horse. lie understands how to do most work almost as well as some boys do. But the ground was very soft, and it bothered him tovvalk on top of tlie soft ground, so he kept getting over into the raspberries, or else getting over into the furrow on the other side. He knew what we wanletl. but was contrary, and he did not like to work where we wanted liim to. Every little while he would try to slej) down wliere it was easier walking, and tlien lie made mischief. If the man who had hold of the cultivator would "holler" at him, and say, ''Get up, there!" he would get right up where we wanted him, but he stay- ed there only a little while. Did you ever see boys and girls who were contrary V They knew what was wanted of them, and what they ought to do, but they very much prefer- red to do something they knew was forbid- 4uo GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTtJUE. May den. Well, this man I want to tell you about was a good deal like such children, and like old Charlie; but he was a man grown up. and we expect more of a man than we do of a horse or even of a little child. The Bible says God created man in his own image. That means that he gave him reason and sense, and ability to com- prehend This man knew all this perfectly well ; but his inclinations were so strong in certain directions, and he was so stubborn and contrary, that he did not pay much at- tention to anybody or any thing imless he happened to feel like it. His father and mother talked to him about staying away from meeting, and doing things he ought not to do ; and his brothers and sisters talk- ed to him. Some of them who were a good TlIK -AIAN WHO WAS CONTKAKY, AND THE MESSENGER GOD SENT. way off wrote him kind letters ; but he still persisted in doing as he pleased. When he w^as a boy, I believe he used to be truthful, as a rule ; but when he got into this con- trary and stubborn spirit, he began to learn to be untruthful, and to try to deceive his father and mother and brothers and sisters. When they told him he ought to be a Chris- tian and a"^ good man he even tried to make it appear that he was a Christian and that he was a good man and meant to do right ; but he didn't for all that : and if he had kept on in the way he was going, tlie probabilities are he would liave been by this time a terri- bly bad man. (Jod, also, often spoke to him. through the voice of conscience ; and finally, as a last appeal, as it were, God sent a little messenger to him to plead with him. Would you like to see that little messenger? Well, right below, while I am writing, is a picture of her and a picture of the man. The messenger was a little blue-eyed girl- baby ; and almost as soon as this man began to get acquainted with her, he began to feel the influence of those appealing blue eyes. He used to play with his girl-baby a great deal; and long before she learned to walk, he would take hold of her little hands and say, " Now, then, 'way up high! Papa's baby." Mamma used tD remonstrate some- times, and tell him her little feet were hard- ly stout enough to stand "'way up high " on them just yet. But she was stout and strong, and loved her papa; and she was very ambitious to show off her strength and intelligence. Well, papa taught the baby to straighten up on his knees, " 'way up high," and the baby taught poor papa to come " 'way up high " in another way. Her childish face rebuked his selfish and unkind spirit ; and when she was not very much older than she looks there in the picture, this man, who had so many years been tend- ing toward an attitude of heart that fears not God nor man, changed over. Some way all at once he got a glimpse of himself just as he was. 1 do not suppose that anybody will ever know how bad that man felt, nor how hard he cried when alone by himself, to think how ungrateful and wicked he had been. He stopped doing every thing that was bad that he knew of, and stopped being, contrary. He went to meeting and to Sun- day-school, and saw all the children there. He listened to the little hymns that they sang ; and through the intluences of the lit- tle girl at home — yes, and his other children —he became a good deal like a child him- self. I am afraid he does not always stay just as childlike as he was during those days, but he tries hard, I am sure ; and he prays to God every day for help, that he may be, through all his life, like a little child; for the Bible says, you know, that " of such is the kingdom of heaven.'' And this is the end of the story from Uncle Amos. jaYE^mE liEn^^fEl^-B^X. REPORTS ON THE SOURCES AND COLOR OF POLLEN. We have to thank our young friends for so generously responding in regard to the sources and" color of pollen. We feel sure that they have gotten together in a short compass considerable valuable information on the subject. Even the older folks may learn something they did not know before ; but there may be some mistakes, possibly, as to the real color of pollen. If so, our friend Doolittle, who wrote on this subject on page 205, is fully competent to correct. POLLEN FROM SOFT MAPLE AND WATER-ELM. Our bees begau to gather pollen March 30, from the soft maple. The color is greeu; and two days later, yellow pollen from the water-elm. Ballstown, Tnd., Apr. 3, 1888. Elmer Davis. 1888 GLt:ANiNGS IN S15E CULTURE. 4ui POLI^EN FROM THE ELM. The bees brought in pollen to-day tor the first. It was of a lig-ht yellow color, and came from the elm. Manchester, N. Y., Apr. 3, 1888. Peuky Briggs. DARK POLLEN FROM THE ELM. Our bees brought in the first pollen Mar. .'51. They got it from elm and mai)le. The first is a dark yellow. The second is yellowish red. My papa has "3 colonies of bees. I wrote this letter myself. Amos Grisso, age 8. New Carlisle, O., Apr. 1. 1S88. pollen h'rom the calla lily. My brother, 7 years old, and myself. 9 years old, saw yesterday pa's bees get pollen from our calla lily. It was outdoors, and the bees Hew and buzzed and shook their wings, and acted so eager that the fiowers were full of bees. They carried the small white pollen grains on their legs into their hives. They stayed on the blossoms after the pollen seem- ed to be all gone. Roy C. Gere. E. Springfield, Erie Co., Pa., Apr. 3, 1888. pollen of different colors from the maple, AND AN explanation. As this is a warm day, I went out into the apiary for the purpose of watching the bees to see if they were carrying in pollen. Sure enough, tbere they were, just rolling it in. I got down in front of one of the hives to examine the pollen, and found it was yellow. I watched their course, which was direct- ed toward a maple-tree that stood in the road, by the fence; then I got up on the top of the fence and caught one of the bees that was < m the maple, and found it to be the same pollen that the bees were carrying in. They have not commenced carrying in from the elm yet. Edward Quinby. Edenton. Ohio, March 31, 1888. Very good, Edward. If yon keep on in- vestigating in just the way yon have men- tioned, you may be some time as great a bee-man as your ilhistrious namesake, fa- ther (^uinby. "^ You have proved conclusively that the pollen from maple is yellow ; but our next friend gives e(iual proof that the maple also yields white pollen. I will otter as an explanation, that there are not only different kinds of maples, but the same kind of maple has flowers of different colors. In planting our basswood orchard we noticed some of the little l)assvvoods were red and some were yellow. The buds show in a marked manner this peculiarity. It is not only maples and basswood that are thus variously colored ; but in the garden we see tomatoes and peppers red and yellow, while the general peculiarities of the fruit are ex- actly the same in other respects; and, if I am correct, we sometimes have soft maples that give us pink pollen. white pollen, and where is it from? Yesterday 29 of our colonies brought in the first pollen, but not a grear, deal, because it was too cold for them to fiy very much. To-day they Hew very nice and strong, and brought in a good deal of pol- len. I then wentdown in the swamp, and saw where they got the pollen. I saw some buckle clusters that were out; also some alders, and the bees work- ed at them nicely, so 1 thought 1 would go home. When I got there [ went to the bee-hives and there I saw that the bees brought in two kimls of pollen. One kind was yellow, which they got from the huckle and alder. The other kind was white-looking pollen. Then I wondered when' they g(U that kind of pollen. I then caught a bee by the wing, and took some of the pollen from its legs, and ate it. I found that this pollen was very sweet, and so 1 thought they must get that from the soft maple, so I had to go in the woods again, and there I found a middle-sized maple-tree. I looked at every little limb, and every bud was but in blossom. I took ott' some branches, and brought them along home, and showed them to my pa, and he said, "Ah! that is very nice at this time of year. Did you see some bees on these blos- soms?" " Yes," I said, " bees with the same kind of white pollen they brought home." He said, "Well, there is just where they get it, be- cause it is sweet." Michael Paridon. New Portage, Summit Co., O., March 31, 1888. POLLEN from sawdust. On the 3d of April our bees carried in their first pollen, which was from sawdust. I could not be- lieve the bees got pollen from it, so I went to a sawmill near by and saw lots of bees loading pol- len and carrying it away. They work on sawdust better when it is wet than dry. The pollen from sawdust was fine, and a little sweet. The color is a light brown. On the 4th of April our bees carried in their first pollen from wild Howers. It was very yellow. Our bees have carried in some honey. The first was quite bitter; but yesterday (the 9th) pa looked at the bees and said the honey was sweet. I do not know what the bitter honey was from. Skunk cabbage is in blossom, and I think the bees are working on it. Pa commenced bee-keeping four years ago this spring, with one swarm, and now has 29 swarms and 3 nuclei. Bertie Spitler, age 13. Mosiertown, Pa., Apr. 10, 1888. Thank you, Bertie. You say the pollen from sawdust is a little sweet. I have no- ticed this, and felt a good deal surprised, es- pecially as the sawdust had no sweet taste at all l)efore it was gathered by the bees, and 1 decided at the time that the bees car- ried honey from their hives to mix with saw- dust so as to make a sort of dough that they can pad up into little biscuits, to put on their little legs. Wheat and rye flour, after being padded up on their legs, and carried to their hives, has (juite a sweetish bee- bread taste that it did not have befoie. We do not know just how the sawdust helps them, but when no pollen is to be had from the flowers, it no doubt supplies them with something tliey need, but can not get from honey alone. pacts prom a little girl, on cottongkowino. We plant cottonseed here in April and May; chop it to a stand 10 to 18 inches apart, wiili hoes, when it is two or three inches high; then it is to be plowed and kept clean till it grows and blooms, and the bolls ioi'ni and matui-t;. This is usually in August. We plant in drills three feet apart. Its branches meet in the rows. It grows between three and four feet high, and bolls scatter along on the branches, ranging from fifty to one hundred to a stalk. The bloom is something like the hollyhock. It opens white, shuts up, and turns red, one day each. This bloom is where the yellow-banded Italians 402 GLEANINGS lis BEE CULTURE. May gret our cotton honey. The averag-e picking is 200 lbs. a day. It takes about 1500 lbs. in the seed to make a bale (.500 lbs. lint). Maggie Dii-lehay. Millord, Ellis Co., Tex., Dec. 34, 18S7. Thank you. Maggie. You have given us (luite a history of the cotton-plant, in a few words. It is the more interesting to me, be- cause I was so much puzzled, as you may remember, when 1 saw the dry cotton-stalks during the last of February, when I went to the exposition at New Orleans. A SEVERE STINGING. My pa keeps bees. The very first swarm came out on the 4th of June, 1887, and pa was not at home. As ma went to hive them they flew on her like a set of yellow-jackets, and stung her all over her head and hands. They would not leave her un- til we dashed a couple of pails of water over her. It made her so sicK that wo thought she would die, and we sent for the neighbors. It acted just like a rattlesnake bite. We could not get any thing to help her until she drank sweet cream. We sent for the doctor. He gave her some aqua ammonia to put on where she was stung, and some powders to take. He said she would not have lived until he got here if it wore not for the sweet cream she drank. G EcjitGiANA Hoke, age 11. Elkhart, Ind. My young friend, I am sorry to tell you that the matter of remedies for bee-stlngs is involved in a great deal of uncertainty. May be the sweet cream your mother drank did her some good, and, on the other hand, who can say slie would not have recovered without any thing, just the same V Very likely the cold water thrown on her had the effect of allaying the fever, and perhaps reviving her. We have tested every reme- dy tor bee-stings that has come up, until we are well satisfied they have no effect what- ever. This refers to single stings. Where a person is stung a great many times, as in the case above, throwing on cold water or wet sheets may help the patient in the way I have indicated. A whole FAMILY OF BEE-KEEPERS. Dear sir I tke pen in hand to let you now that papa has bees and my brother has bees and gran- papa has bees and uncle will has bees and uncle Eaber has bees and Isaac W has bees and uncle An- son has bees and pierce has boos and Hariet Smith has bees and I believe I Will Close for this time from the hands of Artmechia Fi.uhahty. Well, well, my young friend, I am glad that you have so large a family of bee-keep- ers. We have inserted your letter entire, just as you wrote it. Perhaps after seeing it in print you can see where you might have shortened it some. You begin by say- ing, "■ I take pen in hand to let you now," etc. As your letter was written with ink, we presume it was, cf course, written with a pen, so you see it does not give us any in- formation by telling us about it at the start. Fuither on, you say that '' papa has bees, and my l)rother iins bees," and so on throughout the letter. "Has bees and" might have been used only once. You did not tell us wliere you live, and so we could not send you any little book. Now, my lit- tle friend, I do not want to complain ; we simply want to point out these things, that you and lots of the other little folks may be more careful. By the way, you addressed the letter " Medney, O.," in consequence of which it took a good while for it to reach us. THE BLUEBERRY. Mr. Root:— Please tell us something about blue- berry-plants. Are they grown for any thing in par- ticular? Are the ones that grow on the mountains the same? Is there much sale for them? How much are they worth per 1000? A Juvenile. Friend Juvenile, I am sorry to tell you that most if not all of the attempts at grow- ing the blueberry under cultivation have failed. A man bv the name of Staples has been for yeais swindling people by pretend- ing he had plants that would grow under cultivation. After receiving the money be simply sent dry sticks ; and after he was published he started out under another name ; but our agricultural papers have so thoroughly ventilated him I guess his busi- ness is pretty well done up. I believe the general decision is, that the blueberry be- haves obstinately under cultivation ; at least it does in most soils. If somebody can tell us where there is half an acre or more under cultivation, and bearing good crops of ber- ries, I should like to know it. TH'i BEE. The little busy bee. It carries loads so large; It never once complains. And never makes a charge. The little bee, it is so clever! It works from dawn till dark; They always choose good weather, And know just when to start. It gathers honey all the day. Although the sun beats hot; It stores away its honey, And then awaits its lot. And this, I'm sad to say. Is very bad indeed ; For there is some one watching To do some cruel deed. The apiarian waits Till thej' have filled their combs. Then he gets the extractor out. And desolates their homes. Then why should not we Take a lesson from the liee? Improve the time which God has given, Precious to you and me? Paw Paw, W. Va. Clara Streby. Thank you, friend Clara. If you wrote these lines, and I guess you did, you have done very well indeed — rather better, I think, than the average poetry that is sent in. We have to be a little careful about ac- cepting poetry from little folks, sometimes, because there are so many nice little poems on the bee in books, and it is a very easy matter to copy them off. I do not mean to say the little folks are dishonest, for they do not realize, sometimes, I think, what they are doing. 1388 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 403 0a^ pejiE?. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God— Matt. 5:8. T N our hist talk I promised to consider the m letter from friend Lighty ; before I got ^l around to it, however, 1 found the fol- ■^ lowing letter on my table, written by our stenographer and proof-reader. It is in a little different line from what I had proposed to talk in ; but inasmuch as it gives some very important facts that are new^ to me, [ have thought best to give it : Mr. L. W. Lighty— Dea? Sir and Friend:— Tn last Gleanikgs there appears a letter from you, in reply to which please permit me to ask you a few questions, for T fear I do not understand you. You say, "Our jails are filled with Christians." On which side of the jail walls were ihey first known to be Christians? How many of them can produce a record from a church, proving them to have been always known as active and influential in religious work? How many of them taught in Sunday- school? How many years? Would not every one of the 300,000 prisoners in the U. S. have said amen to your defense of Ingersollism just before the com- mission of the crime? Is there no difference be- tween a man who professes Christ, in order to gain confidence, and a man who piits o?i Christ as the highest type of humanity? What teaching of Christ is contrary to the law of our land? If a law be passed in Pennsylvania, plainly contrary to Christi- anity, would it not be declared unconstitutional? Is not the gospel of Christ the common law of Penn- sylvania? Do not hypocrites always espouse the hesl cause? Did you ever know of a man to pretend to believe in Ingersoll, in order to deceive people? Did not Christ himself make a distinction between the sheep and goats? Infidels always speak of IngersoU's family as be- ing an "honor," etc. Why not take a fresh case? I know infidels here, and they are very nice folks. They like infidelity, but yet conform to the ordinary requirements of civilized life, and so the mere mat- ter of creed is not thought of. Washington says there can be no permanent gov- ernment without morality, and he says he has no confidence in that morality which is not based on religion. Not one of our presidents was on your side of this question. True, some were not what I call orthodox; but Washington, Adams, Lincoln, Grant, Arthur, and Garfield were, and Hayes and Cleveland are, I think, governed by Christ's gospel. The names of great men who have blessed the world and the church would fill volumes, as you well know. Men may claim that they owe nothing to the sun in point of health; but as long as they can not get away from it, I must regard their claim as mere rant. Men who have aways lived amid Christian surroundings may make sport of the blood of their would-be Redeemer, but they owe to him the blessings of civilization for all that. Outside of Christendom, a hospital was never erected, nor an asylum tor the insane, deaf, dumb, idiotic, etc. Turkey knows nothing of them, except as borrowed. By the way, what is the general con- dition of woman in non-Christian countries? Friend Lighty, did you ever know of a religious paper to be on file in a saloon? Doesn't the Police Gazette, and papers of that kind (all opposed to Christianity) always lie (in two senses) in plain sight in these ante-rooms of death? What was the effect of the gospel on the "Wickedest Man in New York" and his class in 1868? The gospel went through those dance-houses like fire; the buildings were torn down, and fine iron blocks were erected in their stead. I heard some of those sermons from W. H. Boole; I saw those dreadful women bow to Christ; I saw the old buildings come down, and I saw the new ones go up — and all in .spite of the opposers of the gospel. Offset this, if you can, by showing me where a perfect Christian society has been infinitely improved by the introduction of IngersoU's blasphemous sophistry and deceptive arguments. "Who but Christians swing on the gallows?" Much obliged for calling our attention to the fact that crime and infidelity cause a man to call on an insulted Savior when he can no longer live in sin. Yes, a hemp rope has a wonderful effect in causing men to do what they have long neglected to do. I know that untold numbers of Christians have suf- fered death at the hands of the pope and other ty- ranls; but I have never heard that any of them, when burning, renounced Christ and called on the Ingersollism of their day for help. On whom will you call, brother Lighty, when you feel your feet slipping over the brink? " If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the sinner and the ungodly appear?" Your friend. Gleanings Office, May, 1888. W. P. RdoT. Friend Lighty was moved to write as he did, I believe, because I said 1 hoped the man Mrs. Chaddock told us of, who was so unkind to his wife, was not a professing Christian. At the time, I did not think of casting any reflections on anybody, nor any class of people. The reason why 1 hoped he was not a professing Christian was, because I should be sorry to know that anybody, be- having as he did, should dishonor Christ Jesus by professing to be his follower. Then follows the assertion, that our prisons and penitentiaries are filled with Christians. Friend Lighty, did you not forget that I have for years been visiting the inmates of our county jail? and I presume the men 1 meet there will average very fairly with the inmates of our jails and prisons, the United States over. It is true, I have met some in jail who called themselves Christians ; but not one, I am sure, who was a member of any church in regular standing at the time of his arrest. One brother said he was a member of the church of England. Some questioning, however, revealed the fact that he had never united with any church. He was baptized when an infant, and never had any conviction nor conversion. When the character of Christ was presented to him fairly and plainly, he rejected the teach- ings of Jesus at once. Another man who was in jail for selling intoxicating liquors was called by his comrades a "■ new con- vert." He had been a new convert only two years before ; but, contrary to his wife's wishes, and the wishes of his friends and of his church, he rented a hotel with a bar in it. When I suggested to him that he must have abandoned his Savior before he took to selling liquors, he frankly admitted that such was the case. And so it has been 404 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. May all the way through. Christ g(jes out of the human heart about the time, or a little be- fore, Satan comes in. Is it not so, friend LightyV Light and darkness can not well exist at once in the same place. " Ye can not serve God and mammon."' Jesus himself has told us. Ninety-five per cent of all who have been imprisoned in our county jail have got there, either directly or indirectly, through intoxicating drinks. Now, when a professor of religion decides to drink intoxi- cants because he has a craving for them, his religion goes out <»f his heart as the for- bidden beverage goes down his throat. I do not know but that some religious denomina- tions hold the doctrine that a man who is once thoroughly converted is never lost. I think he is lost just as soon as he decides to let the appetite for drink, or, if you choose, appetite for sin of any kind, take rule in- stead of Christ Jesus. More of this fnrther on. Some years ago I told you of a couple of young men who, while in our county jail, accepted Christ. One of them united with one of our Medina churches afterward. His love of drink, however, drew him into a sa- loon, and the saloon-keeper chuckled over the idea of helping him to break his pledge and dishonor his Savior. Some time after- ward this same saloon-keeper was brought into the jail, and 1 became acquainted with him. lie objected to my reading the IJible to him. lie finally juuiped up and said he could not .sit still and hear me read such foolishness as, " Love your enemies;" "Do good to those who hate you," etc. Finally he said : ■' Mr. Root, if I listen to you while you read your book, will you afterward listen to me while I read some passages from mineT^ I consented. Now, brother Lighty, what book do you suppose he brought forward to read to ineV VVhy, it was the Police Gazette, of course. When we put saloon-keepers in jail, their friends always bring the Police fhczette to console their lonely hours. The passages that he selected for my particular benefit were accounts of different ministers who had fallen from grace and l)roken the seventh commandment, as you say The Police Gazette gave their pictures, and re- joiced over the opportunity with words, as nearly as I can recollect, something like this : " Here is another one of your pretty Ministers.^'' This was a head-line. Then they went on to give the details. Why does the Police Ga- zette hunt up cases of this kind, and take such great pains to make the most of them? Why are they so hostile and bitter toward ministers of the gospelV Is it because they love the little text at the head of this talk? Is the Police Gazette a friend of purity at all? Friend L., it is not possible that you wish to stand or be placed in company with saloon- keepers, or even with the readers of the Police Gazette. Why do saloon-keepers at large dread and hate Christians? Because Christians and Christian ministers are their greatest foes— that is, they are foes to their business. The saloon-keepers and Police Gazette folks are all opposed to purity, while I our ministers, our churches, and our Sun- day-schools are recognized as a class who are hutiyering and thirsting after righteous- ness. The greatest objection that has been raised against Christianity is, that it only makes hypocrites. There may be a degi'ee of consistency in saying that Christians claim too much, or promise too much. They publicly declare their purpose in life is to be pure in heart and honest in deed. After having assumed such a responsibility, and made such a public profession, I agree with you that they ought to be very careful. If they do not live up to what they profess, it is a sad, sad reflection, not only on the Christian religion, but on humanity at large. Are we as a class, no matter what denomination we belong to, nor what we profess, frauds and swindlers? Is there no honor in your fel- low-man? God forbid that any human being should ever arrive at such a conclusion ! You say that our ministers, as a class, break the seventh commandment oftener than any other class of people. Surely, friend Lighty, you were thoughtless when you made this statement. Every individual who reads these words can mentally go ov(n' the Christian ministers of his acquaint- ance. Now, friends, will you please do this? Do it in a spirit of fairness and not of argument. Is brother Lighty 's statement truer I am personally acquainted with, say, one hundred ministers of the gospel. When introduced to any one of them, the very ring of the word " reverend " says to me that the man before me is one set apart by God and by his fellow-men for the most sa- cred duties that fall to the lot of humanity. I reverence and respect him at once. I look for fairness and honesty, and purity of heart, when I gaze in his face. I can not remember that I have been mistaken. I have told you before in these pages that our book-keepers have standing instructions to send to any minister of the gospel any goods he asks for, without any further ref- erence or inquiry. We simply want to know that he is pastor over a congregation of people somewhere. We do not ask for nor care any thing about what denomina- tion he belongs to. Well, I hardly need tell you that the black and white record on our ledgers tells that these men always pay their debts. If they die. their wives and children, or the community, pays the debt for them. It is true, that men "have styled themselves '' Reverend "for the purpose of getting credit, just as tliose who get into jail declare they are church-members for the purpose of getting out quicker. But a very little inquiry will bring out the truth in their case. Even in Isaiah's day, 750 years before Clirist, he speaks of some doubtful characters who desired to catch hold of the garments of the church, '' to take away our reproach." I have never been personally acquainted with a minister who was even accused of breaking the seventh commandment. I am forced to conclude, however, that there are such, because I read of them in the dailies as you do. I presume the cases, mentioned in the Police Gazette are bona-fide, as a rule. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CtltTUBE. 405 How can such a thing be? I agree with you, friend L.. it is awful to think of or con- template the fact that even a single minis- ter in the Ignited States, who stands before his people on the Sabbath day, and preaches Chrisfs word, should be guilty of this horri- ble sin which I have recently alluded to as being3^next door to murder. In Pilgrim's Progress we are told that Christian found there was an exit, or sliort cut. from the very gates of lieaven to the portals of hell ; and I think that many of us have found it true in real life. Woe betide the man who thinks he has risen in the Christian giaces until he is so near God's throne there is no danger. Satan has peculiar strongholds and in- trenchments that we may iiot discover, even in years. I am forced to believe that he sometimes trips the unwary, and takes them down to perdition when they scarcely suspect such a thing were among" the pos- sibiliLies. These are terrible truths and terrible things to contemplate. But woe betide us if we rush to the conclusion that a man may be lost, no matter how hard he tries to be pure in heart. There hath no temptation taken you l)ut such as is common to man; but God who is faithful, will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to es- cape, that ye may be aV)le bear it —I. Cor. 10: i:!. Tliis is true. I sus])ect many are lost by foolish dallying with sin. We have all heard stories about being charmed by snakes. 1 hope it is all a piece of supersti- tion ; but we will nut go into that now. We are told that the charmed person is lost if he even stops to gaze on the wondrous and strange things that begin to unfold be- fore him. My friend, if you have not al- ready, you will some time or other be tempted to stand for a while on the brink of danger, just to see how Satan manages his machinery. It is wonderfully interesting, I know from experience. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.— Prov. 14 : 13. I have often talked to you about the gradual way in which crime commences. No man who has been leading a good pure life for months and years suddenly commits crime ; that is, not unless he becomes in- sane through disease, and that we have nothing to do with, for the man is not re- sponsible for it. The point I wish to make is this: Satan takes his victims through a course of training, just as a child is taught at school. Now, dear friends, before I close this talk to-day I want to speak some plain truths to yoti. One of Satan's first lessons toward bieak- ing the seventh commandment is a want of courtesy at home. When a man is cross, short, and disobliging to his wife, but po- lite and gentlemanly to well-dressed women when he is away from home, he is taking one of Satan's first lessons. This man of whom Mrs. Chaddock told us, who was harsh and brutal to his wife and children, but a talented speaker at farmers' institutes and other public places, was in the first les- sons. He may not have got into Satan's toils in that direction, but he had certainly bidden good-by to Christ Jesus ; and if he made any profession of being a Christian at that time he was a hypocrite. I once heard of a minister who began complaining about his wife. A brother-minister, who was rid- ing with him in the buggy, called on him to stop his horse. Said he. "If you are going to complain of your wife, I shall have to get out and go on foot.'' Perhaps this was a rather harsh way of putting it ; but the minister of the gospel, who would complain of his wife to a stranger, or, I might almost say, to anybody, has, to a certain extent, let loose his hold on Jesus, and taken up with Satan. Ministers have sometimes been accused of indiscretion, and excused by saying it was natural, and their way, to be very friendly with certain members of their congregation. Any one who has taught school has discovered, sooner or later, that the school-teacher or school- ma'am must not let go of their dignity. 1 think that ministers, of all other people on the face of the earth, should remember the sacredness and the dignified nature of their calling. They should " shun even the ap- pearance of evil." To explain just what I mean, I will relate a little incident of my life. You know I conducted a Sabbath-school in a neighboring town for a good many years. Before I had a horse of my own, I used to go on foot five miles to this school, and five miles back again. A good many suggested that it was too hard for me— that I had no business in using up my strength in that way. It was not hard, however, for God gave me all the strength I needed for sucli work ; and I believe that just such a walk of ten miles every Sunday afternoon would do me good now. Well, one Sabbath afternoon at the close of the school, just as I started on my homeward walk, a young lady who had been for a few Sundays as- sisting as one of the teachers, drove up be- hind me with her horse and buggy. She spoke something like this : " Why, Mr. Root, do you go all the way to Medina on foot ? " T told her that I often did so, and that I rather enjoyed it. She replied : " Well, it is too bad. If you will accept a seat in my buggy I can take you a whole mile on your way ; and — " she hesitated, but finally resumed, '' 1 am sure it would be nothing out of the way, would it V '' Readers. I leave you to answer the ques- tion. This young lady was of excellent parentage, and was. in truth, distantly re- lated to me by marriage, and a most sincere, earnest Christian. I accepted her kind iii; vitation, and during the ride we spoke of the interests of the school, and of Christ's work in that vicinity; but, to tell the truth, some way I did not feel quite as well satis- fied as had I taken my usual walk across the fields and through the woods. In think- ing the matter over it became plain to me why my conscience did not quite approve. This Abbeyville Sunday-school had been the means of doing a great deal of good. It was composed of pupils of;[different denomi- nations, and a good many of them could not 406 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May speak English very well. It was generally known that I did the work from a simple love to my fellow-man, and love to Christ. People gave me the credit of being an hon- est Christian, pure in heart, just as friend Lighty has done at the opening of his let- ter. Of coiu'se, I was watched narrowly, as every Christian is and ought to be. Wlien people saw me going home alone 'cross lots, and through the woods, their opinion of me and my work would be slight- ly different from what it might be if I came in a fine carriage ; and it occurred to me that some who were watching might have said : " Oh ! it is not so v6ry strange, after all, that Mr. Boot is so much taken up with Sunday-school work. Who would not like to ride out Sunday- afternoon in a nice car- riage, with a good-looking girl for company, even if she did happen to be a Sunday- school teacher V " The Bible says, " Shun every appearance of evil." I had taken up- on myself the sacred and solemn calling of a spiritual teacher. My relation to the lit- tle neighborhood round about Abbeyville was much like that of a pastor to his flock. I stood on holy ground : and I tell you, friends, it behooves such a one to be not only holy in action, but pure in heart, and to shun even the appearance of evil. No- body ever talked about me, that I know of ; in fact, 1 have never found people ready to talk about me in that way, even if they had excellent reason for so doing ; and I do not believe that any minister is very often in danger of being talked about in this way, if he fully recognizes what his high and sa- cred calling demands. Go on foot five miles —yes, or more than live miles, rather than give the world any /ami excuse for starting scandal. Christians and unbelievers often get a good deal stirred up in discussing these very matters touched upon by friend Lighty. Yes, they sometimes get almost into a fighting mood. Well, I want to say in conclusion that I think it is an excellent thing to get into a fighting mood ; but for God's sake, dear friends, don't fight each other. Fight the inborn sin in your own hearts. Resolve with all your might, strength, mind, and soul, that you will show your opponent by the way you live, and by the stamping-out of every suggestion of Satan before it can even take root, that you intend to be pure in heart according to the language of our text. If you do this, criti- cism and unkind llings at you will not hurt you, but do you good ; and if you live so near to Christ that abusive words only drive you to him, and make you fight against sinful sxiggestions in your own heart the harder, then can you be glad of criticism. You can rejoice when you have been wrongfully accused and misrepresent- ed. No doubt some of you will think these are pretty strong statements ; and I have seen professing Christians stare at me in amazement when 1 suggested to them that they ought to be thankful because people did talk about them. Why, dear friends, we are getting right on to the ground where that wonderful text comes in— the Sa,vior's own words, when he said, " Re- joice, and be exceeding glad." Do you re- member when it was that you were to re- joice and be exceeding glad V Why, '' When men shall revile you, and perse- cute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." Therefore all we who call ourselves Christians need not be troubled, even if friend Lighty and a good many others who reject Christianity do say that our jails are filled with Christians, and ask, •' Who but Christians swing upon the gallows V " etc. What shall we do V do you ask V Why, stick closer to the Master ; fight harder for absolute purity, not only in appearance, but strive to be pure in heart ; and we shall not only conquer in argument, but, when the last great day comes, the promise of the closing words of the text is youvs— '"'For— they shall — see— God.''' ^EP0^3Fg ENcea^TieiNe. WINTKRED WITHOUT LOSS. flUR report for 1887 is as follows: We took out of the cellar 9 swarms, April 20 (which was all we put in in the fall). We increased to 25, and got about 432 lbs. of comb honey— an av- erage of 48 lbs. per colony, spring count. We have wintered the whole without loss so far. Sherman Stancliff, Jr. Malone, N. Y., April 27. 1888. Horsemint is in abundance; and if the weather is right when in bloom, we shall have ii good season. Sweethome, Te-x., April 2, 1888. Ad. Meyer. To-day is the first day I saw the bees carry natural pollen, as it has been fine weather for some time, and some flowers are in bloom. G. Hee.sch. Milwaukee, Wis., April 28, 1888. Yesterday and to-day is the first that bees gather- ed pollen. About two weeks ago I noticed a few bees carrying a little pollen; but ever since, until yesterday, it was too cold for bees to fly. I never had as good success in wintering in chaff hives. Clarion, Pa., April 27, 1888. J. T. Fletcher. My 3.5 stands of bees,' all but .5, have wintered well on their summer stands, packed in forest leaves, all strong and healthy. They are gathering pollen. Our spring is so far very dry — only one rain so far in April. I will try to give you reports from this lo- cality. W. H. Horsley. Oxford, .Johnson Co.. Iowa, April 19. 1888. WINTERED WELL. Our bees wintered well in the Uncompagre Valley. I think 10 per cent will cover all losses. Nearly all are wintered on summer stands. T saw the first drone fly April 22. Uees are very busy now on our numerous wild flowers. The buck-brush and squaw- brush are among the first flowers. The latter re- sembles the willow in appearance, and bears a red berry the size of a small pea. It is the only kind of wild fruit we have in this valley. I planted some alsike clover last year. June 1st, and it nearly all winter-killed. Honey is worth from 20 to 30;cents. Brown, Col., April 28, 1888. E. E. HAiMMOND. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 407 0UR 0WN ^PI^RY. CONDUCTBD BY ERNEST B. ROOT' NO FOUL BROOD. AND LOTS OP^ HONEY. fHE boys are still keeping close watch of the bees. Our apiaries liave been thoroughly examined, and still no foul brood, although there are great quantities of brood in every hive, in all stages. We have been having splendid weather for bees during the last two weeks. Pollen came in quite profusely from the maples, and honey from fruit-bloom to such an ex- tent as to Crowd the queens, and cause burr- combs to be built in some cases on top of the frames. I have been testing recently the honey from different hives. I do it this way: I punch my finger into the combs here and there ; and, like a child who lias sud- denly discovered some molasses, I plunge the daubed finger into my mouth. I could detect distinctly the apple-bloom, and the flavor to me was very pleasant, even though unripe. It was so thin and watery that when the combs were tipped horizontally it would run out. In other combs I could de- tect the pungent flavor of peach-blossom, something as we And in the meat of the peach-stone. At this time of the year, I do not think that I ever saw more honey in the hives. SHEET-ZINC WOOD-BOUND IIONEY-BOARDS. As promised elsewhere in tiiis issue, in our answer to Mr. Heddon, I herewith give engravings of the' honey-boards in|question. '.lill't'. I'llJ jl i{ i jl jl \\t\\M ' i! i! I ii i! • 'i ii J 'I'lil!! i il'll „i, ;"»'iWilil|| , « \ ■"■'"lllllll 1 """"iiiiiiiiiiinii;;';"""Hiiii ■iiiUn^ III, h.. 11 i 1 ■■ '"'"'"lUlllillliiiiin,^^^^^ '"'"'til'' III brp:ak-.toint sheet/jnc honey-boards. You will observe tliat tliey are simply a sheet of zinc, i inch smaller all around than the inside dimensions of the Simplicity hive. The lower engraving on the right hand shows how the zinc is .'^lid into the saw-kerfs made in each of the side and end pieces. These pieces are nailed together at the corners with 2 U-in. nails. To further strengthen them, a I wire nail is so driven into the side pieces as to pass through the edge of the zinc in the saw-kerf. Three of these nails are driven into each side — two at each corner and one in the middle. The latter adds very materi- ally to the stiffness of the honey-board through the middle, while the other two will of necessity hold the side pieces securely to the end pieces. 1 omitted to remark, in pass- ing, that the li-inch wire nails, which are driven through the ends of the side pieces into the end strips should be so driven that their points will be nearer together than their heads when imbedded in the wood. We find when the honey-board is so con- structed it is very rigid indeed— much strong- er than any other honey-board in use; in fact, you can not possibly rack them by pull- ing the opposite corners toward each other. Two of the honey-boards, you will observe, have no transverse stiffening. In the break- joint boards the blank zinc between the per- forations renders such stiffening unnecessa- ry. The lower honey-board, with the ordi- nary perforated zinc, requires a stiffener. This consists of a V-shaped strip of wood in length equal to the width of the honey-board between the sides. This strip is held in posi- tion by a wire nail passing through the side into the ends. Some do not regard the break- joint feature as of any importance, and hence will prefer a larger number of perfor- ations, in order that the bees may the more readily pass from the brood-nest to the sur- plus apartment. Wliether there is any thing in this, I am not prepared to say from experience ; but I should not suppose it would make any very great difference. MAKING A sheet-zinc HONEY-BOARD BREAK-JOINT. The uppermost cut on the right shows a break -joint honey-board adapted to the spac- ing of frames H'inches from center to cen- ter. A great many apiarists use nine frames in ten-frame Simplicity hives; and nine frames will make a spacing of U inches from center to center. Others, again, and per- haps a majority, will prefer to space the frames If inches from center to center; this is the spacing allowed for in a ten-frame Simplicity hive. The uppermost honey- board on the left is spaced with that idea in view. You will observe that, instead of a double row of holes, and then a space, and so on continuously, as in the other honey- board, that there are first a single row of holes, a space, two sets of double rows of holes, a space, and a single row, and so on througliout. You may wonder somewhat at this; but the cutting of our die originally necessitated it. We found we could not al- ternate a single row of holes, or even a double row of holes, with blanks between, so as to break joint, with frames placed be- low If inches from center to center. PRACTICAL WOKKINOS OK THE HONEY- BOARD. That such honey-boards will work, and give entire satisfaction, we demonstrated last summer in the Hyde apiary, to our full satisfaction. A plain sheet of zinc will not do unless quarter-inch strips are put 408 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May Hbo\ e and below it. We knew it wouldn't, but we thought we would try it, and we had just such results as you might expect, in the absence of a bee-space. A plain sheet of zinc without projecting rim did nothing more than to exclude queens. Bridge-combs were built through zinc, up against the sections. It costs but a trifle more to have an additional rim to provide the bee-spaces, and I certainly would not advise anybody to fuss with plain sheets of zinc, unless he thinks he can afford to bother with little strips of wood i inch thick, to bring about the proper bee-spacing. For prices of these wood bound honey- boards, see Special No- tices elsewhere in this issue. THAT NEW AUTOMATIC ZINC 3IAIIIINE has proven to be a grand success. It punch- es 70 holes at one punch, or 87o0 holes in a whole sheet 28x!t(j inches, every 10 minutes. We find that the perforations (the zinc cut out) will pay for the man's time attending the machine. The price, therefore, of our perforated zinc is very nearly that at which the unperforated sheet zinc can be l)ought for. As to the quality of the work, we will let samples, which will "be sent on application, speak for themselves. See Special Notices. WINTERING BEES. SEVERE LOSSES IN WINTERING AT THE MICHIGAN AGRICULTtTKAL COLLEGE FARM. TT comes a little severe, after nine years of per- |df feet success in wintering, to have to report W severe loss. We put nearly ,50 colonies of bees "*■ into the new bee-house cellar last fall. I sup- posed there was no doubt about the tempera- ture. Each colony had from 12 to 15 lbs. of honey— the amount we have given late years— and all were in tine condition. As before reported, the temper- ature went as low as 28°, and remained there for weeks. I was uneasy; but as several had reported low temperature not only safe but even desirable, I t ♦ -i For Ckbbisg Bates, See First Page of Beading Matter. 3iv£EiDiiT-i5^, i^^.^^r 15, laes- Blessed is the man that eiiflureth temptation ; for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.— James 1: 12. No more back numbers wanted for April, 1884. OPEN-SIDE SECTIONS. We learn from the Review that Mr. J. H. Kobert- son has used 1000 open-side sections, and is thor- oughly disgusted with them. He says the bees oft- en connect their combs through the side openings. How is this, friend Foster, in .your localityy We should like to hear from others, both for and against this kind of sections. NO FOUL BROOD UP TO MAY 1.5. At this date, not a trace of foul brood has been discovered anywhere in our apiaries; but 1 tell you, there is brood, though, good and healthy brood, "with a vengeance." As we do not dare to ship bees, however— that is, not just yet— there is a jtros- pect of something big in the way of comb honey at the Home of the Honey-bees. APICULTURAL STATISTICS IN THIS ISSUE. You will observe elsewhere that the different States are more fully represented than in our for- mer report. In the present one we have endeavored to give each honey-producing State its proportion- ate number of reporters according to its impor- tance. We have now in the field 170 reporters. We have heard from 133 of this number. The rest of them have either tVirgotten to make their re])ort, or else for various reasons are unable to serve In the position appointed them. We extend our thanks to them all. THE GRAND RAPIDS LETTUCE. Just as we go to press.'the following is at hand : We can beat the record published in Gleanings on the Grand Kapids lettuce. I eot two packages of seed from you for 10 cents; rniseil 202 jilants in a space 12 ft. long by 5 ft. wide, and thev were sold for5cts. a head, making 810.10. I will give partiiul.us if vou wish. Ross Knight. Westtield, N.' Y.. May 7, 1888. By all means give us full jiarticulars, friend K. We should he very glad indeed to get reports from any who have tried the Grand Rapids lettuce. Was my impression in regard to it, when I saw the greenhouse full of it at Grand Rapids, a mistake? More than a thousand of the readers of Gleanings have had samples of the seed. apicultitral statistics. FuiEND Hutchinson, in his very excellent iJecieit' of April 10, says: Mr. Root has inaugurated in Gleanings a sys- tem of gathering information in regard to bee- keeping that promises to be of the most value of any thing yet attempted in this line. After giving our plan of securing the statistics, friend Hutchinson says he has long contemplated 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 40!» something of the kind; but his idea was to have a reporter in each county in the important honey- producing- States. We thought of this in the first place, but the undertaking was too great for us to attempt, before gaining some experience on a smaller scale. If our present methoa shall prove successful, which we think it has done, we may yet get reports from every county; but it would hardly pay to do this more than once in a year, while with our present plan we can make reports that will be valuable to bee-keepers three or four times a year. PROPOLIS ASP CLOSED-END FKAMES. Friend W. Z. Hutchinson, of the Bee-Kecpcrs' Br- vino, reminds "Brother Root" of the time when he was so slow to admit that the bottoms of the sec- tions might with safety be exposed to bees in the way the very popular T super is arranged. To which I own up and confess, that I am now better posted than I was a year or two ago. Many thanks to brothers Heddon and Hutchinson for so patient- ly explaining to me the very great advantage of using a honey-board in this very matter of propolis; and I will frankly agree to own up in the same way when we succeed with closed-end frames inside of close-fitting hives. DEATH OF WILLIAM OLDROYD. The following is just at hand as we go to pre.ss: My father (Win. Olclroyd) was buried April 24, at Mt. Vernon, Oliio, He went south for his health, but could not regain it. He often spoke of ,vou with great regard, and 1 thought 1 would drop you word of our great loss. O. H. Oldroyd. Springtieltl, 111., May ."i, 1888. Our older readers will remember friend O. as the man who furnished ink to the readers of Glean- ings, and whose letters ap])eared in the Home Pa- pers (see January issue, 1880). He was familiarly known in Gleanings as " W. O." All doubts and uncertainties are now for ever ended with friend W. O. His anxieties and conflicts are ended. Even though we have no full particulars in regard to his last moments, we can rest assured that he was wel- comed into the other land with the words, " Well done, good and faithful servant." LET HIM THAT THINKETH HE STANDETH T.-VKE HEED LEST HE FALL. After the words were printed on page 40.5, wherein I tried to tell of the dangers that beset even the best of us if we are not constantly on the watch for Satan, I came across the following in the Sundny-School Times, written by Alexander Mc- Laren, D. D. : Everyman is a mystery to himself; and he who has learned himself best, will be the readiest to ac- knowledge that the material for any sin is stored within, and may be set ablaze by some flash from hell. Vesuvius was (juiet for centuries, and trees grew and cattle fed in the crater. Who knows what combustibles lie inert in the caves of his own heart? I suppose this is true of every human being: I Imow it is true of A. I. Root, but A. I. Root never knew it until he started out to be a Christian. And this is one glorious part of Christ's service— it helps us to see how bad we are, and keeps us busy at home, watching and wecdinij. THE BRITISH BEK.-K KEI'ER'S GUIDE-BOOK. The work bearing the title above is l)y Thomas Wm. Cowan, F. G. S., F. R. M. 8. It is paper bound, and contains 17.5 pages. It has now reached its ninth edition and .seventeenth thousand. It has been frequently revised, and lias been translated into French, Danish, Swedish, Russian, and Spanish, and we understand that arrangements are now be- ing made to publish it in several other European languages. This work, doubtless, has had the largest sale of any bee-book in Europe. Its author, Mr. Cowan, has kept steadily in view throughout the whole work, "■ rnultum in parvo," in its most lit- eral sense. The larger portion of the present edi- tion has been re-writtcn. It seems to be specially adapted for the cottager, and, in fact, for beginners the world o\er. In this respect it is (juite similar in purport to our A B C of Bee Culture, which has likewise had a large sale— 33,000. Mr. Cowan has not lost sight of the very important fact that a book to be popular should be placed at a low price, and be written in the purest and simplest of English. Price Is. 6d., or 36 cts. in our money. It can be ob- tained of the publishers, Houlston & Sons, Pater Noster Square, London, Eng. POTATOES KNEE-HIGH MAV 10. That is the way ours are, neighbors; how are yours? Yes, we started them in the greenhouse, and then jtut squash-boxes over them. A few days ago the tops of many of them were pushing so hard against the glass that we stripped bff the boxes. The glass was never moved, nor slid back at all. During the month of April the heat is none too great, leaving the glass right in place. These same boxes have done duty, first over potatoes, then to- matoes, and, lastly, on the squashes; and they will come in play still another time, to keep the bugs off. P. S.— Since the above was written, we have had a pretty severe frost. It came on the night of the 13th. It was toward Sunday night that the thermom- eter indicated danger; i. e., it indicated 45° at sun- down. Whenever the thermometer says .50 or lower at sundown, and the sky is clear, you had better cover up your jilants. Well, notwithstanding it was Sunday night, Caddie and Huber and Ernest and John helped put the panes of glass back into their places on the squash-boxes. We waited till nearly dark before we went about it, and altogether it took us only 30 or 35 minutes. We did not take the time to slide the glass into the grooves, but simply laid them on top of the boxes. This morning every to- matoplant that did not have a box over it was wilt- ed as if it had been in boiling water. Those that had only mos(iuito-netting in place of theglasswere scorched on top; but where the glass was laid over the box loosely, not a plant was injured. Now, friends, was it right and proper to spend half an hour in covering plants on Sunday night, after sun- down, when it will save you a great many dollars? I confess I did not feel as happy about it, and as perfectly sure that it is just the thing to do, con- sidering the influence of the act on others, and all these things; and yet, on the other hand, we should be getting over to that side where we obey the letter rather than the spirit, if we should let all our plants freeze when nothing was needed excei)t to lay the lights of glass on top of the boxes. We could not well have done it Saturday night, because the sun would very likely be too hot for them during Sun- day. But I can say this: I felt happy this Monday morning in thanking God for having placed within my reach, such efficient means for averting the damage from late frosts. A MODERN RIP VAN WINKLE. Having occasion to write a series of two or three articles tor the Farm and Fireside, Springfleld, 0., 410 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. May on the subject of bees, we spoke ot Mr. Langstroth, the inventor of the hive bearing- his name, as being now well advanced in years. A subscriber of that paper, seeing this statement, thought best to en- lighten us. From his letter we extract the follow- ing: You speak of L. L. Langstroth as now well ad- vanced in years. That would make out that he is still alive. He has been dead three years. H. D. Cleveland, Tenn.. April 29, 1888. That is the first time we ever heard that he has " been dead three years." We feel sure our corres- pondent is mistaken, for in the present issue of this journal an article appears from Mr. L.'s hand, written not ten days ago. Mr. Langstroth is en- joying quite good health, considering his years and the amount of sickness he has passed through. The same correspondent, in the same letter, informs us that the dimensions which we gave for the Lang- stroth hive were incorrect. We think he needs to take a bee-journal. G. M. DOOLITTLE'S METHOD OF KEAKING QUEENS. The above is the title of a little work just publish- ed by E. H. Cook, Andover, Ct. It is a very neatly and tastily gotten up little work. It contains 30 pages of valuable reading-matter (no advertise- ments). Price 15 cents. The book can be had of the publisher. Doolittle's method of raising queens has been scattered through various pages of this journal. Very recently he has re-written the sub- ject for the Bee Hi'ue; and now its editor has pub- lished it in book form. Doolittle's method of getting cells is briefly as fol- lows: While he is working among his bees, perform ing various necessary worK, he cuts out all rudi- mentary queen-cells which he comes across. These are kept by themselves till wanted. When he is ready to raise some cells he takes a batch of un- sealed young larvHe, slices the comb down, and with a quill toothpick picks out the little grub and places it in one of the rudimentary cells before mentioned. In other words, he practices the operation of "grafting cells," as it has been called. These grafted cells are then placed in a strong colony previously made queenless and broodless, where they are supplied abundantly with royal jelly, after which they are capped over. They are then cut out, and placed in nuclei where the process of queen- rearing is completed. In one corner of the cover of the book we notice, "The Nearest Approach to Nature's Waj* yet De- vised;" and yet friend Doolittle gives very com- pletely the method of grafting cells. It rather seems to us that the process of grafting is some- what of a departure from nature's way; still, for this reason we do not regard it as any less valuable. Following the subject of queen-rearing are some pungent paragraphs taken from Doolittle's numer- ous writings in Gleanings and elsewhere, entitled, " Golden Nuggets." Following this is the subject of Queens, Scraps, and Honey-combs. These short little paragraphs contain some of the creamiest portion of Mr. D.'s writings, and it is well worth 15 cents to have the whole all nicely bound by themselves, to say nothing of the valuable hints upon queen-rearing. PUTTING YOUR CLOTHING AWAY DECENTLY AND IN OKDER, WHEN YOU GO TO BED AT NIGHT. A CORRESPONDENT suggests that, on account of fires that are always liable to occur, if for no other reason, every individual should leave his clothing, on retiring, so he can lay his hand on each article instantly, even in the dark. The suggestion is a good one. I have for years been in the habit of lay- ing my coat across the back of a chair. My vest is laid on it, and, until recently, I laid my pants across the chair. Right at the head of my bed, however, is a little closet containing my clean shirts, collars, stockings, handkerchiefs, etc. By opening the closet door a little, my suspenders will catch over the top, holding my pants so they just clear the carpet. Mrs. Root suggested, as soon as I adopted the plan, it would keep the before-mentioned arti- cles in much nicer shape to hang them up in this way than to lay them across the chair or lay them doubled up in a heap on the floor; and I find it is much more convenient to get into them, on the new plan. My cap goes on top of a bed-post; stock- ings are turned inside outward, and opened out so as to give them as much air and ventilation as pos- sible when laid across the tops of my boots. When I get all this done, I raise two windows from two or three inches to a couple ot feet, so that my clothing may be thoroughly aired all night. The height the windows are raised depends on the weather. If an alarm of fire comes during the night, I can get ready to go out, no matter what the weather is, about as soon as anybodj". If a change of clothing is to be made in the morning, the proper ones are always placed where they are wanted, and the oth- ers put away where they belong, in the clothes- press, so my wife does not have to pick up my "duds " after me. GLOSSARY FOR BEE-KEEPERS. From the Biitish Bee Journal we learn that our brother editor, Mr. Thomas William Cowan, has just begun "A Bee-Keepers' Vocabulary; or. Glos- sary of Technical and Scientific Terms and Words used in Woi'ks upon Bee-Keeping." So far it has been most ably conducted. The correct derivations are given from the Greek, Latin, and modern lan- guages. As a sample of some of his definitions we give the following: AiR-SACS, oh vesicles. (1.— Thesc are enlarge- ments of the tracheas, or air-tubes, and lie in the fore part of the abdomen. They can be filled with air at the will of the insect, and enable it to alter its specific gravity, thus rendering it better able to support itself on the wing with as little muscular effort as possible. They are very large in the work- er and drone, but much smaller in the queen, ow- ing to the room occupied by the ovaries. Alighting-board, n. (A-Sax. lihtan, aliMan, to descend, alight.)— The projection of the floor-board in front of entrance; that part on which the bees alight before entering the hive. Alimentary canal.— The duct by which the food is conveyed through the body, and the useless parts evacuated. It commences, in the bee, at the mouth, and consists of the oesophagus, honey stomach, chyle stomach, small and large Intestines, and ends with the anus. Mr. Cowan, above nil other persons, we believe, is the best fitted to get out a good glossary for bee- keepers. Being a scientist of the highest order, he is able to clothe his definitions in scientific phrase- ology, and with scientific accuracy. The definition of air-sacs, or vesicles, given above, will prove to be of some interest. We doubt not there are very few among intelligent bee-keepers who know the location of those air-sacs. The definition of the alimentary canal will assist not a little in under- standing some of the terms which are constantly coming up. 1888 GLEANINGS m BEE CULTURE. 411 THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW lor May is now out. Having- regained the time lost durinff' his illness, the editor will hereafter take pride in getting out the EiEVlEW promptly on the 10th of each month. The special topic of the pres- ent issue is " Hiving Bees." The review of Mr. Cheshire's work, which was begun in the March No., is finished in the present issue. We have a surplus of the numbers containing this review, and, so long as they last, these three numbers will be sent free to all who apply. Price of the REVIEW, 50 cts. a year. THE PRODUCTION OF COMB HONEY. A neat little book of 45 pages; price 25 cts. The REVIEW and this book for 65 cts. Stamps taken, either U. S. or Canadian. Address W. Z. HUTCHINSON, 6i3WoodSt. Flint, Mich. ~CARNIOLAN QUEENS^ Gentlest bees known; not surpassed as workers by even the wicked races. Imported Queens, "A" grade, $8.00. Tested. $4.00. Untested, after June I, $1.00. Money must accompany orders. Send for Circular. S. W. MORRISON, Oxford, Cliester i'o.. Pa. FOR SALE CHEJP-19 HIVES Hybrid Bees in chaff hives, all but two on L. frames. Also .50 empty hives, 40 of them chaff, containing 10 frames each, about half of which are filled with good combs. $135 for the lot. CHAS. F.RAYMOND, 739 Republic St., Cleveland, O. THE GOSHEN REE-SUPPLY CO. is now ready to ship one-piece V-groove sections any size, from $2.00 to $3.50 per M. Send in your orders, and they will be filled promptly. Samyile and price list free. . They can be sent either by freight or express. It is only five minutes' work to put one together. You can do a good work and make good wages introducing these wheelbarrows to your neighbors. Write for terms to JSl I- HOOT?, nMediixa,, Olxio- OUR 35-POUND WHEELBAKROW, CAPABLE OF CARRYING .500 POUNDS. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 413 HOLY- LAND QUEENS A SPECIALTY. Bees in Lang-stroth frames, or by the pound or nucleus, and bee-keepers' supplies. 8-13db GEO. B. RAllDENBUitiH, Office 445 Chestnut St. Reading, Pa. HERrrcoMi 'To say that E. Baer, of Dix- on, 111., has sold out his sup- ply business to the Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., who will sell V-g-roove basswood sections at from $3.75 to f 4.00 per M. Other supplies corrcsponding-ly low. Sam- ])les and circular free. Ad- GOODELL&. WOODWORTH MFG. CO., ROCK FALLS, WHITESIDE CO., ILL. dress the atfdb 1888. 1888. Pure Italian Bees and Queens for sale in Full Colonies or Nuclei. Five L. frame nuclei a specialty. My queens and bees possess all the good qualities of the most desirable honey-bee. Send for prices. WM. LITTLE, 6tfdb Wlarissa, III. ITALIAN BEES FOR SALE. Seventy colonies in ten-frame Langstroth hives, at $5.00 per colony. JOHN GRANT, 8-lldb Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio. WANTFR 1000 customers for Pmeltallan bees If MW I LU & queens. Address, MARTIN & MACY, H-llb No. Manchester, Indiana, Or J. J. Martin & Co., Publishers of Ra.ysof Light. ^■Q p P" I My catalogue of Bees, Queens, Api- ■• |\LtL 1 arian Supplies, Standard Poultry (7 I varieties), .Japanese buckwheat, Greeu Mountain and Empire State potatoes. My stock is flrst-class. You should see my prices for 1888 before you order. CHAS. D. DU V ALL, .5tfdb Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md. DASAITT'S rOITNSATIOlT FACTOS?, WHOLESALE andBETAIL. See advertisement in another column. 3tfbd ITALIAN BEES, QUEENS, ANTeGGS^ from high-class Silver Laced Wyandotte, and S. C. B. Leghorn fowls, at living rates. Price list free. 8tfdb 3E0. A. WEIGHT, fllenwood, Susquehanna Go., Pa. Oliver Foster, of Iowa. Italian bees, 60 cts. per lb. in July, to $1.00 in April. Pkgs. with queens, brood, etc., cheap. No foul brood near. BKE SUPPIilES.— Best sections, cases, and hives. Catalogue free. Send .5 one-cent stamps for pamphlet, "HOW TO EAISE COMB HONE?,"— chuck full of practical information "in a nutshell." 4-15db Address Oliver FoSTEit, Mt. Vernon, la. Samples of the American Aplculturlst sent free. Also our price list of the best strain of pure Italian queens. Address 9tfdb APIDUliTlJRIST, Weiilisiiii, Kssex Co., ITIass. Seed Potatoes For Sale. Extra Early Polaris. Will mail for .Mc a pound until seed runs out. I also keep on hand all kinds of bee-supplies. WITI. P. SVVARTZ, SoliHltzville, l.ai-ka. Co., Pa., Box 26. WANTED.— For cash, old U. S. postage stamps used prior to 186.5. The stamps must be left on the original envelope. Send specimens of such as you have, inclosing stamp for reply. Address T). K. HERKICK, Troy, New Hamp. L. BRAHJTIAS, P. ROCKS, R. V. B. L.K<;H0RNS, and PEKIN Dt'CKS; all striot- gf lyPure-Bred. Eggs only $1.2,5 '- per setting; 3 settings, fS.OO; safe arrival guaranteed. (Seven years' experience.) 6-8-lOd S. P. YOIiEIi, E. Leiristoirii, O. op EGGS, e.50; 13, Sl.OO. Todd strain of Brown L\3 Leghorns. A. F. BEiaHT, Mazeppa, Minn. FOLBING lOXEST Knclosc yc. •iO page Cataloge of Glass .Jars, Honey Isabels, etcFUEE. Send for it. Address " A. O. CRAWFORD, S. Weymouth, Mass. 2-STORY Lr. Hive, 80c We still have a few of those 2-story L. hives with 10 l)rood-f rames, for 80c each, in crates of 5 or moi-e. Who will have them? Speak before it is too late. SiniTH & SMITH, fitfdb KENTON, OHIO. BEES AND QUEENS- One pound, with a tested Italian queen, in May. $2.25; in June, .f2.00. Tested queens, raised from imported mothers, $1..50 each; in June, $1.25. All kindslof bee-keepers' supplies furnished. T. A. GirNN, Tullalionia, Teun. FOR SAI^E. 10 colonies of Italian bees, $5.00 each. 4 " hybrid *' 4.50 " All in one-story Simplicity hives. Heady now. J. U. REGD, Orleans, liul. UNTESTED ITALIAN QUEENS, bred from best imported and home-bred stock. $1.00 each, or three for $3.00, ready June 1st. Tested, $I..50 each. Will exchange for beeswax. F. S. MCCLELLAND, New Brighton, Pa. Extractors in Missouri, Novice Style for S. frame; hold .50 lbs. below frame, $6.00 each; 3 for $11.00. Only three left. Order quick if you want one. Also full colonies in Root's S. hive, test- ed Italian queen, $8.00; 3 for $15.00. Warranted queens, $1.00. Tested. $3.00. No foul brood in this part of Missouri. S. S. L.AAVING, P. I?I. Henderson, Webster Co., lUo. PLASTER MOLDS for making foundation any size, $3.00. Foundation made on this plan will not sag or break down. JOHN PARIS, Town House, Va. ITALIAN REES AND QUEENS. Full colonies of Italian bees $3 00 Tested queen $1 35 | Untested 75 C. WEEKS, P. O. Money-order office, Clifton, Tenn. MUTH'S HONEY-EXTRACTOR, SQUARE GliASS HONEY-JARS, TIN BUCKETS, BEE-HIVES, HONEY-SECTIONS, dec, &c. PERFECTION COIiD-BI^AST SMOKERS. Apply to CHAS. F. MUTH & SON, Cincinnati, O. P. S. — Send 10-cent stamp for " Practical Hints to Bee-Keepers," Itfdb 414 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. May Wants or Exchange Department. Notices will be Inserted under this head at one-half our usual rates. All ad's intended for this department must not exceed 5 lines, and you must sat you want your ad. in this de- partment, or we will not be responsible for any error. You can have the notice as many lines as you please; but all over five lines will cost you according to our regTilar rates. This iepartnient is intended only for bona-tide exchanges. Ex- changes for cash or for price lists, or notices offering articles for sale can not be inserted under this head. For such our reg- ular rates of 20 cts. a line will be charged, and they will be put with the regular advertisements. WANTED.— To exchange Johnston's Sweet-rasp- berry plants, for new varieties of strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry, or plum and sour-cherry trees. 7-lOdb P. Sutton, Exeter, Luz. Co., Pa. VITANTED.— To exchange a fine gold watch, magic VV lantern, B. L. pullets, or from one to two hun- dred acres of land— plenty of basswood, etc., on good road, for Italian bees and supplies. Corres- pondence solicited. Address G. C. Hughes, Htfdb Pipestem, Summers Co., W. V'a. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees and queens for Holstein male calf, or a good 2-seat buggy or hack. J. W. Colwick, 9-lOd Norse, Bosque Co., Texas. llfANTED — To exchange eggs Vt Langshaus, and fowls, for comb fdn. of B. Minorcas, , beeswax, tested queens, printing-press, and outfit; Flobert rifle; revolver, bee-supplies, and things useful. 9tfdb B. P. Aldkidge, Franklin Square, Ohio. WANTED. -To exchange 400 settings of pure Wy- andotte Brown Leghorn egsrs for raismated and tested queens. I allow one setting for mismated and 4 settings tor tested. New variety of straw- berries wanted. 10-lld Benj. Zukcher, Apple Creek, O. \J17 ANTED. —To exchange Italian bees and back Vt volumes of Gle.vnings and .4. B. J. for Jersey cow, farm wagon, or offers. ('. Weeks. Clifton. Tenn. WANTED.— To exchange Ideal glass-front veil for a tested or warranted queen. Send her on, i for 10 days. J. C. Capeh.\rt, lOd St. Albans. W. Va. Black and Hybrid Queens For Sale. For the benefit of friends who have black or hybrid queenE which they want to dispose of, we will insert notices free of charge, as below. We do this beouse there is hardly value enough to these queens to pay for buying them up and keep- ing them in stock; and yet it is oftentimes quite an accommo- dation to those who can not afford higher-priced ones. 15 black queens for $2.35, or 20 cents for one. CuRTLE & CuYi.ER, Alexandria, Va. L. Box 199. WANTED.— To exchange .50 Root chaff hives, and Vf I Given press, new, and dies for L. frame, for comb or extracted honey, to be delivered next Sept. Write to E. T. Flanagan. 9-lOd Belleville, St. Clair Co., Ills. WANTED.— To exchange Wyandotte eggs for test- ed Italian queens. W. H. Osborne, 9-lOd Chardon, Ohio. WANTED.— Queens with Hlb. of bees, in exchange tor raspberry plants; Turner, Cuthbert, Han- sell, and Marlboro. Write what you want. 9-lOd Geo. H. Colvin, Dalton. Pa. WANTED.— To exchange Italian bees in Simplici- ty hives, for cottage organ, B. L. shot-gun, dry goods, or offers. W. B. Coggeshall, 9-10-n-13d Box 84. Summit, Union Co , N. J. WANTED.— To exchange l-story chaff hives with fixtures, for beeswax or poultry. R. B. BONEAR, Cherry Ridge, Pa. AVANTED. — To exchange 12 "American" hives, Vt with frames and combs, the latter a little rusty and imperfect, for two good colonies of Italians. J. Fekris Patton, Morris Ave. and ItiSd St., New York City. WANTED.- To exchange a Little Giant fruit-evap- orator for bees. Capacity 15 bushels ner day. A. Laughlen, 18 King St., W. Toronto, Canada. WANTED.— To exchange magic lantern (Anthony's make), 55 views, and bees, for Orchestrone organ, style 44 E. L. Heine, lOd Bellmore, Queens Co., N. Y. WANTED.— To exchange Light Brahma, Wyandot, VV Brown Leghorn, and Pekin duck eggs for hatching, from prize stock, for choice maple sugar. Chas. McCi.ave, New London, Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange 3000 sections, I's x 414 x 4I4, or will furnish '4, l^a, and P4, to make them T to the foot, for bees by the pound, with . Although at the time I considered the book well worth .12.00,1 didn't suppose there were many who would want to jiay that price for a book of that character. When we take into consideration, however, that it is not only about as handsome a book as can be found in our bookstores, externally and internally, but that is also a book in which godliness and purity shine forth from every page, it is perhaps not so very surprising. The book is not, in one sense, a religious book, for the principles are taught in- directly, in the form of a little storj', or fable, and sometimes the reader ilofs nut see at once the application; but when it bvirsts upiiii liini he feels a spirit of thankfulness for haWng been taught perhaps the very lesson he needs, by way of a sort of parabfc. The book contains 512 pages and 350 engravings. Manv of the latter are some of the tinest engravings that are to be found in modern print. The .author of this work, Mr. Charles Foster, went to his heavenly rest during the past year; but it seems tome that his book will stand, much as the Pilgrim's Progress does, to help humanity through ages to come. Our new stock Is even nicer than the last for they are in gilt binding; but the price will remain the same; viz., $2.00 each; two for $.3.50, three for SI. 6S each; five or more. »1. 60 each. If wanted by mail, you will have to send 32 cts. extra, as the book is so very large and heavy. We can send it for five new names for Gi,k.\nings, you paying postage. \. I. ROOT, medina, O, 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE GULTURE. 419 The Globe Lawn - IVIower. A FIRST-CLASS MACHINE AT A LOW PRICE. Nothing indicates neatness and thrift about the house so well as a nicely- kept lawn, or apiary, and no flower garden is] prettier than a nice green sward evenly mowed. Probably the reason more people do not have these nicely kept lawns and apiaries is because they were not able to get a first-class mower at a low enough price. We have been on the lookout for such a mower for some time, and wo have succeeded in getting it at last. The Globe lawn-mower shown in adjoining cut combines all the best features, and is a flrst-class mower in every respect. Having only three knives it will cut longer grass than those having four. The axle of tlic drive-wheel does not project, so that you can run close to the hive. It has two di"ive-wheels and roU- TABLE OF PRICES: LIST OUll PRICK PRICE 10 In. Globe.... (f 11.00)... f .5 50 12 " •' ....( 13.00).... 6..50 14 " " ....( 1.5.00).... 7..50 16 " " ....( 17.00).... 8.50 18 " " ....( 19.00).... 0.50 We can ship from here, or Springfield, O. All, or a part of the freight will be allowed on shipments of five or more from Springfield, according to distance. DISCOUNTS. On 3 machines 5 "3 " 10 " 4 " 13'/2 "5 " 15 " 8 " 30 " 10 or more, 35 er, and the driving gears are simply per- fect. Nothing could be more simple and ef- fective. The prices are very much lower than on any other first-class mower, in fact they are about as low as the cheap grade of ma- chines, and yet this mower is not surpass- ed by any machine on the market, but is guar- anteed to be first-class. A Good Lawn-Mower for Only $4.25. YOUNG AMERICA. =^--^^gg^^^ Discounts for more than oiu fsc;! same as on the Globe. ~" ~ No argument is needed to convince you that a nice gieen lawn, well kept, beautifies the home, and indicates tin ift. The reason many can not have such a lawn is be- c ui-jo they can not get a good Lawn-mower cheap euiiugh. Here is one we have been selling for three s cars. We have sold over 300, and they give universal '>atisf action. They run surprisingly easy. Having only t luce knives on the reel, they will cut very long grass, aiiii cut it close to the ground or not just as you chgose, li\ liiilding the handle liigli or low. Recently the manu- iHturers inaile au assiginnent, and we secured their 1 lit ire stock very low, and we are thus able to offer them It these very low prices: 10 INCH, $4.25; 12 INCH, $5.00; 14 INCH, $5.50. A. I. ROOT, Medina, 0. OUR DAISY WHEELBARROW. Who has not felt the need ol aXig'lit,i^truu^, and Durable and at the gsame time CLieap wheelbarrow? The cut shows one that combines allthese qual- ities better than any other we have ever seen. We have two sizes — the smaller one weigh- ing only 35 lbs., and yet it will carry .500 'lbs. safely, and it can be packed so closely together for shipment that you can take the whole;thing under your arm and walk off easily. The wheel has flat spokes instead of round. The different pieces are all cut and forged by means of dies. The legs are steel, so they will neither break nor bend, even if you bump them on the sidewalk. OUK 35-POUND WHEELBARROW, CAPABLE OF CAKKYING 500 POUNDS. The springs are oil-tempered, with adjustable bearings, so the wheel will always run free. More than all, the wheelbarrows are the nicest job of painting and varnishing, 1 believe, I ever saw, for a farm imple- ment. They are handsome enough logo around town with, and strong enough to do heavy work; and yet the price of the small size is only $4.00. The larger size is H-~'>- They can be sent either, by freight or express. It is only five minutes' work to put one together. You can do a good work and make good wages introducing these wheelbarrows to your neighbors. Write for terms to A. I. X1.0077 l^ec^ixxAy Qlxlo. 420 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June SHOW-CASE FOR EXHIBITING HONEY. Prospects are very favorable for a good honey crop this season; and the question will soon be pressing itself home to every bee-keeper. How can I dispose of my honey to the best advantage? I be- lieve the majority will agree that it is most profita- ble to work up the home trade. To do this to the best advantage your honey should be put on sale in the most tasty manner at one or more of your gro- cery stores. A show-case like the above sets the honey off to the best advantage, besides keeping out dust and tlies and meddlesome fingers. Price, crated ready for shipment, $4.00. With name and address, $4.50. This is $iM lower than we sold them for a year ago, because we make them our- selves. A. I. ROOT, Medina. O. MY20TH ANNUAL PRICE LIST OF ITALIAN, CYPRIAN, and HOLY-LAND BEES, QUEENS, NUCLEUS COLONIES, andAPIARIAN SUPPLIES, sent to all who send me their name and address. 7-15d H. H. BROWN, Light Street, Col. Co., Pa. JEAUTIFUI. QUEENS FROM -^ Q* t ^ -i- IMPORTED MOTHERO Tested, $3.00; LIZZIE N7SEWAITDi:i:, KEW CABLI3LE 8-9tfd Untested, $1.00. CLABEE CO., OHIO. BEES ar\d QUEENS READT TO SHIP. Friends, if you are in need of Italian bees and queens, reared from imported mothers, I can ac- commodate you at the following low prices: Italian bees, mb., 75 cts.; 1 lb., $1.00; untested queens, $1.00; tested, $3.00. Hybrid bees, 4 lb., 65 cts.; 1 lb., 90 cts.; Hybrid queens, 75 cts. Prices by the quan- tity will be sent on application. 5-lld W. S. CAIJTHEN, Pleasant Hill, S.C. tyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. ITAL.IAN BEES AND QUEENS. Full colonies of Italian bees $3 00 Tested queen $1 25 | Untested 75 C. WEEKS, 10-ll-13d P. O. Money-order oSice, Clifton, Tenn. I ARISE to say to the • readers of Gleanings that DOOE.ITT1.E has conclud- ed to sell QUEENS in their season, during 1888, at the following prices: One untested queen 1 00 Three untested queens 3 00 One untested queen reared by natural swarming 150 Three ditto 300 One tested queen 2 00 Three tested queens . . . 4 00 One tested queen by natural swm'g 3 00 Three ditto 6 00 ^Tested queens, 1887 rear- ing, each 4 00 Extra, selected for breeding, two years old 10 00 Two-frame nucleus with any queen for $2.00 extra. Circular free, giving full particulars regarding each class of queens. Address G. M. DOOL.ITTL.E, 5- 13d Borodino, Onondaga Co., N. Y. t^ln responding' tu this advt rtiMiiuiit mcidiiin Gi.KANINGS. ALSIKE. I sold more alsike seed last season than all the supply-dealers combined. Write to headquarters for prices. No poor seed in stock. Also 25 large pkts. of garden-seed, fresh and No. 1 in all respects, for 65 cts., postpaid. Write for further particulars, to C. M. GOODSPEED, Box 27, Thorn Hill, N. Y. Be sure and name Box 37 in answering this adv't. 2 48d DO YOU KNOW that I am headquarters for Queen Motliers, and full Colonics? 13 years in originating a superior strain of Italian Bees. If you mean business, I will cheerfully respond. Price list free. Mention Gleanings. F. BOOMHOWER, 5tfd GalliipvlllcN. Y. (tyin responding to this advertisement mention Gleanings. lithographIlabels Zxa. 12 Colors, a.-b $S.OO per lOOO. When Mr. James Abbott, of London, Eng., was with us a year ago, he had samples of a very neat lithograph label, oblong in shape, measuring2i8x3f8. We mentioned them at the time in Gleanings, agreeing to send samples as soon as we received them. Well, they have just come to hand, although we ordered .50,000 over a year ago. They are about the nicest labels we ever saw for glass tumblers, pails, and small packages of honey. Wc will mail a sample inclosed in our label catalogue, free on application, and will furnish them postpaid at the following prices: 5 cts. for 10; 40cts. for 100: $1.25 for 5tK); $3.00 for 1000. A. I. Root. Medina, O. LEPAGE'S LIQUID GLUE. Few words of praise are neces- sary for this excellent article, so widely known and advertised. It is one of the best of liquid glues. Always ready for use. Mends every thing. We have 4 different- sized packages. Glass bottle like the adjoining cut for 10 cts.; 75 cts. for 10; $7.00 per 100. Half - gill tin cans with screw cap, and brush fastened to inside of cap, price 15 cts. each; $1.10 for 10; $10..50 per 100. This latter can be sent by mail for 10c. extra for postage and packing. Gill tin can with brush, 30 cts.; 10 for $1.50; 100 for $14.00; H-pint tin cans, no brush, 35 cts.; $3.30 for 10; $31.00 per 100. LePage's Mucilage, in large bottles, with a nice enamel-handle brush, at 10 cts. each; 75 cts. for 10; $7.00 per 100. This is the best mucilage made, and will do nicely in many cases for glue, although it is pretty thin to be used as glue. „ ,, ^. „ ^ A. I. ROOT, Medina, 0. GLEANIKGS IN BfiE OULTUEE. 421 NEARLY THIRTY TONS DADANT'S FOUNDATION SOXjX^ XXV 1S87. It is kept foi' sale by Messrs. T. G. Newman & Son, Chicago, 111.; C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O.; Jas. Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich.; F. L. Dougherty, Indian- apolis, Ind. ; B. J.Miller & Co., Nappanee, Ind.; E. S. Armstrong, Jerseyville, 111.; E. Kretchmer, Coburg, Iowa; P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La., M.J. Dickason, Hiawatha, Kansas; J. W. Porter, Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Va.; E. R. Newcomb, Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y.; D. A. Fuller, Cherry Valley, 111. ; J. B. Mason & Sons, Mechanic Falls, Maine; G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, O., Jos. Nysewander, Des Moines, la.; C. H. Green, Waukesha, Wis.; G. B. Lewis & Co., Watortown, Wis.; J. Mattoon, and W. J. Stratton, Atwater, O., Oliver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; C. Hertel, Free- burg, 111.; Goo. E. Hilton, Fremont, Mich.; J. M. Clark & Co., 1409 1.5th St., Denver, Colo. ; Goodell & Woodworth Mfg. Co., Rock Falls, 111.; J. A. Roberts, Edgar, Neb., E. L. Goold & Co.. Branttord, Ontario, Canada, and numerous other dealers. Write for free samples, and price list of l)ee sup- plies. We guarantee every inch of our foundation eqtuil in xnmple m every respect. Every one who buys it is pleased with it. CHAS. DADANT & SON, 3btfd Hamilton, Hancock €o., IlllnolM. t^ln rt-siKmdinp to tliis acivt-rtiseiiient nu'ntiuii Gleanings. J. P. Caldwell, of San Marcos, Tex. Pure Italian queens Select tested Tested Untested Six untested Twelve untested April. .*3 7.5 1 75 1 00 5 00 9 50 All queens will be shipped in cages which answer the double purpose of an introducing and shipping cage. Address J. P.CaIjDWeli,, San Marcos, Tex. 7-18db Please mention Gleanings. May. Jun. to Oct. RR -HIVES. AllpipilOi r\ T-TTj^ CASl'JS, SEC- UUttNo 1/ TIO^^S. ME TAT. ^""^■■W »^ CORNERS, Honey - Extractors, and Fruit - Boxes. 3tfd SEND FOR PRICE LIST. B. J. MILLER& CO., - Nappanee, Ind. ll^"ln responitiiiR to this adb LOOK HERE ! I will sell Italian queens from one of A. I. Root's imported queens. One untested queen, f 1.00. Tested queen, $2.00. Select tested queen, $3.00. I alKo give a box of my pure vegetable liver pills free with each queen. Ad- DR. L. L. LOOMIS, '6-17b Pemhisrville, Wood Co., O. £^"ln respondinK to this advertisement mention (ii.i.AMSi DADANT'S FOUNDATION FACTORY, Whole- sale and retail. See advertisement in another column. 3btfd Cash for Beeswax! Will pay 23c per lb. cash, or 3,5c in trade for any quantity of good, fair, average beeswax, delivered at our R. R. station. The same will be sold to those who wish to purchase, at 37c per lb., or 30c for hegt selected wax. Unless you put your name on the box, and notify us by mail of amount sent, I can not hold myself responsible for mistakes. It will not pay as a gen- eral thing to send wax by express. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio. 422 GLEANTKGS in UFM CULTUltE. Jihstii 1888. Italian queens. 1888. June, $3.()0. After, fl.r.O. Queens warranted purely mated, $1.00: (i lor $5.00. For further par- ticulars see Gleanings Apr. 1st, p. 371. J. T. WILSON, NUliolasville, Ky. SECTION FOLDER- FOLDED. (Patent applied for.) lfS^500 ever.y hour. Corners need no moistening'. No breaking. Every section square and perfect. Every honey-producer should have a machine. Bee-hives, sections, cases, foundation, and all aparian supplies. Queens and bees Fort 1888. It should be borne in mind that we are headcjuarters for the Albino Queens. Address S. VAIjENTINE & SONS, HaKerstown, \Va!!>liiii!>'toii (!o., Md. C^In respoiuliiig to this uilvcrtiseiiicMt mention Gi.f.anincs. PURE ITALIAN QUEENS. Untested, $1.00; tested, $3.00; select tested, $3..50; standard breeders, $3.00. Bees in cages or nuclei, $1.00 per lb. ». H. <'AITIPBEL.Ii, ll-16db Madison, Morgan Co., Ga. C^In respoiulini; tn tliis uilvcTtiscnu'Tit nu-ntiim Gleanings. ITALIAN BEES IN MISSOURI. Don't send East. I have them here in their pur- ity. Queens, $1.00. Tested queens, $3.00. Ready now. S. S. LAWINCi, P. M., Henderson, I?Io. Tyler's Flour - Receptacle. A Much-Needed Household Convenience. This is the most c o nve n i e n t ar- rangement for Hour that we have ever seen. It holds .iust a 49-lb. siack of tlour. It IS to be hung on the wall just above your table. When you want some flour simply place your pan under it, open the lid on the bottom and turn the ci ank and you get J our Hour already Silted. It is sim- ple, neat, and ef- fective, and not expensive either. Pi ice $3.00 each, eiated ready for shipment. A crate of 6 direct from factory, for $1.'>.00. A. 1. ROOT, ^^ediaa, O. ^ FINE ITALIAN ,0 ^ FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON OF 1888. M ^■^ I untested queen - . . - O) 3 '• " .... i-H 1 tested " . . - . ^3 •• " .... 400^. ■^ Invariably by return mail, and safe ar-^S-^ ^~' iurival guaranteed. Ty\ W W.J.Ellison, Stateburg, Sumter Co., S.C.^ iWln rc's|)i)iuliTiy to tills a(ivl^ilisenieiit mention Hi.kanings. 2 00 1- H 1 r,(ip] IWILiIi SEI.l. one poubd of brown or black bees for 80 cts. Queen to go with them, $1.2,5. Also one Pelhiim fdn. mill, 6-inch, for sale cheap, or exchange for wax. THOMAS <;eDYE, liaSalle. l.aSalle CO., 111. THE OLD AND RELIABLE Knickerbocker Bee -Fan. (Established ISi^lO.) It will PAY you to send for our circular and price list of bees and queens before ordering elsewhere. Address <;EO. H. KNICKERBOCKER, Pine Plains, Dutchess Co., N. Y. Box 41. lEF'In resiiondinp to tills a^ high. Value 820.50. Will sell for $17.00. No. i. At Eureka, 111. 100 lbs. of heavy brood foundation, 8^ x 17K, tor wired L. frame. Value $36.00. Will sell for $32.00. No. 6. At Lawrenceburg, Tenn. One No. 1 Honey-extractor, for frames 11}^ x 12K or less in depth. Value $6.00. Will sell for 84.50. No. 7. At Yorktown, Delaware Co., Ind. 11 Heddon slatted honey-boards double bee-space. Value $1.00. Will sell for 75 c. No. 9. At Higginsville, Mo. One i H. P. engine and boiler complete, used only Ave months. Worth new, $275. Will sell for $195. No. 10. At Aplington, la. 10 two-story jiortieo hives in flat $9.00] KHt metal-cornered frames 2.20 | 10(1 wide frames 3.00 | eiKMiii separators 3.00 I Value $24.60. fiiKisections 2.40} Will sell for 200 sect ions. .^VxlJi" 1.00 $20.00. 31bs. tiiiii li>\iiidation,49c 1.47 7 lbs. |ji(i(i(l foundation, 39 c 2.73 lOeiiaiiieled sheets 80 1 No. 11. At Johnson ( 'ity, Washington Co., Tenn. One honey-extiaetoi that will take frames 11^x16, or smaller. Value $7.lKl. Will sell for $.'-1.00. No. 12. At Caribou, Me. 900 sections, 4K x 5 x 1 'la wide, open on all four sides. Value $4.50. Will sell tor $2.50. No. 15. At Rockdale, Mass. 1000 sections, i]^ x i}4 x 1%, open all around. Value $4.6». Will sell for 83.00. No. 16. At Loehiel, Ind. 20 slatted honey-boards to use between brood-chamber and T su)>ers oii Simp, hives, bee space top and bottom as we now make them. Value $1.80. Will sell for $1.50. No 17. At Berlin, Wis. One 36-inch Exhaust Fan, second hand. It was used about 8 years in our factor.y. Boxes h.ave been re-babbitted and the fan is ill liist il.iss running order. A new one this sizeis worth about $100.00. We will sell this for $25.00. It is a bargain to the one who is in need of one thissize. No. 18. At Lugonia. Cal. One light-power saw-mandrel, $5.00; one 8-in. rip-saw, $1.15; one 6 in. cut-off saw, $.80; and one 5-in. dovetailing saw, $.85. Worth $7.80. Will sell for $6.50. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. i2S Contents of this Number. Alabiuiia for Honey 142 Basswood, While 442 Black and IJerman Bic ;. . . .430 Break-joints ( Q. B.) .445 Cook on Patents 451 Clamps 444 Dwindling, To Cure 442 Editorial 453 Extractor, Coon's 444 Fastener, Foundation 438 Feeder, Millei-'s 443 Florida, the Eldorado 431 Frame, What is Standard!. ,443 (4alhip's Letter 441 (Tluing: -machine 439 Hair-snakes 429 Hemp tor Honey 443 Hives, Double-walled 443 Hoarhound 42fi Honey hoaids. To Make. . . 44(1 Honey-boaids,. .ly. Bi 445, 14fi Langstroth's Letter 449 Matter tor Publication 454 Money where Lost 442 Ohio Centennial 427 Out-apiaries 425 Paris Green on Trees 454 Patents 451 Perforator, Reese's 439 Pierce's Hiver 437 ac- co; and may the Lord bless you. C. S. Walker. Grafton, Vermont, March 19, 1888. PLEASED. The goods I ordered of you all came to hand. 1 counted the 100 enamel sheets over, and found one too many, and all other goods with con-esponding correctness. I advise all jiarties wishing to be used well, and to get full value for their money, to trade with A. 1. Root, as he always gives me my dues. Your veils, I think, are the best thing out, as a man can see as well with one on as he can without it. Mclvor, Mich., May 11, 1888. M. Schneider, Jr. GLEANINGS AND NO OTHER BEE-PAPER. 1 am very much pleased with Gleanings and the binder; and as long as I take it, I want the binder also. Gleanings is all the publication on bees that I take, and it is good enough for rao, for 1 am satis- fled you keep posted on all such affairs, and arc constantly disclosing new light to your subscribers, lam trul.y glad your subscription-list is getting so large. 1 wish it would run np to one hundred thousand. J. T McCracken. Rosebud, Ala., April 18, 1888. [I am sure, friend M., that we are very much obliged to you for your kind words; hut I fear you are making a mistake. We hope Gleanings is good as far as it goes; but it does not cover the whole ground of bee culture. We think you will find it profitable to read the other .iournals— at least a part of them. I do not believe it is a good plan to confine oneself to one paper on any sub- ,1ect.] vegetable plants — sending THEM LONG DIS- TANCES BY EXPRESS. The vegetable plants were received in fine order. I hesitated to send to you, on account of high ex- pressage, but your prices are so much less than Chicago prices that I gained the difference in ex- pressage, and more than $1.00 besides. Marengo, 111., May 12, 1888. C. C. Miller. THE WATERBURY WATCHES AS THEY ARE MADE NOW.MiAYS. The Waterbury watch arrived about a week ago, and in that time it has not varied Irora my eight- day clock one minute; and my clock, I av ill wager, will not var.v one minute in a month from the true time. So much for the Waterbury. Sweet Water, San D. Co., Cal. A. W. Osburn. [I believe, friend O., that this is the universal ver- dict in regard to the Waterbury watches. There is nothing on the face of the earth to be compared with them in the way of accuracy, for the "small sum of money they cost. 1 do not know how long they will last; but if 1 had to buy a new one ever.y three years I would rather do it than to carry any other watch, no matter what its value is, even if it were given to me. The above is simply the opinion of A. I. Root.] AT HIS OLD TRICKS AGAIN. Friend Root:— J see you are at your old tricks again. Some time since I sentapostal note of .fS.OO, expecting to get Gleanings and a paijer-ct>ve7cd A B C. The former came all right; but the ABC was a ne&t cloth-bound book, which is an ornament to any library. The " trick " of which we write is, to do a little better than you promise. Now, it's said that it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks, so I shall not attempt to convert you from the error of your ways; but you will accejrt thanks for the book. Al- though 1 am new in the business, I have known of your methods for about thi-ee years, and now come knocking for admittance to the circle of bee-keep- ers. After one season's experience I have started off on my own account, with 140 stands of hybrid Cyprians which I bought in January. In the ABC I find an explanation to clearall tangles so far. You will pardon me if 1 say it's a boon to learners of the art; and ("tell it in Gath") is used more frequently now by the writer than the good book which so many are using as a guide-board along the stormy path of life. W. A. Websteu. Bakersfield, Kern Co., Cal., April 37, 1888. [Friend W,, ] am not nearly as good a man as you think I am. The above came iibout because^ the boys decided to furnish a cloth-covered ABC book in connection with Gleanings for an even $3.( (i. It was published some little time ago, but perhaps you omitted to notice it.] 500 Lbs. Italian Bees PURE ITALIAN PENS. KKAUV TO SHIP OI\ SHOKT MOTK K 1 lb., $1.35; 3 lbs., $3.00; b lbs., *4.00; 10 lbs., put up in two packages, .f7..50. Tested Italian queen, one year old, $3 25; two years old, $3.00. A few hybrid or mismated queens, 50ets. each. Pull colonies with tested queen, $6.00 in 8-frame L. hive. Large discounts on full colonies in 10 to .50 lb. lots. Above ready to ship now. 200 colonies to draw from. Untested queens, after June 10, $1.00 each by mail, when not ordered with bees. 5-lb. pkgs. of bees will contain 1 Gallup comb, with brood. I guarantee all bees to reach you in good condition, and to give perfect satisfaction. Postottice and American E.\press money orders, on Kalamazoo, Mich. Also Draft on New York or Chicago, at my risk. References furnished if called for. Address O. H. TOWINSKMJ, ll-12d Alamo, Kalamazoo Co., ITIiclt. Our apiary is located thirteen miles from town, and we keep nothing but pure stock. Unteslcd queens, $1.00 each. Address Valley-Home Apiary, Uvalde, Tex. UNTESTED ITALIAN QliEENS, bred from best imported and homebred stock, 75c each, or three for $3.00. Tested. $1..50 each. F. S. ]TIt'rLiEl.liAND, New Brii^iiton, Pa. TESTED ITALIAN Cll'EENS, $1.00 each; un- tested. 75c each; three for $3.00. Daughters from one of D. A. Pike's Albino queens, same price. Three-frame'nucleus, with tested (jueen, $3.00. Bees per pound, 75c. I. K. WOOD, llffdb Nappauee, lud. -iCARIMIOLAJM QUEEIMS.i- Ask on postal Gentlest bees known; not surpassed as -'-'^P^I^^^ilP' Never saw foul brood, workers, even by the wicked races. — iO?^''>5v-\».^ card for circular. Imported queens, "A" grade, $8.00. Test- ''^^^^ "-^^q" S, W. MORRISON, M, D., ed, $4.00. Untested, $1.00; '/a doz., $5.00. ^^' Oxford, Chester Co., Pa. tyin responding to this advertl.-^emrnt menllun Gi-KAXi,Nr!?i. 424 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. June P0NEY CSMMN. CITT MARKETS. New YoKK.—Ho/ie}/.— Prices for comb honey in a small way remain about the same as our last quota- tions; yet tor job lots we are refusing no reasona- ble offers. This spring has been the dullest one for comb honey we have seen in several years. We are using our utmost endeavoi-s to work our stock down so as to be ready for the next crop. Hir.DRETH Bros., May 21. 38 & 30 West Broadway, N. Y. The nartnershi)) lieietofoif existing between . J. M. McCaul. L. S Hildreth, ami H. P. Hildieth, under the firm name of McCnul .t Hildretli Brn!.., exjiires this day by limitation. The undi'rsit.'iie(l will si'ttle all business conneeted with the late firm ol jMeCaiil A- Hildreth Krannr:i<-tnrers of jfroeers' specialties and dealers in honey, maple supar, imported and domestic salad oils, etc., at ■iS (t :iO West Bro.adwav. the location formerly occupied by the late rivm. .V continuance of your patronage is solicited, and all oiders will be carefully and promptly filled. Respectfully, Hildreth Bros. Unparalleled Offer! I will have about 15 tested Italian queens to mail in May, at $1.00 each. Also queens for season, and nuclei very cheap. State what you want, and ad- dress S. F. REED. N. Dorchester, N. H. gPECI^Ii ]SI@¥ICEg. St. Louis.— Honey.— We have to report increased receipts of honey. The demand is also better. Prices range from 5H @ ti!4, for very choice, light color, 7c. We look for a good trade this season. D. G. TuTT Grocer Co., May 31. 306 N. Commercial St., St. Louis, Mo. Cincinnati.— Honey.— No change in the market worthy of note from our last quotations. Supply is good and demand fair for extracted honey. Prices as last quoted. Beeswax.— No change in the market, which brings 30@33 on arrival for good to choice yellow. Chas. F. Muth & Son, May 3H. Cincinnati, O. Kansas City.— Honey.— We quote 1-lb. comb, white. lH@,18c; 2-lb. white. lofT' W. Extracted, "©TVa. BeesK'ax, No. 1, 30c; No 3, 17. Clemons, Cioon & Co., May 31. Kansas City, Mo. New York.— Honey.— Market very dull. No de- mand for comb honey. Extracted in better de- mand again. New Southern extracted honey arriv- ing. Beeswax scarce, and brings 24@37c, according U) quality. F. G. Strohmever & Co., May 21. 133 Water St., N. Y. Chicago. — Honey. — Our market is very quiet in the way of honey .sales; still there is a little selling all the time. Prices range from U@lo for the better grades; extracted, 6@8. Bcesit'aa;, 33. K. A. Burnett, May 33. 161 So. Water St., Chicago, 111. BEE-KEEPERS' HATS. We now have a good supply of these light, airy, broad-brim hats for working among the bees. Price 20c; by mail, 23c. We expect in next issue to give cut. JAPANESE buckwheat ADV.\NCEU. After this date we are compelled to advance prices to the following: 1 lb.. 1.5 cts.; '/^ peck, 75; 1 peck, $1.25; '4 bushel. #3.35; 1 bushel, *4.00. We have sold over 100 bushels of seed, and have to pay more for what we now offer, at above prices; hence we are obliged to advance. UOUBI.E-POINTED TACKS FOB T SUPERS. These are illustrated and described elsewhere in this issue. They are made of No. 16 wire, % wide by 1 inch long before being folded, and there are about t30 to a pound. We can furnish them folded at 10 els. for 3-oz. pkg.; 40 cts. per lb.; $3..50 for 10 lbs. Not folded, at one-half these prices. Detroit.— Honey.— No change since last quota- tions in prices; the market will be bare of tirst- class comb honey before the new comes in. Heecirax, 33fr;.24. Bell Branch, Mich., May '.i2. M. H. Hunt. Albany.— Hojiey.— Light stock, all grades, and prices steady, but demand light now. H. H. Wright, May 28. 338 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. Columbus.— Honey.— Quote market dull; no par- ticular change since last writing. Barle Clickenger, May 31. 119 E. Town St., Columbus, Ohio. Boston.— Honey.— No change in prices. Sales slow. Blake & Ripley, May 21. 57 Chatham St., Boston, Mass. WANTED. — To exchange Root Simplicity bee- hives for beeswax. lid C. E. BoYER, Ainger, Williams Co., Ohio. WANTED.— To exchange one 10-in. Pelham fdn. mill, eggs from Wyandottes, S. S. Hamburgs, W. P. Rocks, or English rabbits and pouter pigeons, for Japane.se buckwheat, lop-eared rabbits, Italian queens, or offers. A. D. D. Wood, Rives Junction, Mich. WANTED.— To exchange chaff hives, ail com- plete, or other hives, for queens, or bees by the pound. Make offers. 8. F. Reed, N. Dorchester, N. H. BEE-VEILS ADVANCED. We are compelled to advance the price of bee- veils again, owing to the higher cost of material. Advanced prices will take effect June 15. and will be as follows : Best veil, grenadine, with silk Brussels net face, 80 cts. each ; $6.(X) for 10. All grenadine veil, 65 cts. each ; $4.75 for 10. Mosquito-bar veil, with Brussels net face, 40 cts. each; $3.00 for 10. All mosquito-bar veil. 35 cts. each; $3.00 for 10. A bee-hat will be added to any of the above for 30 cts. extra, postpaid. A NEW PLANT-PROTECTOR. This first day of June, the bugs poured on to us all of a sudden, and a good deal as they did last year. Well, now, there are two objections to the plant-boxes for bugs: They cut off the light, mak- ing the plants grow long-legged in trj'ing to get out of that hole at the top, and they also keep off the dews of night more or less. Another thing. It needs a horse and wRgon to carry them to the field and back again. After siudying over the matter about three hours, I went into our packing-room and ask- ed them if they had any damaged wire cloth 18 inches wide. This I took to the tinners, and direct- ed them to cut off square pieces. These would be 18 Inches square, of course. Well, when this was done, the foreman in the saw-room made me a box much like our plant-boxes, but it was square, and measured one foot each way on the top edge. The tinners were now instructed to take the squares of wire cloth and lay them on top of this box. or form, while they turned the corners down in the way you see bread-pans, made of tin. The result was a wire- cloth tray, or pan. 13 inches square at the bottom, with sloping sides nearly six inches high. The sides were made sloping so the.y can nest one into the other. A man can carry 100 of these to the field, and it is a very quick job to drop them over the hills of mellons and squashes. The plants have al- most as much air and light as if nothing at all were over them. Thej' also have the full benefit of the dews of night; and when you are done with them it is but a small job to nest them up and put them away. With our facilities wc can afford them for 5 cents each. We can furnish a smaller size for sin- gle plants, for 4c each. By mail, 35c postage for 10; the larger size, by mail, in lots of 10, for 50 cents additional for postage. You may have to straight- en the kinks, however, after receiving them. We should not like to be responsible for the doubling- up which might happen in the mail-bags. We will try to give you an engraving of the plant-protector, and the wooden form we use to make them on, in our next issue. Vol. XTI. JUNE 1, 1888. No. 11. TERMS :»1.00PEBAinTOM,INADVANCB;1 TP c+ riT-il n (fit n rl 7* to 7 J? '7 ? f Clubs to different postofflces, NOT lbss 2Copiesfor$1.90i3for«2.76i5forM.(»; -tl/Ot/Ct'C/l't'OAt'fc/tl/ Lib J. O / t? . | than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the ' lO or more,75cts. each. Single num- \ published semi-monthly by -i P.^- and Canadas. To all other coun- bor. Sets. Additions to clubs maybe tries of the Universal Postal Union, 18 made at club rates. Above are all to K I Df\f\T MPDIMA /lUf/1 <"**• per year extra. To all countries be sent to ONE rosTOFFicE. J/j, /. flUUl, iVICUllVM, 1/ ///(/. iNorof the U.P.U.,42cts.peryearextra. MANAGEMENT OP OUT-APIARIES. HOW TO MANAGE 1000 COLONIES WITH ONLY ONE BEE-KEEPEH AND TWO .ASSISTANTS. TN a recent number of Gleanings I have e.x- jMp plained how 1 manage my bees at present so as ^l to obtain a reasonable profit with little labor. "*■ I will now endeavor to answer a little more I'ullj- question No. 'M. and at the same time reply to Mr. France's article on page 1H4. He says that It surprises him when 1 state that one beekeeper with two assistants can manage 1000 colonies when distributed in ten apiaries. Well. let us see! Perhaps I should have been more ex- plicit; but I did not think that it would be presum- ed that one bee-keeper with two assistants, i. c, three men, could so divide themselves that they could be i>resent in ten apiaries at the same time, so as to watch for and hive all the swarms. Hiv- ing swarms has usually been the work of some girl or boy of the farmer at whose place I had planted an apiary, and was alwa.vs cheaply done. But out- side of the simple work of hiving swarms when every preparation is made, the queen's wings clip- ped, and second swarms prevented, I do say that three men can very readily handle UHMt colonies of bees advantageously when distributed in ten apia- ries. This is my plan: Have your apiaries so located that you can readi- ly reach three or four of them in one day by driv- ing not to exceed twenty miles, going and return trip included. This can be arranged, as it is not nec- essary to have your apiaries more than two miles apart, and sometimes not that. In this way you can visit every apiary at least every fourth day, which is amply sufficient. Winter in three or four cellars, and haul the colonies together in the fall. Use the eight-frame Langstroth hive with portico. Have a cross-bar in the bottom of the hive, to'keep the combs from coming in contact with each other, thus, with notches an eighth of an inch deep in the ends of the hive, for the ends of the frames to rest in. ■ ■mm I FASTENING t'UAMES FOR TRANSPORTATION. With your hives in this condition it is only neces- sary to sorew down the honey-board and tack a frame of wire screen over the portico, and they are at all times ready to haul. My spring wagon holds comfortably twenty hives, and it takes but a short time to move an out-apiary to the nearest cellar. I suggest using three or four cellars as a simple matter of convenience for spring and fall sui)ervision and winter care. The hauling is no great labor, is quickly done, and at a time when there is little else to do. I assume further, for the sake of this argument, that your only forage for surplus is white clover and basswood, as it is with me. Let us start in spring with, say, 8.50 colonies, and end up the season with 11.50, which will be a fair average of 1000 for the season. As soon as spring opens, examine every colony to ascertain its strength and food supply, and give to each the nec- essary care and attention. If your bees were in proper condition in the fall, and have wintered well, very little attention will be required. About May 10, examine each colony carefully, uniting 426 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. June queenless with weak colonies, and clip the queens' wing-8. When all are in safe condition, haul to your summer locations. An occasional examina- tion from now on till white clover opens, brings you to swarming time and the honey season; and surely up to this time little enough work has been demanded. Probably double the number might have been attended to. Am I not right, Mr. France? Well, then, if we agree this far, let us see where we differ. You run for extracted honey while I run for comb honey, with every appliance for quick work during the season when most need- ed. 1 will not attempt to rehearse my manner of se- curing comb honey, as I have sufficiently described it on page 28.5. The whole work consists of supply- ing each colony, as fast as needed, with sections prepared ready for use in the winter, controlling second swarms, and eventually removing the honey when the season has closed, usually with me the latter part of July. Three men will have ample time to give attention to any other matter requir- ing it in the apiary. The honey in the body of the hive is left for the bees to winter on; and with the hive 1 use, my bees are necessarily left with sufficient good, well- ripened honey to carry them through to the next spring, and, if otherwise in proper condition, re- quire no further care till that time, except cellar- ing. After the sui-plus has been removed, each hive is carefully examined, poor queens attended to, and every necessary step taken to get them all in proper condition for winter. A little later, each colony is weighed; and If any are found too light, combs are exchanged for heavier ones. Prepara- tion is thus made a simple and easy matter. The conditions are far different when you run for ex- tracted honey: you are continually in danger of extracting too closely, and your bees are always subject to more or less unfavorable conditions. For instance, you will frequently find, after removing all your surplus combs, that the body of the hive has been almost depleted of honey, and an over- lilus of bee-bread will be found in its place, and you will be obliged either to feed a great deal, or make a radical exchange of combs. Again, either I am entirely mistaken or it is a fact that bees, when run for comb honey, are less liable to dysentery, and winter better, on an average, than those run for extracted honey. This is the reason why Mr. France and I differ in our answers: He reasons from the standpoint of extracted and I from the standpoint of comb-honey production. I am quite well satisfied that he is right in his views that three men could not proper- ly manage 1000 colonies where run for extracted honey; but I am equally satisfied that they could if run for comb honey. As to which eventually pays the better, when each qnd every incident to each plan is carefully considered, must be left to the judgment of the individual, determined in a great measure by his location and frequently by his mar- ket. Geo. Grimm. Jett'erson, Wis. Friend G., it looks possible, as you put it on paper ; but I for one feel sure I should find myself, at least part of the time, cramped for more help. In my experience there are always unexpected things turning up. The weather, and other things that are almost beyond human power to foresee, up- set plans and ciilculations so frequently that I have always found it easiest and most profitable to have an extra man, even if he can be profitably employed only part of the time. Another thing, when it comes to tak- ing charge of 1000 colonies most men would find that the responsibilities and brainwork would be more than they could shoulder. My experience is just about like yours in contrasting comb honey with extracted; but 1 have generally tried to persuade myself that, if the extractor be properly used, it need not interfere with winter stores any more than the production of comb honey does. I should like to inquire if there are among our readers any who liave ever managed 1000 colonies, witli only two assist- ants ; or has anybody managed successfully between 300 and 400 colonies, doing all the work himself — that is, where the bees are managed at. an expense of not more than 300 days' work for the year? I presume it would be fair, of course, to hire help during the busy season, and then offset it by work done somewhere else at seasons of the year when bees do not need attention. In other words, how many days' work are required, per annum, for each 100 colonies a man keeps ? ^ I ^ HOARHOUND AS A HONEY-PLANT. GOOD NEWS FROM THE VERY CENTER OF THE HOARHOUND DISTRICT. FRIEND ROOT:— Every time I see an account of the big prices of hoarhound hcmey (such as is mentioned in Gleanings of May 1), 1 feel anxious to get hold of some ardent would-be purchaser. Let me say. in the first place, that Santa Rosa is not in Southern California, as any one can see by the map; next, that 1 am ac- quainted, by name at least, with almost every prominent bee-man in the State, but 1 do not know Mr. Hoge or his apiary. But this I do know: that 1 can deliver almost any reasonable quantity of hoar- hound honey at Hueneme or San Buenaventura for five cents a pound. Quite a number of years ago a sick man planted a little hoarhound for medicine (tea) in a little canon in this (Ventura) county. Wind, water, and animals, especially sheep, have spread the seed over the country until now my bees have access to over 100 acres of hoarhound, miles away from the parent plants. It grows all the year, and produces honey all the year, though, of course, very much more in April, May, June, and July, than in other months. For quantity of honey and sureness of crop we have no other plant that is equal to it. For quality— the less said the better. It is strong; it is dark; it granulates quick- ly; it is bitter; and— though I raise tons of it I buy my honey from the sage districts where hoarhound has not yet obtained much of a foothold. I do not doubt its healthfulness or its medicinal virtues; but T can never sell my honey for flrst-class, on ac- count of it. Probably three fourths of my first and last extractings come from the hoarhound— the rest is mainly sage and wild alfalfa. Let me now caution those who may desire to plant it. How it may behave in another climate, I can not say; but here I have known it to be pulled and cut and plowed, and dug at for years, in a garden, and still it comes up. Left to itself, it covers the ground 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 427 with a thick brush from one to three feet high, and chokes out almost every other plaut. No animals eat it except sheep, and they are even worse than the hoarhound to have about you. The bees are now carrying- in quite a lot of genuine hoarhound honey which I respectfully offer to all those who have paid 50 cts. and #1.00 a bottle, at $6.00 per case of 130 lbs., and I can confidently assure them that one ease will be all they will probably desire. C. M. Drake. Springville, Ventura Co.. Cal., May 14, 1888. Friend I)., you are a jewel. What makes you tell about the bad qualities of the things you sell, as well as the yoodf and why doiit you put more stress on the value of hoar- hound honey for coughs and colds V Can't you remember some astounding cures that have been produced by its use in your fami- ly or neighborhood ? Please send us one case, and we will put it up in Muth's dime jars ; and if we don't establish a trade in it we will give the bee-friends an opportunity of getting a sample in ordeiing goods of us. May be some will think more of its medical qualities than we do, and we may give you a big trade in it. I am frank to say, I do not believe that hoarhound has any special virtue in regard to coughs and colds ; but it is a nice old legend, and" what child does not like hoarhound candyV Since Mr. Hoge's name has come up so prominently, can any of our readers tell us where he is just now, if he is not in California V THE BEE AND HONEY SHOW AT THE OHIO CENTENNIAL. A KtrilTHEB APPEAL FROM DR. MASON. TiKES, (riend Root, that is just the length, breadth, I^HB) anil height of my meaning, as you ask on '^^ page;M2. At the time I wrote the article on •*■ page 341, only one besides yourself had made application for space in the Bee and Honey Department of the Centennial Exposition at Colum- bus. Something has stirred up four more. Per- haps it was what I said, and perhaps it was what j/oM said. You see, I'm willing to divide the honors. But somebody or somet/iiny will have to do more than has yet been done, or Ohio bee-keepers will not make the display of the products of the apiary, and of the progress there has been in the century in our specialty, that ought to be made. The ap- plications have all come from the same county, and that is not the county that Columbus is in, either. What is the matter with the bee-keepers in the oth- er counties of the State? It does seem to me that we ought to eclipse every thing of the kind that has ever been done on this continent, the Toronto exhibition not excepted. This year their premium list amounts to about $380, and the Ohio pi'emlums amount to $406. I intend to have some straw hives, some log "gums," and some box hives with bees in, on exhibition, and I hope some others will do the same, and you and other supply-dealers can fur- nish the modern appliances. The Canadian Bee Journal, in mentioning our Ex- position, says: "Some of us will try to get there; but we expect to find an exhibit that knocks the Toronto exhibition into the shade. If it does not, it will not be the fault of Dr. Mason and A. I. Root, who are working hard to make it a grand success." I hope their expectations will be fully realized, and it seems to me that it ought not to be much of a trick for us Buckeyes to take the starch clear out of our Canuck neighbors in this display; and I should very much dislike to have them go to our exposition and not find an exhibit worthy of us as a State. Our premium list is large enough to pay the expenses of a large number of exhibitors, and ev- ery facility will be furnished them that it is possi- ble to furnish, to enable each to make the finest display possible, with the least possible expense. There will be no more " red tape " used than is ab- solutely necessary to make things run smoothly, and no favor or privilege will be accorded one ex- hibitor that will not be shown each and every other; and if A. B. Mason makes an exhibit he will get just the same privileges that others have, and no more. In the awarding of premiums, no favoritism will be shown. Competition for premiums is for pro- ducers only. Dealers will be furnished space to exhibit, but not be allowed to compete for premi- ums. Friend Root, your suggestions on page 34;J are all good, and I should be glad to have them all carried out. Your idea of '"a garden of honey-plants in bloom on the grounds," I like very much; and if 1 lived within fifteen or twenty miles of Columbus you would have a chance to send on the plants and seeds; but I don't know of any one at or near Co- lumbus who will carry out your suggestions. Can't you induce Prof. Devol or W. J. Green, or both, to take the matter in handV The next meeting of the N. A. B. K. S. will be held in Columbus, and will be an added inducement for bee-keepers to see us "spread" ourselves in a grand honey-show; but if we make a "fizzle" of it, whose fault will it be? Now send on your api)lications, and ask all the questions you choose, and for any information you may wish, and I'll respond most heartily, to the best of my ability. Don't be afraid of annoying me, but wade right into this matter with all the vim you've got. A. B. Mason. P. S.— In a communication from W. Z. HiUchin- son, received a few days since, he says: "Don't 1 wish I lived in Ohio, this year I How I should en- joy doing my level best in making that exposition a success! " Mr. H. D. Cutting and other "furriners" write in the same strain; and it will be any thing but funny if we are not as much interested in the good name of our State as they are. A. B. M. Auburndale, Lucas Co., O., May 24, 1888. Many thanks. Doctor. If the exhibit is not a success, it certainly will not be your fault. Just one individual has asked for seeds of the honey-plants, and that indi- vidual happens to be Dr. Mason himself. We have sent him the seeds, telling him there would be no charge, and we will fur- nish to any other person (man or woman) in the State of Ohio all the seeds they want to raise the plants from, to be taken to the Ohio Centennial for exhibition. We will also try to have some plants there of our own. Now, then, who will see to having the ground nicely prepared, ready to re- ceive them y It needs a florist or expert market-gardener to get to work at it now, and have some soil so prepared that it will do honor to the State or Ohio. We are very 428 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKIl. June glad indeed to hear the kind words from friends Hutchinson, Cutting, and other " furriners " as you term it. SETTING OUT PLANTS. HOW TO VO IT PAST AND EASV. A man may lend his store of g-old or silver ore; But know ledj^e none can borrow, none can lend. R. EDITOR:— The atiove saying- is only par- tially trne, and 1 will now g-ive to the read- ers ot Gr.i'ANiNOS some experience in set- ting- out plants, by Capt. Charles Gary's method. Mr. Gary and myself live on ad- joining- lots in the suburbs of Titiisville, and I often hear him telling- some one how to set calibage. He is so enthusiastic in it that T often have men say to me, aside, "That Gary 's an old crank, is he not?" Well, my work is to uraom the iron horse at present, and I find that it is a, crank motUm that sends it along-the track with speed. When plants of cabliag-e, and that family of cauliflower, Russia turnips, kohl- rabi, also beets, are large enougrh to transplant, if there comes a shower, wait till the wafer has drain- ed off and the ground is wet but not imuldy. Then take your plants, lay them on the ground where you wish them to grow (you can drop them as you would corn), then with the corner of a hoe take a little earth and place on the root, pressing slightly with the back of fhe hoe. For a few days they will He on the ground, but will soon root and holdup their heads, and there will be no more loss of plants than by taking more pains; and the advantage is great, especially at a bus3' time. A boy of fourteen or fifteen set out, without help, day before yester- day, over one thousand plants of cabbage. In setting on a large scale, if the ground is fur- rowed out, as for corn, the plants could be set at the side of the furrow, and, with a small boy to drop, a man could set out thousands in a day. I used to raise vegetables for a living, and I know how a person's back feels after a day's work setting plants, and how the knees don't want to straighten out when you get, out of bed in the morning, and I write this in the interest of those who have a " crick in the back," or, like Falstaff or Santa Glaus, are men and women of unbounded stomach. I want every one who works a bit of ground to try this method this summer. A year or two ago Mr. Gary hired a German to set out cabbage in 7ms way; and as I was going out the next morning I met the German right at the patch. He said, " Allen, go softly, or you might wake'Gary's cab- bage dot has gone off sleep already." In the fall the German was here again, and the cabbages were fine. I said, " Gary's cabbages woke up, did they not?" " Laeshgang!" he said; " ya, dot is so, Allen." Tltusville, Pa., May 'M, 1S8S. A. H. Ar.T.EN. Many thanks, friend A. Your communi- cation may be worth hundreds of doUars to our readers, coming just in time as it does. I would suggest, that, where the groimd is not marked out, as in field culture, you stretch a string, and tell the l)oy to lay the roots of the plants right under "the string. Now throw your string off to one side, and cover as you direct. Unless you have tried it, and know, I should be afraid that for beets, tfiruips, and plants where we depend on the root, the result might be a crooked bottom. We once tiausplanted a lot of tur- nips by pressing the root into the ground with a dibble, and ;it harvest time we had a lot of deformities iliat were very funny, but not quite so salable. THAT GLEANINGS PAPEH. MRS. CHADDOCK HAS FOUND OIjEANINQS PAPER HANDY TO HAVE IN THE HOUSE. I'y WONDER how many of the readers of Glean- ings know what a cheap and handy thing that Gleanings paper is to have in the house. I have been using It to write all my manuscript on for two years, and 1 find it very sat Isfacto- I used to have considerable trouble about get- ting paper to write on. Gommon note paper I dis- carded long ago (I'd have been a pauper by this time if I had kept on using it), and I found a kind of linen paper that came in boxes, at 7."> cts. a box, that was good strong paper; but when a word was scratched out it left so thin a place that the writing was apt to blot. Then, too, that linen paper was too expensive to throw away, and I did not use it till I had written every thing on old envelopes, the margins of newspapers, and backs of letters. The good thing about the linen paper was, that I could send ten sheets of it for a three-cent stamp. Since I have been using Gleanings paper I do not both- er to write on sci-aps of waste paper, but do all my writing on fresh clean sheets; and if I spoil one I throw it away, as the cost is so little that it does not twinge my thrifty soul at all, and take a fresh one. At first the family sniffed at Gleanings paper, and would not use It; but when they ran out of all oth- er kinds they were glad to try it, and now they use it for every thing, almost. The children fasten it together at one end and use it for scratch-books at school; they draw maps and pictures on it. and put on it what the regular examination papers will not hold. Minnie gives it out to her pupils just as free- ly as if she owned all the paper-mills in the United States, or was boss of the " paper-trust;" and we use it to put in the bottoms of pans when baking cakes; write all our letters on it, and— our poetry! and we can send ten sheets of it for a two-cent stamp. I like this Gleanings paper; and unless I find something that I like better, I shall use it al- ways. When using paper in cake-tins, it is not nec- essary to cover the pans all over. In most cake- tins there is a brown burnt spot that is apt to burn before the cake is done. Cut a piece of papei- a little larger than this spot; grease the pan, stick the papei- fast, and pour in the dough. For a loaf cake, line the bottom all over. Vermont, III. Mahala B. Chaddock. My good friend, it is a little consoling to my feelings to have you decide as T have done. We buy Gleaxings paper by the carload, and get it ever so much cheaper than anybody can get small quantities of different kinds of paper at stores. It was one of my pet projects, a few years ago, to have no paper used for any ptupose what- ever, except Gleanings. All the clerks were to write on Gleanings paper ; all the 1888 gleaKings In bee culture. 42^ blank books for writing in were to be'made of (iLEANiNGs paper, ruled and printed in our establishment; all the tablets and memo- randum-books were to be made of Glean- iNos paper ; all the women were to use it to put on their buttery shelves, liut so many of them were against me I was obliged, sad- ly and lelnctantly, to give it up. We do use it for a great many purposes, however. Thanks for youi- hints in regard to the mat- ter. CAN A BEE - KEEPER ACCOMPLISH MORE BY RESTING OCCASION ALLY? AT, so SOMETHING IN FAVOR OF HAMMOCKS. fHE answers to Question 4!^ in Gi.eanings have g-lven me courage to confess what oth- erwise 1 should never have dared reveal; namely, that from spring till fall a hammock is looped upon one side of our shop, ready at any moment to be swung into position for use. One of our oldest and best writers on domestic economj' has recommended a lounge in every kitch- en, affirming that ten minutes of level rest is worth thirty in an upright position. Minutes are so precious in the apiary during the busy season, that in resting as in working one should make the most of them. And we have proved,. to our own satisfac- tion at least, that the hammock, instead of being a foolish luxury that no hard-working bee-keeper should indulge in, is a positive necessity. Through the days of spring and fall, our hammock hangs idly on the wall; but when the bees are swarming, and comb-building must be seen to, and sections taken off and put on, and the muscles begin to ache with the constant strain, and the head is dizzy with the noonday heat, in the cool shadows of the shop swings the hammock to give a few minutes of rest- ful support from tired head to tired feet. I should tike to recommend it to all; but let the sisters, at least, give it a trial and report. Our bees have all, alas! passed safely through an unusually severe winter; but when I think of the long weary days to come, I remembei- also that we have a hammock, and take courage. May 9, 1888. Nelly Linswik. My good friend, your argument has caus- ed me to change my opinion ; in fact, I have had some experience since I gave an opin- ion on this matter of Question 43. Very likely, however, the effect depends greatly on the general health of the proprietor of the apiary. Where one is feeling perfectly well, he can, without much fatigue, or, per- haps, without much injury, work hard ten hours a day or even more. " Terry, however, seriously questions whether anybody will gain in the long run by working more than ten hours a day. For almost a year past, I have been unable to get through with my work in the office without going over to the house once or twice a day, and stretching myself on the lounge. A great many times when i start for my resting-place I feel al- most satisfied that my usual short nap can not possibly set me up in good working trim again this time. 1 am surprised to find, however, that almost, if not quite every time, after 1 have had a sleep of tifteen or twenty minutes, the faint and exhausted feeling has all gone, and I am ready to con- sider almost any thing, and be i)leasant and good natured about it besides. Well, I have not thought to try a hammock. T have found out, however, that, to have the sleep come quickly, I need a certain amount of fresh air; and when real warm weather comes 1 think quite likely a hammock, in the open air, will fill the bill. Then Iluber and all the rest will not have to walk on tiptoe, and whisper to one another, " Sh-h-h-h-h ! papa is asleep." You see, our people are very kind to me when I am used up ; and by having that hammock, say off under a tree out of the way, I shall be doing a kind- ness to them; and I should never have thought of it if you had not made the sug- gestion. I say, most emphatically, it does pay to rest thoroughly when you are used up. HAIR-SNAKES. HAIRS NEVER TURN TO SNAKES. fkROF. A. J. COOK:— The inclosed specimen of ' worm (I guess) was found in moist clay on the bank of a small tributary of the Alle- gheny River here in McKean Co., Pa. Even when fli'St found, if laid where it was dry for a few minutes it became stiff and apparently dead; Imt if put in water or mud it soon began wriggling again. As it is, to us, both rare and curious, we send it to you, hoping to learn something more about it. The worm was found j-esterday. By measuring as accurately as we conveniently could, we found it to be about six inches long. Larabee, Pa., May 11, 1S88. A. F. Beach. Prof. Cook replies : The worm sent by A. F. Beach is one of the Goidii, or hair-worms, or hair-snakes. These are true worms, and so belong with the tape-worms, trichina, and, more distantly, with leeches and angleworms. Who of us has not heard how these come from horse-hairs which have fallen into some rain-water barrel or pool? Of course, we in these days of wider scientific training know better. We know that wheat does not turn to chess; that flre- weeds never grow unless there are seeds in the earth, and that no animal comes from a horse-hair, unless an egg had been previously glued to it. These Oordii have a marvelous life-history. They lay their tiny eggs in water. These hatch, and en- ter some gnat larva, or maggot, and grow upon the substance of the wriggler. Then they pass into a flsh, and lastly into some luckless grasshopper or cricket. I have seen our common cricket just full of the mature hair-worms. These unfortunate in- sects hop into some pool or vessel of water. Why, we know not, unless forsooth to quell the fever caused by the gnawing; or, mayhaps, tired of such a life, they are bent on suicide. However it may be, it is just what the worms need, for now they wriggle ajid tie themselves into all sorts of queer knots; hence the name, tto»(f(i, from the Gordion knot which the great general untied. Here, too, they lay their eggs. We often think of worms as very degraded crea- tures; but, as we see, they are very wonderful. T find my students often wild with enthusiasm in 430 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. JiJNii Btudying these worms. Tape- worms, for instance, are very simple, but curious as almost any animal we can mention. Every thing in nature is wonder- tul. " O Lord, how wonderful are all thy works! in wifidoni hast thou made them all." A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich. Thanks, friend Cook. But why did yon not tell us something about the particular point that friend Beach alludes to — that these snakes, when dry, become apparently dead? I wonder if it is not hibernation. }5ut when wet up they are all right again. IIow long will they hibernate if kept dry? Will somebody tell us about it? Slack, or German bees. FRTEND nOOI.ITTLE HAS BEEN TESTING THE BEST STRAINS OF OUR NATIVE STOCK. fOK years back we have l)eeu told about the great ditference there was in the black, or German race of bees, as to color, disposition, etc., some claiming that there was a little black bee that was nearly worthless, while from the same race of bees there could be obtained a large brown bee that was equal, if not superior to the Italians. Others claimed that, if we would have the best, we must get the light gray bee, and still others were equally sure that the dark gray bee, of the same race, was far ahead of any other bee there was. Being anxious to have the best bees in the world, I have tried every and all kinds that have ever been brought to the U. S. except the Egyptians; and T wish to say that, all things con- sidered, 1 preler the Italians to any of the rest, be- lieving that they combine more good qualities, and have fewer poor traits, than anj' other bees which have so far reached our shores. But I have wan- dered a little. Some four years ago I began to try all of these different strains of the black, or Ger- man bee, to see what there was in the ditferent claims put forth for them, and how these bees, brown, gray, etc., differed from the bees kept by our fathers; and I must say, without desire to hurt anybody's feelings, that 1 can not detect the slight- est difference in any of them, or between them and the bees T formerly kept before 1 became acquaint- ed with the Italians; and this, after having queens from all the States where the claim has been made that a different strain of the black bee e.xisted. The last tried was the large brown bee of Arkansas, which I got last August or September. As the queen came late, she did not lay any eggs after she came; and as the bees wintered in that splendid condition which Bro. Clarke feels disposed to call " hibernation," no young bees were reared till aft- er they were set out of the cellar. To-day 1 have been looking at them, and carefully comparing their color, actions, etc., with the others, with the result spoken of above. In these examinations there was (me thing that came under my notice which I wish to tell the readers of Gi.eaninos about. Having tired of those 1 had last fall, I changed their queens in October; and as they had not rear- ed brood during the winter, less than one-fourth of the bees were young Italians in these cases, and about the same proportion of young black bees in the other case. When I opened the colonies where the young Italians were, they stood their ground on the combs, the same as all Italians will, while a little too much smoke or a little jar would set the black bees to running pellmell ovfer these young yellow fellows, to such an extent as to nearly knock them off the comb; still they would run or stir only as they were carried with the multitude that was surging by. To tell it as it is. I had a feeling of pride come ovef- me tot the good behavior of these young fuz/.y little chaps, which showed so much mox'e steadfastness than their older companions. Upon going to the colony where about one-fourth of the bees were young blacks, I found things just the reverse. Here the young bees wbUld dodge about among the older Italians, run down to the bottom of the combs, and tumble off on the ground or into the hive, according to where the comb was held; and when I came to the queen she was so nervous and fldgetty that it was no pleasure to look at her; yet the older Italians stood their ground, never seeming to care how badly their younget sisters and mother were frightened. The pleasure with which Italians are handled is alone quite a large item in their favor, which I had partly overlooked till I got these black bees. I am well aware that this trait makes it easier to get the combs free of bees while working for extracted honey, yet I could not think of tolerating this run- ning nuisance in the black bees for the sake of get- ting them off' the combs a little more easily. Be- fore swarming time arrives I shall supersede this last black queen, and henceforth keep nothing but the Italians. In only one thing do the black bees e.xcel the Italians, according to my experience; that is, they will cap their combs a little whiter than any other race of bees with which lam ucciuainted; butthej' use much more wa.x in doing it, so that, while their combs look prettier, there is a loss in wax to nearly balance the looks. The claim that they enter the surplus apartment more easily than any of the yellow races has no weight with me, for, with my management, any of the races do not hesitate to go into the sections as soon as honey is to he had from the fields in sulKcient quantities for practi- cal work there. G. M. Doolittle. Borodino, N. Y., May 1.5, 1888. 1 am very glad, friend D., that you have taken this matter in hand, and made a prac- tical test. Whenever these brown, or Ger- man bees, have been extolled, I have had a sort of feeling that, if carefully tested, they would not prove much different from our common bees, although I have never had the time nor inclination to make the test. Just as soon as I received those first Italians from father Langstroth, and saw how civil and peaceable they were, 1 made up my mind that I iievei- wanted any more of the crazy-acting lilacks. Vou have narrated, more vividly tlian I could possibly have done it, the difference in behavior; and I agree with you, that this one thing alone, providing the Italians had no other merit, would be a sufficient recommendation to in- duce me to adopt them. I have been pleas- ed in the same way with the Light Brahma fowls. I can pick them up and set them down, and do what I please with them, and they do not act scared out of their wits, and raise the whole neighborhood by their squalling. 1888 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 431 AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM SOUTHERN FLORIDA. A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY; TRULY THE ELUOKADO OF THE SOUTH. fHE short item in Gleanings of March 1st, " Encouraging- lor Florida," on page 17H, hrouglit us so many letters of inquiry that it would be a task to answer all. It has been suggested by one of the inquirers that an article be written, giving more information ctm- cerning this part of Florida, for Gleanings, which I will do as briefly as I know how. NOT EXCESSIVELY HOT. Some have asked, "Don't you find the summers excessively warm so far South? " I think it can be truth^'ully said, the summer season is more pleas- ant here than at the North. When out of doors in summer, the heat of the sun is felt perhaps more than there; but men work at all times of day in summer, and do not complain any more of heat than at the North, and it is always comfortable in the shade. A neighbor of ours said their thermom- ter hanging in the hall never went above 94° last summer. THE FRUITS AND FAT OF THE LAND ; STRAW- BERRIES FOR SIX MONTHS. It is asked by another, " What do you find to live on?" We can have strawberries six months in the year; blackberries in their season; figs, bananas, pine-apples, guavas, which is one of the best of fruits, and can be used in all the ways we use ap- ples and peaches. They grow on bushes, and do not re()uire any special care after planting out, as do oranges; grapes, too, are grown here; also wild grapes are plentiful in their season. It is thought peaches will do well here, and are being tried. A few persons have had them to bear. Pears, also, are being tried. A great variety of fruits can be grown very successfully here. Sweet potatoes, and Irish, all have; also cabbage, tomatoes, let- tuce, onions, egg-plant, okra, watermelons, sugar- cane, rice, pumpkins, squashes, and peanuts. Poultry can be raised the year around. Chickens and eggs bring good prices. We can have fresh milk and butter, and many things which I have not time to mention; but, remember, it is by grubbing and digging and cultivating and harvest- ing that we have the good things of this land. Those who like to hunt can find deer, turkey, rab- bits, squirrels, and quails; but deer and turkey are very shy and hard to get. We live half a mile from the Caloosahatchee River, and from that and the many creeks can be taken flsh, which are plentiful and good. SHIPPING FACILITIES NOT THE BEST. Some ask, "Can you ship your honey anywhere to sell without having transportation charges eat it all up? " To ship by rail thi-ough Florida would leave the shipper no large profits; but to ship to New Orleans via gulf and thence northward, it is probable that fair profits may be realized. Ves- sels for New Orleans touch at different points on the coast; and if the 125,000 is appropriated that is asked of Congress to make our river safe for navi- gation, we shall then be able to connect with those steamers of the gulf. ORA NOE-GROWING. Another asks, " Does it take long for an orange- grove to come into bearing?" We think it not the best plan to depend on oranges alone, but a variety of fruits, which can be raised between the oranges. I don't know about the profits of orange-raising. It takes from seven to ten years for them to come into bearing. SNAKES, MOSQUITOES, ETC., NOT TROUBLESOME. There are not many large poisonous snakes. There are some, but not often seen. Mosquitoes a7-e not very troublesome here, but on the coast they are. Fleas will be plentiful if encouraged by having hogs and dogs around; but we are troubled very little by either. We are not much troubled with flies, and we have a very few. Mosquitoes are worst in the rainy season, which begins the first of June and lasts till September— not a long drizzling rain, but a lively thunder-shower, generally in the afternoon, and then all is bright until the next afternoon. THE TIMBER ; DRINKING-WATEH. The land is not rolling. The timber is principal- ly pitch-pine, cypress, cabbage-palmetto, etc. Drinking-water is caught in cisterns; and if the tank is put in a shady place, good water may be ha